Where Wine Takes You - A Paso Wine Podcast

Adam Montiel

Keeping it real with owners, winemakers, growers and personalities as they discuss the places and wines that have shaped the Paso Robles Wine Region

  1. DEC 5

    Ep 153 – Harvest Wrap Up: The Long Game & The Leap – Featuring Oso Libre Winery | Shadow Run Vineyards

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with two winemakers that have stepped into new chapters: Aaron Hunt of Shadow Run Vineyards and Michael Barretto of Oso Libre Winery. The conversation uncorks harvest reflections, the transition from family stewardship to full ownership, and what it means to go from the cellar to the boardroom. Aaron shares how taking over Shadow Run has reshaped his vision, while Michael opens up about becoming a partner at Oso Libre after years of hands-on hustle. Later, we spotlight Allegretto Vineyard Resort and their upcoming 12 Days of Festive Celebration, a magical holiday experience wrapped in wine country luxury. GUEST LINKS • Shadow Run Vineyards: shadowrunvineyards.com • IG: @shadowrunvineyards • Oso Libre Winery: osolibre.com • IG: @osolibrewinery TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT • Allegretto Vineyard Resort: allegrettovineyardresort.com • IG: @allegrettoresort PASO WINE WIRE SOURCES • Thomas Hill Organics / Chef Mike Espy: GoFundMe – Support the Espy Family • Wine Country Christmas Market (Dec 7 @ McPrice Myers): Event Info • Caliza Winery’s New Location: Paso Robles Daily News 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel 📱 Download the free Paso Wine App — your ultimate guide to wine country. For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine Follow Adam on IG → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.

    1h 8m
  2. NOV 21

    Ep 152 Like a Boss: From Reality TV to Reality Check – Featuring Vinyl Vineyards | Wine Boss

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with three bold names shaking up Paso Robles: Tommy Booth of Wine Boss, and Dina & Jeff Hevert of Vinyl Vineyards. From Hollywood reality TV to rockstar collabs, this episode is a journey through reinvention, hustle, and the kind of creativity that makes Paso wine country unlike anywhere else. Recorded live at Lobro, the conversation dives into Tommy’s wild ride from Cal Poly viticulture student to crafting wine for Kevin Hart and Pepper, and how Jeff & Dina turned their passion for vintage trailers and music into a soulful, boutique vineyard experience. Later, we spotlight Tin City with Bri Brighlane, who shares what’s in store for the holidays at Paso’s urban wine collective with 44 creative producers packed into one unforgettable block. GUEST LINKS • Wine Boss: winebosspasorobles.com • IG: @wineboss_pasorobles • Vinyl Vineyards: vinylvin.com • IG: @vinylvineyards TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT • Tin City: tincitypasorobles.com PASO WINE WIRE SOURCES • Jenny Heinzen Real Estate Feature: Paso Market Outlook 2025 • Grey Wolf Earthquake Story: The Tribune – SLO Earthquake 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel 📱 Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country. For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle) Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.

    1h 22m
  3. NOV 15

    Ep 151 Sip, Sleep, Repeat: Pondside Trailers & Pillow-Top Suites – Featuring SummerWood Inn & Winery | The Trailer Pond at Alta Colina

