We had a lovely wine tasting tour through a number of the Paso Robles vineyards after completing the Wildflower Triathlon. And Herman Story Wines didn’t disappoint. Out of the several vineyards we visited, it was a close tie for first (see here). And I just couldn’t give it second! Read why below.
Don’t let the small room, cement flooring, and unpretentious attitude fool you. The wines at Herman Story Wines, named after the grandfather of winemaker and proprietor Russell P. From, are wonderfully made.
The Wine Tasting Menu
The tasting started with whites and moved to full bodied (and I do mean full) reds. Herman Story takes wine making seriously, but they also have a great sense of humor. This is reflected on their gorgeous and humorous labels, as well as on their website. If you want a fun read, go to Herman Story Wines main page, and read the story by Russell P. From, as he weaves you through his wines, with a bit of creative writing flair, leaving you laughing and wanting to taste his products. In fact, reading the website on our drive to Paso Robles left us so intrigued, we had to try the wines.
Not Pushy, Not Pretentious
It was obvious we were not big spenders from the minute we walked in the door. We didn’t even know wine tasting etiquette (learn about that here), and had to sheepishly admit that to our server. (I’m pretty sure she’d already guessed that, but didn’t let on). She graciously explained the process of wine tasting, spending extra time explaining the various grapes, Mr. From’s passion for the creative process, and backstories about the various wines we tasted. Our server even pulled out a special bottle of wine that wasn’t on the tasting menu- another winner!
Planning Ahead
We’re glad we researched the wine tasting hours before our trip. Like many of the other wine tasting rooms we visited, there are limited days and hours that the tastings are available. If you’re going, planning ahead is crucial to a fun and relaxed experience.
If you happen to be in town when the tasting room is closed, you may not be completely out of luck. This winemaker even says he’ll consider opening up his tasting room in off hours! You’re probably thinking that’s a gimmick, but one of my friend’s actually had that happen. She was eating lunch at a Paso restaurant when the waitress overheard her disappointment that the wine room was closed. The waitress TEXTED the proprietor, and before you know it, my friend had a private tasting at Herman Story Wines all set up! (Talk about a small town!). No- it did not cost extra!
Getting Herman Story Wines at Home
You probabaly won’t find these wines at your local wine retailer, but you can join their wine club. That’s easier said than done, since the club is so popular that there is often a waiting list to join. But it’s worth trying!
Affordably Delicious
The cost of the tasting was $15 for a tasting glass. My husband and I elected to share a single tasting glass, each taking sips of the various generous sample pours, since we had a number of vineyards yet to visit. For these full bodied wines, the shared glass was just enough for us. But even if we had each paid for a tasting glass, the $30 is reasonable for the experience.
We loved their wines so much that we bought a bottle of their Milk and Honey (an artful blend of Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah). Our final price was the bottle cost minus the $15 cost of the tasting! (Even better!)
If your passing through Paso Robles, make sure to stop by Herman Story Wines. You won’t regret it!
Happy Sipping!
Miffie
The post Herman Story Wines- Our #1.5 Pick for Wine Tasting in Paso Robles first appeared on Miffie Seideman.