Spirits Spun from Wine on Central Coast ‘Distillery Trail’

Those in search of wineries tucked away down winding country roads and over the rolling hills of Paso Robles, not far from San Luis Obispo, are likely to stumble upon a new form of tasting and touring—the Distillery Trail. And to visitors’ delight, many of these distilleries operate out of existing wineries, so you get two experiences in one—if you dare. The reason makes perfect sense: the main component in the brandy, vodka, vermouth and gin you will taste is the discarded grape juice used in making wine.

The Distillery Trail

Several distilleries have opened around the region, offering visitors tours and tasting rooms for sampling smooth and sophisticated, one-of-a-kind spirits—that are a sure-fire win for those want to shake up their tasting pallet. The group defines itself as an affiliation of farmers, winemakers, brewers, bartenders, chemists and overall spirit enthusiasts with the common interest of crafting world-class distillates in the heart of the Paso Robles wine region.   And this group makes sure the journey along the Paso Robles “Distillery Trail” is more than just tasting the craft spirits–it’s also about meeting the individuals who are passionate about their art.

The distillery industry is growing, just as the wine industry has in the last two decades in this agriculturally rich area of the state. What began with just a few distilleries not long ago has blossomed into ten, with undoubtedly more on the way. A handy touring map gives visitors a self-tour highlighted by peaceful rural drives that reveal a bounty of agri-treasures discovered amid lush green hills dotted with grazing cattle and laid-out ranches.

RE:FIND your taste

One of the favorite stops along the trail is RE:FIND Distillery, tucked away on Adelaida Road in Paso Robles. Owners/distillers Alex and Monica Villicana see the local distillery industry as much more than crafting spirits—it fits into their philosophy of sustainability that also permeates their popular Villicana Winery.

The distillery was actually founded on the concept of using the free-run juice that boutique wineries normally discard during the winemaking process. Instead, now the distillers ferment and distill it, reclaiming about 60 acres of premium Paso Robles wine grapes each year. Using only natural ingredients, the Villicanas grow some of the raw ingredients for the spirit-making process themselves or source from organic farms.

The “fruit” of the couple’s labor crafting artisan spirits from grape to bottle comes in several “taste-worthy” forms. Try the cucumber-flavored vodka (or barrel finished), kumquat or limoncello liqueur, rye whiskey, gin and bourbon.

Make it a ‘distillery’ stay

Needless to say, tasting and staying are a must. However, do it right and “distill” the idea of becoming a weekend mixologist at the Allegretto Vineyard Resort, Paso Robles’ first destination resort. Allegretto Vineyard & Resort, part of the Ayres family collection, opened in late 2015, offering 171 guest rooms, a boutique spa, pool and cabanas, manicured gardens and a 12,000-square-foot piazza. Drawing inspiration from the surrounding countryside, Douglas Ayres built and designed the Allegretto in the style of an Italian vineyard estate, filling the corridors with art and artifacts from his many travels. Today, the family-owned Ayres brand includes 21 hotels throughout Southern California, however Allegretto marks the collection’s first full-service resort.

 

The Tuscan-style resort on 20 acres of vineyards and fruit orchards does a great job capturing the essence of Paso Robles: history, food, wine and beauty. The European-inspired guest rooms and suites, some with balconies or patios, open to gardens.  A world unto itself, the resort also offers the Cello Ristorante & Bar with locally farmed and foraged cuisine and a wine bar featuring the resort’s own private wine label among others.

With the resort’s new package offering, guests can truly immerse themselves in spirits and mixology. The three-day, two-night experience begins with behind-the-scenes tours of three Central Coast distilleries and includes lunch with a twist and luxury transportation. The experience is infused with a mixology class at the Allegretto where the resort’s award-winning mixologist teaches guests how to make their own cocktails using fresh, local ingredients and spirits. The newly minted cocktail experts will learn how to use the resort-crafted elixirs, syrups, dried fruits and herbs to raise the bar of their cocktails. After a day of mixing, learning and sipping, Chef Justin Picard prepares a four-course dinner highlighted by key ingredients for both the meal and cocktails coming fresh from the “Chef’s Garden.”

Package prices start at $1,600, depending on room type and season, and are exclusive of tasting fees and tips.

Photos courtesy Allegretto Vineyard & Resort and RE:FIND (Robin Black)