Snow in Paso? NBD. It is not like we were all standing outside in the freezing weather gawking at the little snowflakes as they touched down…and immediately melted.

Stormy Aftermath

But wait, there’s more!

It was great to see Niels Udsen of Castoro Cellars recently honored by the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance as their 2009 Paso Robles Wine Industry Person of the Year.

A longtime supporter of Central Coast Vineyard Team and the SIP program – some of Castoro’s vineyards are SIP certified, as well as being certified organic – Niels started as a local cellar rat back in 1981, when no one knew what a Paso Robles was. He and his wife Bimmer launched Castoro (Italian for Niels’ nickname: “Beaver”) in 1983, and over the years, it can certainly be considered one of the labels that helped put Paso Robles on the map as a stellar wine region.

But wait, there’s more!

The spirit of Friday night, and the need to enjoy some social time with my co-workers, I was off to Paso Wine Centre (this wine bar doesn’t have a web site but check out  Paso Winos’ very informative blog).  I walked into the modernly designed room complete with hardwood floors, stainless steel counters, and black leather box-shaped couches to find myself staring at a wall of wines.  These wines were hooked up to a gadget that looked like a cross between a display case and a beer tap, it’s an enomatic wine-dispensing machine.  This machine removes excess air from the wine bottles allowing an open bottle’s shelf-life to be extended to up to three weeks.
But wait, there’s more!

As I arrive at Cass Vineyard and Winery at 10 am Friday morning, it occurs to me that it is a bit early to be visiting a tasting room.  I approach the bar and meet a petite, energetic woman with bright eyes and spiky red-brown hair; she is not opening wines, but rather gathering rolled up foam mats.  Yes, I am off to do yoga in the vineyard.
But wait, there’s more!