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 This week on Where Wine Takes You, we’re exploring what happens when world-class wine meets next-level hospitality. Because in Paso Robles, where you lay your head after that last pour can shape the entire experience. Joining Adam are the dream team from SummerWood Winery & Inn: Winemaker Mauricio Marchant, Tasting Room & Wine Club Manager Margaret Shirley, and Inn Manager Angie Vazquez – alongside Maggie Tillman of Alta Colina Winery and the one-of-a-kind Trailer Pond glamping experience. This episode is a deep dive into how you sip and how you feel hospitality, and why the full wine country experience is worth getting right. It’s wine-story, and soulful-stay… straight from the source. 🍷 This episode features: Mauricio Marchant, Winemaker, SummerWood Winery • Margaret Shirley, Tasting Room & Wine Club Manager, SummerWood • Angie Vazquez, Inn Manager, SummerWood Inn • Maggie Tillman, HBIC, Alta Colina Winery & The Trailer Pond 🔗 Links SummerWood Winery & Inn • Alta Colina Winery • The Trailer Pond • Paso Robles Vacation Rentals – PasoStay • TravelPaso.com 📲 Follow on Instagram @summerwoodwinery • @altacolina • @thetrailerpond • @pasoroblesvacationrentals • @travelpaso 🧭 Travel Paso Spotlight Later in the episode, we spotlight Paso Robles Vacation Rentals, aka PasoStay.com, a locally owned service helping visitors book thoughtfully curated stays throughout Paso, from vineyard estates to charming downtown hideaways. Adam chats with Sandy Oneal about how the right place to stay can transform your trip. Originally founded by Kathy Bonelli with just a handful of properties over 20 years ago, Paso Robles Vacation Rentals now features more than 100 unique homes. The team partners with local property owners and works closely with community leaders and task forces to support the evolving landscape of vacation rentals in the region. 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine and travel junkies. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel 📱 Download the free Paso Wine App 🔗 PasoWine.com 📸 Follow: @PasoWine, @AdamOnTheAir 🎙 Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up+Adam and The Pour 💻 Connect or reach out at AdamMontiel.com – Learn about Adam’s Breaking & Entering Christmas 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective ©2025 Where Wine Takes You. All Rights Reserved.

    1h 19m
  4. OCT 31

    Ep 150: Wine Life at the Intersection of Collaboration & Community – Featuring Gravesend | Cairjn Wine Cellars

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷  Episode 150 turns a new page in Paso Robles. Adam sits down with the founders of Gravesend Paso, Matt Reese and Keith Robinson (also of Saint K Wines) along with Chef Amy Baer and rising winemaker Andy Neja of Cairjn Wine Cellars. We dig into why a name like Gravesend matters, how a kitchen is built entirely by women, how small lot winemaking finds new voice in Paso, and why hospitality is getting reimagined up and down Spring Street. Recorded at LoBro Studios in downtown Paso Robles. This episode features: • Matt Reese, Co-owner, Gravesend and Saint K Wines • Keith Robinson, Co-owner, Gravesend and Saint K Wines • Chef Amy Baer, Founder and Owner of Epicurean Santa Barbara and Executive Chef at Gravesend • Andy Neja, Owner and Winemaker at Cairjn Wine Cellars Links • Gravesend Paso • Saint K Wines • Cairjn Wine Cellars Follow on Instagram: Cairjn Wine Cellars → @cairjnwines Gravesend Wine Merchant & Eatery → @gravesendpaso Saint K Wines → @saintkwines  We also spotlight our unique partnership with Engelbert Strauss, the official workwear partner of Paso Robles Wine Country, and why it matters in the vineyard, the cellar, and beyond. I picked up the phone and spoke with Cris Cherry of Villa Creek & MAHA Estate and Janell Dusi of J Dusi Wines – two makers who know that craft isn’t just what happens in the glass, but who shows up in the fields, in the hands, in the gear. Their insights on harvest, community, and what it takes to make it count in Paso bring context to a partnership that’s built for the people doing the work. Paso Wine Wire • Garagiste Wine Festival returns Nov 7-8, in Paso Robles for its 15th anniversary → garagistefestival.com • Firestone Walker Brewing Company unveils a new CO2 recovery system in Paso Robles, expected to save four million pounds of emissions annually → firestonewalker.com • Ancient Peaks Winery hosted the 4th Annual Walk for Cancer at Santa Margarita Ranch → pasoroblespress.com Travel Paso Spotlight Later in the show we spotlight Taste! Craft Eatery in downtown Paso Robles, the same concept featured on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives. They offer over 60 mini dishes, sliders, mac and cheese, big flavor, and local wine pairing energy. • tastepasorobles.com   🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel 📱 Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country. For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle) Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.

