l ' aventure
l´aventure, l´aventure, l´aventure... thank you that i can wear you... . brilliant for summer and fall... don´t need to change the pace
l' aventure du sucre, pamplemousses: hours, address, l' aventure du sucre reviews: 4. 5 / 5
l' aventure femme by al haramain eau de parfum spray 3. 3 oz
l' aventure by al haramain men eau de parfum spray 3. 3 oz
l' aventure by al haramain eau de parfum spray 3. 3 oz for men
l' aventure femme by al haramain eau de parfum spray 3. 3 oz for women
history of mauritius at the heart of a... - l' aventure du sucre
l' aventure femme by al haramain eau de parfum spray 3. 3 oz tester for women
l' aventure cologne by al haramain, 3. 3 oz eau de parfum spray for men
© 2018 l' aventure winery 2815 live oak road - paso robles, ca - 93446 805. 227. 1588
one of the island’s most impressive attractions is l’aventure du sucre (sugarworld). its display on the island’s history is one of the best in mauritius .
i never smell aventus, but i have a botlle of mancera cedrat boise and l' aventure exactly the same as mancera cb. a love them both .
l' aventure by al haramain perfumes is a chypre fruity fragrance for men. this is a new fragrance. l' aventure was launched in 2016. top notes are elemi, lemon and bergamot; middle notes are jasmine, lily - of - the - valley and woody notes; base notes are patchouli, amber and musk .
à l' aventure is a movie starring carole brana, arnaud binard, and nadia chibani. a sexually unsatisfied young woman decided to pursue various sexual experiments and scenarios .
i haven' t smelled aventus yet, but after hearing that l' aventure smells very similar to it so i bought it. i have to be honest and say that i don' t really understand the hype of aventus. . yes l' aventure smells nice and i get a middle eastern vibe from it, but definitely not a mindblowing scent. . just my opinion .
hello, thank you so much for your kind review. we are very happy to see you enjoyed your visit at l' aventure du sucre and hope to see you again. best regards ,
i have aventus and love the beautiful slightly sweet creamy pineapple and blackcurrant opening, and the smoky pineapple drydown. l' aventure does not have pineapple in its opening, and is not as smooth as aventus - its more fresh than sweet. however its a pretty good take on aventus, the drydown is very good, similar to cdni. i would recommend l' aventure, damn good fragrance .
has anyone tried cavalier men from arabian oud? it is not in the list of perfumes to review but it is really good smell and very similar to creed aventus. if someone has tried it can they please post a comparision with l' aventure .
l' aventure du sucre, the sugar museum is very close to the pamplemousse botanical gardens. comprehensive information and sugar refining machinery detailing the history of the sugar industry on mauritius. best part is at the end when get to taste numerous different rums !
imagine my delight to return to l’aventure after taking my wife on our first date and meal in december 1980. i now took my daughter for her 21st anniversare with our family to celebrate. the food produced values all the best ideals in the convivial ...
i wouldn’t even really say cdnim is better or l’aventure is better, they both smell like aventus, just different batches of aventus and it really boils down to what you like... cdnim is your smokier batch of aventus, l’aventure is more of your “well - rounded” batches of aventus... both perform really great, both are affordable... i love both of them... it’s like comparing lebron to mj, they’re both great but play 2 different positions... same with these, both are great, but they’re both different... l’aventure and cdnim both smell like the better batches of aventus that creed use to make a few years back which is why i own both of them because it’s like owning 2 different batches of aventus to me lol i love both of these tho... my buddy at work wears aventus all the time and i’ve smelled so many different batches of aventus from him and l’aventure and cdnim both smell exactly like some of his better aventus batches and nobody can tell them apart, everybody asks me if we have the same cologne and i’m like... yeah, pretty much except i’m saving like $ 300 lmao... me personally i like the smoky batches better (cdnim) but i also like the more well - rounded batches (l’aventure) so i tend to switch up a lot lol l’aventure isn’t really smoky, it’s more musky in the dry down, not real dark and more fruity it’s really really nice in the air and you’ll garner the same amount of compliments wearing this as you would wearing cdnim, i do at least .
