By Kathy Chin Leong, who’s living the life. Who wants to be her (I DO)?
Italy remains a favorite among global vacationers, but when you want your Tuscan fix asap, go to Central California’s Paso Robles, home to more than 200 wineries. Here, you get your fill of fine Italian wine, Italian food, and Italian lodging.
WINE
Boutique wineries are singing the praises of Italian varietals, and there’s no going back. Giornata Wines, launched by Brian Terrizzi of Sicilian heritage and his wife Stephy, serve up flights for $20 from their tiny wine room. Located in the retail enclave of Tin City, the place fits in well in the gourmet ghetto of wineries, restaurants, and boutique shops. Be prepared to learn about Italian grapes with names such as: Nebbiolo, Fiano, and Agianico. Unique here is the orange white wine dubbed Orangotango. It is said to bring memories of an orange creamsicle. Need more space? Sit outside on the patio.
Also in Tin City is Ella’s Vineyard, where a new wine room and production facility provide tastings in a small and intimate space. Enter an elegant, moody modern living room with a fireplace to begin your journey. Josh Morris started the business when he, a former videographer, was filming a PBS documentary on wine regions. As the story goes, he fell in love with the story of the bonds within the wine community. He had no wine background, but “I just wanted to be a part of it.” Visitors can add Sangiovese, Primitivo, and Montepulciano to their Italian grape vocabulary. Book a tasting which will run you between $20 and $50, depending on the experience. Note: cheese pairings with the Italian varietals are definitely on point.
Over at Bella Luna Estate, this casual winery was started by two childhood friends, Kevin Healey and Sherman Smoot. In 1998, they planted estate grapes, started the winery, and opened the production facility. Today, the same winery is now run by daughter Nichole Healey-Finn. Her winemaker husband, Lukas Finn, utilizes rare planting and growing techniques. They’ll tell you what it means when Sangiovese is dry farmed, head-trained, and vertically shoot-positioned. A $20 tasting yields six pours. For $40, you can go on a vineyard tour.
Perched on a hill is Clesi Winery, operated by owner and winemaker Chris Ferrara. Cool fact: the winery is named in honor of his great, great-grandmother, Anna Clesi Ferrara. This kid-friendly spot with toys on the grass often hosts families on weekends for music and picnics. For $20, you get six tastings at the indoor counter or outside on the patio. Views of Paso Robles await as you savor Italian fruit such as Malvasia Biana, Nero d’Avola, Sagrantino, and more.
And don’t forget Vina Robles, where its new two-story wine room features seating areas in abundance. Modern couch groupings inside and outside make it comfortable for all concerned. You can book lounge seating starting at $25 or the communal table with light eats for $35. Get hit with Vermentino white and other sips to quench your wine thirst. Well-behaved furry friends are welcome if on a leash.
SHOPPING and ACTIVITIES
Delightful stores with Italian products add to your themed vacay. Downtown shop, Sunshine Olive Oil, features Italian posters, fresh-made olive oils, and European home goods. Tea towels, olive oil dipping plates, and recipe books on Sicilian cooking are but a few of the trinkets.
Walking distance is Sole Tree, a place for Italian and American shoes. Handbags, socks, and other fineries make it well worth the stop.
For gourmet treats, Di Raimondo’s Italian Market and Cheese Shop notes that, according to its website, it boasts the “highest quality and most sought-after cheeses in the world.”
You can also purchase sauces, pastas, and Italian foods at the colorful Etto Pasta Bar in Tin City.
Tin City is also home to the Etto Pasta Factory. The same folks who bring Giornata Wines to the table have launched Etto dry-boxed pastas. The Etto Pasta Factory has proved so popular that Brian, the owner, is offering official tours. Adults cost $20, kids ages 7-12 pay $10, and children less than 6 years old are free. Each person gets a box to take home.
DINING
And it only makes sense that visitors can get their pasta fix nearby. The Etto Pastifico restaurant, also in Tin City, provides indoor and outdoor seating so you can enjoy favorites such as eggplant parmesan and lamb Bolognese ravioli.
Fine dining with Italian tradition and ambiance can be had at Cello Ristorante. Comfort foods ooze with love in craft dishes such as mushroom risotto, carbonara, and saltimbocca pork loin.
We wave the celebratory napkin above our heads at the River Lodge’s super cute Ciao Papi. When you want a festive atmosphere and eats, do come. It’s a casual outdoor restaurant by the pool with a white overhead trellis, wicker lampshades, and colorful tile flooring. The menu features wood-fired pizzas, pastas, and Italian, French, and local wines. Note: they make a killer focaccia bread with a homemade tomato dipping sauce.
The final Italian fave is Il Cortile Ristorante, which celebrates 15 years in 2025. The restaurant gets overwhelmingly positive reviews for its homemade pastas, fish, and meats.
SLEEPS
When it’s time to finish off a day of eating and imbibing, rest your head on the pillows at Allegretto Vineyard Resort. The property is fashioned as a mega Italian villa with all the architectural trappings you’d expect, and then some. There’s a marble staircase in the entry, angelic sculptures, celestial ceilings, and, of course, a vineyard.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Canyon Villa offers just four rooms for guests who can relive Italy within its 11.5 acres. Set on a hill revealing 360 degree views, the Tuscan-themed resort is owned by Wills and Kath Carter, a couple definitely hospitality-driven in their approach. This boutique inn with Old World furnishings provides a three-course breakfast daily, an afternoon wine hour, and whirlpool tubs in each room.
One of the newer hotels is The Piccolo, located downtown. Twenty-four rooms with white wrought iron beds, brick walls, plank flooring, and many with balconies, shine with simplicity. Of note is the hotel’s rooftop bar, Tetto, the only one in downtown Paso Robles with views of vineyards and the central business district.
Paso Robles, an agricultural community popular for walnuts and almonds in the 1940s, has morphed into a trendy vacation destination. Generations of farmers still live here, and the cowboy vibe is alive and well. In recent years, new food, wine, and lodging experiences deliver Tuscan flair. Vacationing here will prepare you well for your next jaunt to Italy. Salud!
- Plan your trip at TravelPaso.com
