This was the 15th year The Garagiste Wine Festival was held in Paso Robles. In the world of wine festivals, these festivals are one of the best. Participants are from small wineries in this select area of California who are making less than 1500 cases per year. 50 micro-wineries poured at this years festival. 11 of them for the first time in Paso and 5 of those were pouring their 1st vintage.

The Festival’s tasting event lasted 4 hours. We purchased the VIP ticket that allowed a smaller number of guests in for the first hour, giving us time to more easily speak with the winemakers and taste before the crowds ascended.

We had pre-selected a short list of wineries we wanted to try and later in conversations with other guests and winemakers we were led to try others. There were so many impressive wines!

Quench & Temper– A Paso Robles winery producing 300 cases. Brennan Stover is the winemaker/owner. Absolutely great wines from vines planted in 2013 in the most unlikely place, a steep hill composed of almost solid granite!

Terranean Wines – Pouring their 1st vintage! A Paso Robles Winery producing 200 cases. Alex & Ryan Kemp are the owner / winemakers. The 2023 Coakley Vineyard Grenache was delicious!

Resting Roots is another 1st vintage winery located in Paso Robles. Gibson Wagner is the winemaker and produced 150 cases. We tried his 2024 Bolen Brosé, a Rhone blend served cold and his 2023 Compass Grenache. Wonderful wines! – Winemaker Emily Miller was pouring at his table too. She produced 60 cases of Petite Syrah from the Nolan Ranch Vineyard – the 2023 Ditto. Nice!

Two Cabernet Francs I tried are absolutely worth mentioning. Ultima Tulie, a Paso Robles winery producing 1000 cases, poured a 2021 Cabernet Franc & Petit Verdot. And, Absolution Cellars from the Central Coast, producing 1400 cases poured a 2022 Martin Ranch Vineyard Cabernet Franc.

Vino Juan Wines winemaker / owner Juan M. Contreras poured a 2023 Lagrimas Secas Zinfandel that was delicious! Yet another Paso Robles winery producing 300 cases and a 1st vintage participant. Saint K Wines from the Central Coast produces 500 cases. We tried and loved their 2023 Gravesend Carignan. The winery partners also have a casual restaurant in the Paso Market Walk. We tried it for lunch and will certainly go back on our next Paso trip.

We could not possible try all of the wines the wineries we selected were pouring and survive the day. We only tried one or two at each. Even with the smallest of tastings, sharing, spitting and dumping It becomes difficult to recognize what you are tasting, but there were certainly no disappointments. For sure visit the winery websites for great stories and to learn about the other wines they are producing.

And…the holidays are upon us! Gifting wine is so perfect! You can shop for their wines on their websites.

Saud!