´s good, no problem with it my friend´s got club de nuit intense but i decided to go for l´aventure because of packaging / design of the scent and more citrusy / summer vibe of the smell... it´s not that smoky as club de nuit ...
it remains a mystery how come l' aventure manages to keep the standards high after all the years and how come they do not get tired of being good at what they do. their own brand of arrogant yet quite friendly and certainly very professional service, ...
many thanks for your appreciation and for sharing your family experience. indeed our new children’s guide was recently launched in french and will soon be available in english. our range of rums contends only high - end products which are developed specially for l’aventure du sucre by ...
in museum l´aventure du sucre i learn about the history of mauritius, about the cultivation of sugar cane and the sugar production. the mysterious entrance relating the bird of the island. i look at the complementary films. opening every day 9 - 17 prices 350 rupies more urltoken
greetings from l' aventure du sucre. thank you very much for your warm comments and appreciation of the site with the kids. we are delighted that you enjoyed the tastings at the boutik as well as the food and wine at our restaurant. your kind recommendation ...
i had lunch at l' aventure a few days ago and was delighted by the food, the quiet elegance and the true frenchness of the place and the lovely patronne. the escargot in puff pastry were extremely good as was the terrine. we followed with entrecote and ...
greetings from l' aventure du sucre! thank you for your feedback and appreciation of your visit and the different tastings at the end of the visit. we are pleased that you enjoyed them. looking forward to welcoming back during a next trip, warm regards from our ...
l' aventure opens bright, lemony, and fresh. a bit too much lemon, but still a better opening than cdnim, which is harsh in comparison. it' s along the lines of the refreshing opening of aventus, but with lemon instead of pineapple. the dry down, however, reveals some sweet warmth not seen in aventus or cdnim. it smells very similar to the aventus oil clones, a bit too warm and sweet... i think it' s the elemi / amber combo. where aventus / cdnim dry down is more fresh / spicy. l' aventure opening 7 / 10 drydown 7 / 10 cdnim opening 5 / 10 drydown 9 / 10
i have tried several clones (vibrant leather, cdni, adams) and this is nearest and best (so far) but without the aventus magic. update: i have noticed that the price of aventure has been ticking upwards from about 30 towards 40 pounds whereas cdni has been falling slightly; when i first purchased cdni it was more expensive than aventure, now the reverse is true. the market has spoken
l' aventure du sucre puts you right into mauritius history because sugar is (or was) the major resource for the island. sugar history brings you back to the days the french and english domination when mauritius was a colony. slaves and contract workers labored in the fields to produce sugar. the museum is great and very well shows the steps to produce sugar right form a former sugar mill. recommended .
all of those who are disappointed with l' aventure should try al dur al maknoon silver by lattafa. it has pineapple opening rather than lemon opening which is extremely nice. doesnt last as long and project very well but still performs decently. i get about 5 hours on my skin with 3 hours decent projection. its very cheap and should be available on ebay. if you are looking for fruity, pineapply opening then definitely check it out .
it has very good scent, but performance isn' t match even bad batches of aventus. and aventus is known for having significant difference between batches in both scent and performance (i' m not talking about aventus bought from discount online stores, but from nordstrom or nieman marcus). this is why i stop buying original aventus - at this price i expecting spot on identical scent and performance, but not getting it. here is my secret of getting 95% aventus scent and performance from inexpensive clones, and sometimes even better performance than bad aventus batch: i' m using l' aventure or insurrection pure 2 as a projection and sillage buster for al - rehab avenue roll on oil. avenue is very close to aventus in scent and has even better longevity, but sillage and projection is very modest at best. l' aventure has beast sillage and projection, but short longevity and lacks of pineapple note. insurrection is a bit too smoky, good projection and sillage, but moderate longevity. on my skin i use 4 sprays of insurrection and dab of avenue right on every spray in summer or hot spring and autumn days, and 4 sprays of l' aventure and little roll of avenue right on top of each sprayed spot for winter or colder days. in both cases it lasts 12 - 14 hours on my skin, and projects about 6ft for 4 - 5 hours, and then another 3 - 4 hours more within arm reach .
during our private north day tour, one of the mauritius attractions you will have the opportunity to visit is the sugar museum, also known as l’aventure du sucre. located in an old sugar factory in the northern village of pamplemousses, this museum is quickly becoming one of the most popular places to visit in mauritius. it takes about one and a half to two hours to complete the ‘sugar trail’ inside the beau plan mill but we know clients who wish they had en entire day to spend there !
wow! in the opening you get a blast of fresh lemons and pineapple which is combined in a beautiful way, and in the dry - down you get a 99% comparison to the more lemony batches of creed aventus, despite maybe a little less quality of ingredients is noticeable compared to the king, as l' aventure is more sharp where aventus is more rounded and balanced. however, a very good clone and at times i prefer this over aventus, if you wanna go for the very lemony fresh overload of pineapple and citrus .
nice little number this. the comparisons to aventus creed are definitely spot on i' d say. to be honest this fragrance surprised me as i hadn' t heard about it at all until i went to my local sunna musk and the chap there recommended this - maybe it' s because it was december but the scent really came alive during the cold weather compared to the summer where it didn' t really project quite as well. it is a fabulous fragrance though and with the winter season looming i' m definitely going to be putting l' aventure to good use again .
