RN: Time to say “good-bye” Naomi, Bill and Lou (the Corgi) and to move on to Paso Robles, a shortened name from its official moniker…(we found out that everyone here pronounces it like it sounds in American, not what we think a good native Spanish speaker would say…

When we arrived in Paso, we headed straight for lunch, then walked next door for our first wine tasting at a mysterious place called “Cloak and Dagger” that had fine blended wines called “Assassin,” “Espionage”, and “Subterfuge”.

Then we drove to the Croad Winery Inn, which is owned by Martin Croad, a transplanted New Zealander, hence the caution sign in the driveway to the Inn…

This is a small winery that does not distribute its wines. Croad grows about 20 acres of grapes and they are “dry” cultivated- not irrigated, which is sustainable but limits the grape production (and, I’m sure, intensifies the flavor of the grapes). The wines are quite spectacular. Our stay at the Inn included a complimentary wine tasting and/or a glass of wine every afternoon we were here. Needless to say, we bought 3 bottles of our favorite wine “Haka.”

The surrounding landscape is so beautiful and peaceful, it’s easy to relax here. There are also nature trails throughout the property.

We were also very surprised to find that there are many distilleries in Paso, so after dinner we enjoyed a flight of bourbons and ryes, then compared them to our standard Woodford. They came close…

Paso City Park at night