Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Paso Robles Wine Festival by Kelley Mangan and Lindsay Woods


A weekend full of winery activities and celebration of delicious California wine! With over 200 wineries in Paso Robles people from Southern, Central and Northern California come to enjoy the festivities. During this weekend attendees enjoy special library and barrel tasting, winemaker dinners, artisan food and music hosted by the Paso Robles Wineries. The main event of the weekend is the annual Wine Festival event held on the downtown city park. Each year 60 wineries and fine dining restaurants join in the local city park to celebrate a 30 year event.

The Paso Robles Wine Festival weekend is a time for wineries to share their story with the world! Each winery has their own unique story and style of wine. Paso Robles wineries do not compete with each other; instead they recommend and share each other’s stories and wine. The most special part of festival weekends is how the local community all comes together. Local wineries, restaurants and vendors come together to show how well they all blend together. Beside wineries companies such as Carriage Vineyards, Leo Leo Gelato, Pasolivo Olive Oil, Vivant Cheeses, Vino Therapy and Two Little Birds Bakery all help support this local festival.
Lindsay Wood’s Wine Festival Experience…….

         This was my fourth Paso Wine Fest and by far the best one yet.  I am lucky enough to be a member of such an awesome wine “family”, because it isn’t just a club, it truly is a family.  A bit of history – I met Ted and Lisa Plemons at a Wine Auction in Atlanta and before that night had never even heard of Cass.  I immediately fell in LOVE with Cass 2006 Mouvedre and when Lisa suggested I come out to Paso to help with wine fest, I thought it sounded like the perfect way to spend a weekend.  I got to meet the Cass staff and other wine clubs members and I walked away from that weekend thinking it was one of the coolest wine trips I had taken ( and believe me I have taken a bunch).  So every year, Paso Wine Fest is a fixture on our calendar and my fiancĂ©e, Rocky, might love it even more than me – if that is even possible.





So what made this year so amazing?  First off, the number of people who came out to the winery Saturday was huge.  A beautiful, warm Paso day and so many people enjoying themselves at Ted’s Taco Bar under the huge oak out front.  The wine was flowing, the tunes were jamming and people were really just having a great time.  It’s hard not to be happy in that environment.  The Rockin One Blanc was the perfect complement to the warm sunshine.




Later that evening as the sun set, close to 100 wine club members gathered for Cass’ first Wine Fest Farm to Table dinner in the vines. Long tables were set up among the vines and Chef Jacob had prepared a menu that showcased items from Cass’ own garden or local farms. Guest enjoyed a glass of vino while mingling under the big oak sampling oysters and filet Carpaccio.  We moved to sit down and the first course was a beautiful mixed green salad from Cass garden (that coincidentally I witnessed Jacob harvesting that very lettuce just an hour or so before dinner – talk about fresh!) paired with the 2011 Rockin One Blanc. Next was the green garlic soup paired with the 2011 Oasis Rose.  I don’t know if you have ever had green garlic soup, I had not, but it was the most amazing soup and probably one of best courses of the night.






By this time the sun had set and the string lights set up above the tables gave off a very intimate and romantic feel.  These pictures hardly do it justice. The main course was served family style and consisted of beautiful lamb chops, Cass Rousanne marinated, wood fired chicken, fingerling potatoes and a variety of mixed vegetables.  It was easily to tell the ingredients of the whole meal were local and fresh. I wish I could describe it in words, but I simply can’t.  It was just like every bite exploded in your mouth.  Personally, I don’t care for lamb normally, but I ate every bite of this course – the lamb was perfectly seasoned and cooked and was not gamey at all.  The Rocking One Red highlighted this course perfectly.




For dessert we moved back under the big oak and the staff had set up fire pits.  A buffet of fresh fruits, marshmallows, shortbread cookies and wonderful chocolate sauce for dipping was laid out for all to enjoy.  Steve Cass brought out Cass Port as a complement to dessert.  It was the perfect way to end an evening. The dinner itself was something you would expect to find in a five star restaurant and pay as such, but rather I find myself in a vineyard with new friends with a meal that far exceeded the cost.  What was even better was opening my email the next morning to find new messages from other wine club members from all over who had already gotten in touch.  Pretty cool when you can go to dinner, leave amazed by the meal and pocket a few new friends.  And the coolest part is – it is ALWAYS like this at Cass.  They always treat you like family and you always feel at home there.

    



So thank you Steve, Ted and the Cass Crew –only 363 days till next year!

At Cass we have been so thankful for all the volunteers we get during this festival. Friends and family members that have a passion for our wine volunteer their time help us pour and talk about Cass Wine. Wine Festival weekend is about everyone come together to celebrate Paso Roble’s finest!