i bought this for my husband on a whim because of the aventus creed comparison. i have never smelled aventus and if aventus smells better than this... wowzer. l' aventure smells amazing. i can' t stress that enough. it hits me right in the root chakra. fresh, woodsy? i don' t know it all just melts together into a manly man scent. this could be for an executive lumberjack who rides a motorcycle. does that makes sense? i get a sense of being safe but this man is trouble kind of vibe. it lasts on my husband from shower to shower. 12 hours plus. lasts on clothes for days. has gotten him complimented. and when he says that i got it for him i' m then complimented on my selection. he has stopped wearing it all the time cause he wants to smell good but not so good to the point of being hit on. so, i have to look for something more mediocre. i wish i were joking. i love l' aventure. i sometimes just take the cap off and smell the nozzle. it' s a 10 / 10 for longevity and sillage. i probably won' t go out of my way to smell aventus because this cologne can stand on its own .
fragrance - l' aventure al haramain bottle from - 2016 l' aventure opens with a burst of sharp, fresh, bright and a bit fruity citrus with bergamot as a dominant note. he' s got that tropical vibe in the opening. than as it lingers on the skin, luminous citrus / fruity notes slowly give way to a woody, elegant, smokey, ambery and musky blend with a wisper of gentle flowers. this fragrance is very similar to aventus by creed, there is no question about it. longevity - 8 / 10 (8 + hours) silage / projection - 7, 5 / 10 (moderate to high projection and silage for the first 2 - 3 hours) weather - for more or less any time of year. best in spring and summer. i personally wouldn' t wear this on a really cold winter days. versatility - 10 / 10 age - 20 + compliments - 9 / 10 scent - 8, 5 / 10 main notes according to me - bergamot, lemon, musk, woody notes, flowers, resins. the drydown is nice and i get some - woodiness, musk, amber and flowers. emotions - timeless, fresh, sharp, bright, elegant, calming. occasion - for more or less any ocasion. great for signature scent. you' ll get compliments with this fragrance .
as of right now the most expensive aventus clone, pineapple vintage, is on sale on the main site for $ 65 off. it' s not listed in fragrantica, yet, and while it' s supposed to be very close to aventus, the creative spin the creators put into it is a much higher emphasis on a juicy, long - lasting pineapple note. i have not personally tried it, but since i see some of you guys talking about aventus clones i figured i' d let you know. remember, it' s purposely not a straight clone, but if you love the pineapple note from aventus (which l' aventure clearly lacks) then definitely check it out .
i' d like to preface this review by saying i' ve owned creed' s aventus since it came out in 2010, and i currently still have a 90% - full bottle of the coveted 11z01 batch, so i know this fragrance better than most. having said this, i was shocked when i first sprayed l' aventure, because honestly, it is almost indistinguishable from the smokier batch of aventus i used to own. no hyperbole, just the truth. i can afford creed, but i' d have to be a cast iron mug to buy aventus when i can get this. also, some kool - aid connoisseurs will have you believe this is' more synthetic' than aventus - no truth there whatsoever .
i' ve been following this a little bit. i first got a carded sample of this and it' s very aventus - like. my favorite clone of it. then i got a mostly full bottle without a box in a swap. it' s silver or chrome with the black cap. says al haramain on the top of one side and l' aventure on the lower area of the same side. on the bottom it' s just a smooth surface with no batch number or anything. it smells like the sample, pineapple accords and some smoke. so no idea of its provenance, but i' m enjoying it as my favorite aventus clone. thought about a back up bottle at the right price, so interested how this thread goes .
i own this and club de nuit inttense. i do not own aventus. i absolutely love club de nuit and being l adventure was inexpensive and supposed to be equally as good i blind bought it. sprayed both on my arms to compare. club de nuit is smokies and stronger whereas adventure is fresher, nowhere near as smoky, still woodsy mind you but a more cleaner refined woods. i really love both but if i only had to have one it would be club de nuit intense. the longevity is better too with club. i will own both though because l adventure will be just fine for even the hottest summer days and to my nose club de nuit intense may be too smoky and rich. i love both, i see value in owning both. i have not tried avantus but i will be purchasing a sample or small decant so i can truly compare and see if the differences / positives of aventus to justify the enormous price difference. as i said prior in my club de nuit review that if it were discontinued (same with l adventure) then i would buy avantus without question sight unseen because i absolutely love these fragrances. well worth a blind buy .
laetitia winery (formerly maison deutz) is located just off highway 1 and high enough to forget the traffic below. the tasting room is large, with an l - shaped tiled tasting bar on the right, a large fireplace on the back wall, and a wall of windows to the left. there are some food and gift items for sale. being a joint venture with barnwood cellars, wines under the barnwood label are also available for tasting and purchase .
let' s be honest: i have the orginals creed green irish tweed, virgin island water and silver mountain water. for a trained expert nose, it is very easy to find wich one is green irish tweed and wich one is cool water. but just for an expert, for most of common people, they virtually are the same. sorry, but i will not pay for creed or amouage quality anymore (i have reflections too). something 90 - 99% equal for an untrained nose is good enough for me. even cdni is good enough. of course, if i am among experts, i will use something original. but frankly, stay among experts is a rare event. so i am happy with l' aventure. no need to say it is not equal aventus. several persons wrote this in their reviews. but, for common situatios with regular people, it virtually is equal. and my pocket don' t get more 200 - 300u $ bottle perfumes, sorry .
in nov 2013 i took my 2nd trip to l' aventure du sucre. i tried to have an open mind because this museum really tries to make itself interesting but i really didn' t enjoy it either time. the museum has too much in it. it would take me a week to read it all and for my kids - forget it! they raced through to get to the sugar tasting - 12 types of sugar in the very pricey gift shop at the end of the tour. i can' t say any of us were enlightened by our visit. our conclusion is that making sugar is a lot of work! the only other highlight is the train engine that you can make whistle and roar into action (the wheels turn but it doesn' t move) if you get 2 answers correct in a row. the fact that the questions are in french added to the challenge. my kids loved the glass and tea factories and the insect museum (at the crocodile zoo) in mauritius, but we' re not going back to the sugar adventure .
i really like the way this exposition is prepared, you can learn a lot not only about the sugar production, but also about the history of mauritius. there is also a lot of interesting old photos. the pannels are quite clear and organized in a way you can easily find things that interest you the most. at the end of the visit you are rewarded by a sugar tasting, very interesting, you can also buy the sugar in the gift shop. if you do not come to mauritius only to sunbathe, but you are also interested in the island´s history, definitely visit the aventure du sucre .
winemaker stephan asseo began working in paso robles 10 years ago, after 15 years in france .
wine spectator: what has the growing season been like in 2006? stephan asseo: we' ve had a good season. the charm of paso robles is that we' re really consistent with the weather. because of the late picking date, it will be good for people with early varieties like merlot and chardonnay and for people like me who have late - maturing varieties like petit verdot and mourvèdre. for people who did their job - - managed their canopy and size of the crop - - it will be a good year .
ws: what do you expect from the 2006 wines? sa: they will be big but not as soft as in riper years. the tannins will be a little bit more european in style, and there will be lower alcohol levels and beautiful acidity. it' s the kind of vintage i love the most .
ws: how would you describe the terroir of your vineyard? sa: we' re on the west side of paso. there' s kind of a geological break where highway 101 passes. on the east side it' s more loamy and sandy and situated at a lower elevation. on the west, we' re higher and we have a lot of limestone. it' s also cooler because the templeton gap brings in more of the ocean air. we have a lot of heat in the day but it' s very cold at night. it' s about a 45 to 50 degree difference in temperatures between night and day. that gives us good ripeness but we also have excellent acidity .
ws: anything new this year in the vineyard or winery? sa: this year i' m not using any more pumps to bring my juice to the tanks. i have two new conveyors and it will bring the fruit from the crusher to the tanks and really respect the berries. 2006 will also be the last year i use purchased fruit. i had a huge planting in 2004 and i now have 56 acres and i should get some fruit from those vines this year. in 2007, we will be 100 percent estate .
ws: what' s the most exciting part about harvest for you? sa: to discover a new vintage every year, to see what will be the style of the wine. even though it' s very consistent in paso, each vintage is different .
ws: what' s the scariest part about harvest? sa: coming from bordeaux, it' s a piece of cake here. the weather and climate is like a dream .
ws: how many harvests does this make for you? sa: twenty - five. my first vintage was 1982 in bordeaux, where i was a bottle washer, winemaker and slave. that was quite a vintage to get started on .
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not only are the wineries increasing in number every year, they are scattered throughout the paso robles area. it would literally take a week to visit each of these wineries. many are located on highways 46 west (west of 101 fwy) and 46 east (east of 101 fwy), however many are found in the hills of west paso robles and as far north as san miguel. if you have the time to visit the
far out
wineries, i definitely recommend touring the wineries on vineyard drive (west of 101 and north of 46) and looping back to the 101 via adelaida road or peachy canyon road. the scenery is worth the drive in itself .
the edna valley / arroyo grande area wineries are located at the bottom of this page .
the spartan tasting room, housed in a white wood bungalow, opened it' s doors in october 1999, eight years after the first planting. the winery produces 400 cases per year, all of which are estate - grown and available only at the winery. the short wine list consists of a viognier with green apple and citrus flavors, nebiollo, a smoky, fruity sangiovese with jammy raspberry and blackberry flavors and a peppery syrah wth black currant, plum and blackberry flavors. i especially liked the viognier and nebiollo .
this is a very popular eatate winery of italian architecture, expansive lawns, and beautiful landscaping. not only are their wines priced less than most of the competition, they have a very large wine boutique, one of the largest that i' ve ever seen, and even a race car exhibit (arciero is a name you might know from auto racing). the wines are all modestly priced, and the large selection includes chardonnay, chenin blanc, zinfandel, cabernet sauvignon, petite sirah, and several italian varietals .
bonny doon is situated in a barn - like structure on the herb and produce complex of sycamore farms. the wines of bonny doon vineyard, known for their humorous names and labels, are tasted in a refreshingly funky atmosphere with a staff that likes to have fun. the wines, despite the funny names, are very good. i especially liked the
( a spicy grenache). you' ll also find a large selection of funky gifts and natural herbs .
caparone winery has been specializing in italian varietal wines such as sangiovese, nebbiolo and aglianico since 1979. this is a small, no - nonsense family winery under the direction of winemaker dave caparone, and the tasting bar is usually manned by dave or his son marc. the industrial winery building conveys this no - nonsense attitude, where visitors can taste the wines and watch the winemaking process first hand .
caparone produces unfined and unfiltered sangiovese, zinfandel, aglianico, merlot, cabernet sauvignon and nebbiolo. the wines are of the light - bodied, fruity, and drinkable - now style and are very reasonably priced .
carmody - mcknight (formerly silver canyon), is owned by actor gary conway (of
land of the giants
fame) and his wife, former miss america, marian. the setting is idyllic - - a small lake, lilies, green hills and a rustic ranch. the tasting room is nice and bright and lined with several of gary' s paintings. on warm days the tasting is sometimes moved outdoors under a canopy beside the lake. the setting is one of the most beautiful of any winery and the wines are among the best in the area. this
far out
winery is definitely worth the drive and is a good starting point for a wine tour .
wine production includes chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and a bordeaux - style blend. the chardonnay was light and fruity with apple and peach flavors and the pinot noir was peppery with plum and black cherry fruit, the cabernet franc had nuances of cranberry and rose petals, and the merlot exhibited currant and black cherry flavors and a nice finish. the late harvest cabernet franc, the only one of it' s kind in the world, was lush and fruity with black chery and cassis flavors. a clean, fresh brut cuvee sparkling wine was recently introduced .
castoro cellars 1315 n. bethel road, templeton / 805 - 238 - 0725 / urltoken
the tasting room is housed in a beautiful italian - styled building with a long trellised colonnade enmeshed with grape vines. the room is huge with a fireplace, beamed ceilings, a long tasting bar, and crowded with many gift items. the tasting staff is always friendly (many thanks to aaron palmer) and there is a nice picnic area in the courtyard outside. castoro is italian for beaver and the fitting motto is
dam fine wine .
the zinfandels are the hot items here, and there are many styles to choose from. of these, my favorite is a big and bold rendition called zinfusion. in addition to the zins, castoro also produces viognier, chardonnay, pinot noir, merlot, cabernet franc, tempranillo, primativo, syrah, cabernet sauvignon, muscat canelli and a late harvest zinfandel port. the chardonnay was surprisingly good, crisp and buttery, however my favorite non - zin is the full - bodied tempranillo, with black cherry flavors and plenty of tannins. overall, i find these wines to be among the best in the county and beyond .
winemaker lee nesbitt turned to making wine after being drafted as a linebacket for the minnesota vikings. after forming a partnership with co - owners mark nesbitt and john simpson, he opened chumeia (pronounced koo - may - a, greek for alchemy) in may 2001. the winery is small and the tasting bar is situated in a corner of the winery, surrounded by stainless steel tanks and wine boxes - my favorite atmosphere. the wine list is impressive, as most of the juice is bought from other winegrowing areas, but the real surprise is in the quality of the wines. like his enthusiastic personality, lee makes enthusiastic, likeable wines, which are, by the way, very reasonably priced .
the wines include viognier, pinot blanc, chardonnay, pinot noir, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and several zinfandels. my favorites were a viogner that exhibited hints of apricot, peach and honeydew with a butterscotch finish; a chardonnay with butterscotch and honey aromas; a merlot with plum and dark fruit flavors and a licorice finish; an intense chocolate scented cabernet with blackberry and raspberry flavors and a jammy, smooth zinfandel .
doce robles winery opened it' s doors in october 1999. the long, narrow tasting room is open and airy with a tasteful selection of gift items, sauces and glassware. the tasting staff is friendly .
the wines consist of chardonnay, merlot, zinfandel, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, a bordeaux blend called robles rojos and a late harvest zinfandel. the chardonnay was light, with flavors of green apple and citrus, the estate merlot was medium - bodied with black cherry and pepper, the estate zinfandel was medium - bodied with berry and pepper flavors, the syrah had cherry and plum flavors. the robles rojos, a blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and merlot, had plum and blackberry flavors with a smoky finish and the late harvest zinfandel was light and semi - sweet .
eberly winery is one of the most popular wineries in paso robles. it is also one of the most award - winning wineries in the u. s. a crowd, sometimes several deep, can be found along the tasting bar that runs the length of the large tasting room at almost any time of day. in addition to a nice selection of wine - related gifts, the tasting room offers panoramic views of the vineyards and hillsides. i would also highly recommend
the ten - minute tour that will take you into the winery below the tasting room and into the wine caves .
the winery produces roussanne, viognier, syrah and cabernet sauvignon. although all wines are highly rated, eberly is known for their excellent syrahs. the steinbeck vineyard syrah boasted black cherry flavors and big, bold and peppery notes, the lonesome oak syrah was smoky and woody with plenty of plum fruit. also of note was the viognier, exhibiting pineapple and green apple flavors and an excellent estate cabernet sauvignon .
fratelli perata winery 1595 arbor rd. , paso robles / 805 - 238 - 2809
fratelli perata winery was established in 1987 by brothers gino and joe perata and remains family - owned and operated. the winery may be a little hard to find from the road, and even after successfully locating it, one can wonder if this is the winery at all. unlike the larger commercial wineries, fratelli perata has a very unpretentious and homey feel to it. the tasting room (look for the beautiful wall mural) is almost entirely filled with wine barrels - - reminiscent of the way wineries used to look prior to the onset of
visitor centers .
all wines are hand made, unfined and unfiltered and are produced from estate vineyards planted in 1980. the winery produces syrah, sangiovese, nebbiolo, merlot, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. the sangiovese and merlot were the standouts .
the jankris winery tasting room, formerly of dover canyon, is located in a 120 - year old victorian house situated in a ranch setting complete with farm animals. the tasting room has a very small tasting bar which is often shoulder - to - shoulder in tasters, and offers some gift items and sauces for sale. this is a fine place for a picnic or lunch: the winery offers a prepared deli menu available for take - out or to eat at the winery and there is a nice grassy area and a gazebo available to eat, sip wine and enjoy the wonderful atmosphere. the host staff are very friendly and offer a lot to the experience .
jankris produces sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet / syrah, syrah, a merlot - zinfandel blend called merzin, zinfandel, sangiovese and a port. the chardonnay had tropical and toasty flavors with a creamy finish, and the zinfandel had berry, cranberry and light pepper flavors. my favorite is the smooth, rich port .
. the tasting is done at a round table in the middle of a square tasting room. the cabernet sauvignon had nice plum and cherry flavors and the justification (my favorite), a blend of cabernet franc and merlot, had plum and cassis flavors - both with a nice tannin finish. i also like their blended red wine called isosceles. also available are chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and zinfandel .
the laura' s vineyard tasting room is located in small cottage overlooking the vineyards and highway 46 east. there is no winery on the premises. the tasting room sells wine - related gifts and clothing items and is usually staffed by long - time tasting hosts betty and mary. and who' s laura you ask? winery founder cliff giacobine named the winery after his mother laura, who lived in the home now occupied by the tasting room .
several recent changes of ownership have resulted in an inconsistent wine list. at my last visit there were only four wines available: a bright citrus and green apple flavored chardonnay, a merlot with black cherry and clove flavors, a blend named old bull red, and a zinfandel exhibiting jammy raspberry and black cherry flavors. previous years have offered an excellent cabernet franc, syrah and cabernet sauvignon .
this small winery, founded in 1998 by stephan asseo, produces a modest 7, 500 cases annually. the tasting bar is located in the metal winery building nestled among the surrounding vineyards. the winery produces chardonnay, zinfandel, syrah, and several bordeaux blends. the best, by far, is the estate cuvee, a blend of cabernet sauvignon, syrah and petit verdot. the wines are all very good but somewhat pricey, and the $ 10. 00 tasting charge may turn some away .
you can expect some very good wines to come from the le cuvier label with winemaker and local legend john munch (previous winemaker at adelaida cellars) at the helm. the winery' s tasting room seems almost as eclectic as john himself - - let' s say a red schoolhouse with massive rock chimney followed by a glassed - in sunroom where the small tasting bar is located. there are a few gift items for sale here .
le cuvier produces chardonnay, a white blend called chrysos, a rose, pinot noir, cabernet franc, syrah, cabernet sauvignon and zinfandel. the chrysos, a blend of viognier, rousanne, marsanne and pavanne, had characteristics of orange peel and dried apricots, with a carmelized finish, and the pinot noir was light and dry with aromas of orange peels. my personal favorites were the rich and powerful cabernet sauvignon and the bright and fruity zinfandel .
the m & w (formerly martin brothers winery) tasting room recently underwent a major renovation and is now one of the most impressive in the area. resembling a tuscan villa, you will find one of the best gift selections (especially higher - end items) at any winery here. they also have a good selection of deli items for sale and a nice picnic area complete with fountain .
martin & weyrich specializes in italian varietal wines and they have quite a list to choose from. included in their list are: viognier, chardonnay, pinot grigio, moscata allegro, nebbiolo, insieme, sangiovese, zinfandel, cabernet etrusco, a sparkling wine and several grappas. their signature wine, the nebbiolo (they were the first grower and producer of nebbiolo in the u. s. in modern time), is slightly spicy with cherry and tobacco flavors, and the zinfandel la primitiva had berry and black pepper flavors .
mastantuono winery is beautiful - somewhat resembling an english hunting lodge from the outside and an irish pub on the inside. the room is dominated by wood, including an enormous well - worn tasting bar. along with the typical wine - related gifts there is an extensive selection of jarred food items, dried fruit, sauces, crackers and and some deli meats and cheeses and cold drinks. there is also a picnic area around the side in which one can relax and enjoy the view. adam and the rest of the tasting staff are very friendly and informative .
italian varietals are the specialty here. mastantuono produces chardonnay, chenin blanc, white zinfandel, sangiovese, barbera, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel, muscat canelli, nebbiolo, an excellent port and now a sparkling wine. the chardonnay was buttery and tasted of citrus but my favorite white was the chenin blanc, which had apple and pear flavors with a floral aroma. the sangiovese was very good with lots of black cherry flavors, the syrah was peppery with lots of dark fruit, the zinfandel was light and fruity and the barbera port was rich and smooth and a good value. look out for the san luis tequila wine - - a novelty but popular .
meridian, a very commercial venture owned by beringer, has perhaps the most widespread distribution of paso robles wines. however, the winery is most worth a visiting to sample the limited release wines that are not commercially available elsewhere. there is also a nice selection of gift items available at the tasting room .
this is one of the newer wineries in the templeton area and is a real family - run operation. owned by the hartenberger family, sons mike and rich run the tasting room. there are some gift items and clothing for sale .
midnight produces chardonnay, sangiovese, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, zinfandel, several red blends and a rose. the chardonnay was light and fruity, the cabernet sauvignon was fruity with good structure, and the zinfandel was bright, fruity and tannic. the mare nectaris, a bordeaux - style blend had medium body with dark fruit, plum and smoke flavors. you should find some good wine values here .
norman is housed in a huge building that seems to mirror the area' s historical past. access to the tasting room via a large wooden staircase leading to a balcony. once inside, the tasting room resembles a huge, comfortable living room with a fireplace in the center and the tasting bar at the far corner. there is a fantastic view from the patio and a nice picnic area outside. norman is billed as one of the
far out wineries
of paso robles and is definitely worth the drive .
the winery produces chardonnay, white zinfandel, pinot noir, a meritage blend, syrah, petite syrah, cabernet sauvignon, barbera, nebbiolo and several zinfandels. the best wines are their zinfandels, and they are known for their heavy and explosive
monster zin ,
of which they are often sold out. their merlot is excellent, a big fruity wine with nice tannins, the buttery chardonnay had flavors of butterscotch, peach and green apple, and the late harvest zinfandel is one of the best i' ve tasted. owner art norman' s favorite is the cabernet sauvignon, full of plum and black cherry flavors. also of note are the
no nonsense red
meritage blend, consisting of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc, and the tannic and fruity petite syrah .
opalo (pronounced opal - oh), a joint venture by rick quinn and dave nichols - - neighbors in camarillo, ca. - - opened its doors in may 2001 with 1999 as a first vintage. the spacious tasting room, with lots of oak barrels and a c - shaped tasting bar, is large and tasteful. the tasting staff were very friendly and encouraged tasters to have fun .
opolo produces viognier, sangiovese, grenache, pinot noir, merlot, syrah and zinfandel. all but the viognier are estate - grown. my favorite wine is consistently the rich, jammy mountain zinfandel, one of my favorites in paso robles. also earning top marks were an earthy and slightly smoky syrah and a cabernet sauvignon and syrah blend called fusion .
peachy canyon recently moved from their
far out
location to the former live oak vineyards location on the main highway. the paso robles chardonnay had apricot and butter flavors, and there are several distinct zinfandels to choose from. the merlot was smoky and the black muscat dessert wine had a deep floral bouquet and was rich in raspberry flavors .
opening in 2001, pipestone vineyards is small, producing under 2, 000 cases annually. the grapes are organically farmed and the small tasting room includes some food and sauce items, a dog and a cat. pipestone produces viognier, rose, grenache, melange, and syrah. the tasting staff could use some improvement: speech regarding the visitor' s obligation to buy their wines was presented at my last visit .
pretty - smith winery, located just north of paso robles, is literally a one woman show - - that woman being lisa pretty. not only does lisa farm 65 acres of grapes and make the wines, she also acts as tasting room host. the tasting room is decorated with bright orange walls and a southwestern flavor. specializing in bordeaux varietals, the winery produces chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, a late harvest zinfandel and a zinfandel port. my favorite is a mellow and smoky blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc called palette de rouge .
rabbit ridge winery is located in the scenic san marcos hills just north of paso robles. this is a large winery that produces a large selection of wines common to the area. the tasting room is spacious and includes an assortment of gift items .
rabbit ridge produces sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, chardonnay, a rose, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, primativo, zinfandel, petit syrah and syrah, in addition to blended wines. the zinfandels are powerful and outstanding and earned my highest ranking (5). the syrah, exhibiting dark fruit and pepper notes, was not far behind. the wines are top quality and are priced as outstanding values (many as low as $ 6. 00) .
rio seco, which opened in february 2000, is owned former schoolteachers tom hinkle and his wife carol. the big red barn that serves as the winery and barrel room was originally constructed as a catering room for a movie production. the front corner of the barn contains a rustic tasting bar and some wine - related and novelty gift items. there is a picnic table located outside the winery .
the winery produces rousanne, viognier, a 50 / 50 blend of orange muscat and viognier, zinfandel rose, pinot noir, petite sirah, syrah, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and zinfandel. the muscat / viognier blend, called
viongerie ,
had fruity melon, peach and honeysuckle flavors - - nice for a warm afternoon. the syrah had plum, black cherry and pepper flavors, the cabernet franc had spicy, plum and raspberry flavors with a light smoke finish and the very fruity zinfandel had notes of raspberry, cherry and plum .
robert hall' s 40 - year dream of producing wines is evident at this winery, just a short drive off the main highway. the winery includes 19, 000 sq. ft. of underground caverns in which the wines are aged in an ideal environment. the huge tasting room, which includes a horseshoe - shaped tasting bar, opened in may 2002 .
the wines include sauvignon blanc, a blush blend, chardonnay, a rhone blend, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, and zinfandel. my favorites were the cabernet sauvignon and a yet - to - be - released port. i recommend the short tour of the winery that includes the caverns .
the historic rotta winery, founded in 1908 and the second oldest in san luis obispo county, has recently been given new life. the temporary location of the tasting room is located within the cider creek bakery on highway 46. a permanent location should arrive in 2006. rotta produces chardonnay, zinfandel rose, zinfandel, merlot, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, muscat canelli, zinfandel port and a dessert sherry. my favorites were the tart and fruity estate zinfandel, a light - bodied merlot and the zinfandel port .
summerwood winery (treana winery) is a beautiful winery and a very nice place for a relaxing lunch. the remodeled tasting room opened in may 2001. they offer a good selection of wine - related gifts and clothing and a small selection of deli meats, cheeses and crackers. outside there is a beautiful picnic area and gazebo, surrounded by many very impressive rose bushes - - one of my favorite spots for a picnic. across the street is the
l'aventure , or stephan vineyards , is a california wine estate producing signature red wine blends utilizing what are traditionally bordeaux and rhône grape varieties . the winery is located southwest of paso robles , california , along the pacific coast in the santa lucia mountain range . 
l'aventure, or stephan vineyards, is a california wine estate producing signature red wine blends utilizing what are traditionally bordeaux and rhône grape varieties. the winery is located southwest of paso robles, california, along the pacific coast in the santa lucia mountain range.
l'aventure, or stephan vineyards, is a california wine estate producing signature red wine blends utilizing what are traditionally bordeaux and rhône grape varieties. the winery is located southwest of paso robles, california, along the pacific coast in the santa lucia mountain range.