    1h 33m
  5. OCT 24

    Ep 149: Before the Buzz: Paso’s Tried and True Tasting Better than Ever – Featuring Caparone | RN Estate

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 Two Paso originals, zero gimmicks. This week Adam sits down with Marc Caparone of Caparone Winery (owner/winemaker, founded 1979) and Roger Nicolas of RN Estate (owner/winemaker, launched 2000) to talk patience, classic craft, and why less can taste like more. We dig into moderate alcohols, neutral oak, and Italian/Bordeaux varieties that age into real conversations. Plus, a Travel Paso Spotlight on the Garagiste Wine Festival turning 15. Recorded at Timbre LoBro Studios, this episode features: • Marc Caparone — Owner/Winemaker, Caparone Winery • Roger Nicolas — Owner/Winemaker, RN Estate Vineyard & Winery We explore Caparone’s father-and-son “simple winery, complex wines” ethos and their pioneering work with Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, and Aglianico. Then we head to RN Estate’s hilltop lens on Paso: Bordeaux-inspired reds, finesse-first blending, and SRH Pinot Noir when the coast calls. If you’re chasing origin stories in the glass, start here. Paso Wine Wire Dream Big Darling opens 2026 FLOurish leadership track — six months of coaching, peer mentoring, and skill-building → https://dreambigdarling.org/flourish • Cambria Hotel Templeton–Paso Robles is now open at 1000 Las Tablas Rd, Templeton → https://www.choicehotels.com/cambria • National love for locals: Yes Cocktail Co. named #1 Best Craft Mixer Brand in USA TODAY 10Best; Allegretto Vineyard Resort ranked #3 Best Wine Country Hotel → https://www.yescocktailco.com • https://www.allegrettovineyardresort.com Travel Paso Spotlight We check in with Stewart McLennan, co-founder of the Garagiste Wine Festival, celebrating 15 years of discovery in Paso — small-lot producers, first-name energy, and the best place to stumble into your new favorite label. • Festival info & schedule → https://www.garagistefestival.com/paso-robles • Plan your trip → https://travelpaso.com 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com Links & Follow Wineries • Cparone Winery (est. 1979) → https://www.caparone.com • RN Estate Vineyard & Winery (est. 2000) → https://www.rnestate.com 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel 📱 Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country. For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle) Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.

    1h 19m
  6. OCT 10

    Ep 148: Canopy Cowboys: Riding Ripeness & Harvest Hunches from Vintage 2025

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷  This week we saddle up with the Canopy Cowboys of Alterra Solutions — a vineyard management supergroup shaping some of the most coveted sites in Paso. We’re talking legacy, precision farming, and how to ride ripeness like a pro, and what Paso is learning from Harvest 2025, from the brightest minds farming it. Recorded at LoBro Studios in Paso Robles, this ep features: • Kevin Wilkinson (the thinker), founder & vineyard strategist • Lucas Pope (the kind & sensitive one), VP, sparkling evangelist, and co-founder of Haliotide Wines • Chris Hammell (token bad boy), vineyard whisperer (formerly Bien Nacido) We dig into Alterra’s 2025 rebrand from Coastal Vineyard Services and why it signals more than just a name change. It’s a full-circle moment for founder Kevin Wilkinson, who has spent decades shaping the region from behind the scenes. Lucas Pope shares his wild entry into farming, managing vineyards for Silicon Valley’s elite in the hills of Santa Cruz, and how that path eventually led to launching Haliotide, a sparkling wine project with his wife Nicole. Chris Hammell reflects on his years managing Bien Nacido Vineyard, and why his quiet, humble demeanor masks one of the most accomplished vineyard résumés on the West Coast. Paso Wine Wire • New Decemil Wine Lounge brings micro-estate Rhône energy to downtown Paso inside the 1888 Grangers Union Building → decemilwines.com • Garagiste Wine Festival turns 15 — Nov 7–8 at Paso Robles Event Center → garagistefestival.com • Opolo’s Harvest Grape Stomp Dinner is back Oct 17 — lamb roast, Balkan beats, and stomping galore → opolo.com Travel Paso Spotlight This week we check in to Hotel Cheval, the boutique gem of downtown Paso. GM Jayne Christman joins us to talk about warm service, world-class comfort, and what makes Cheval one of Paso’s most beloved places to stay. • Learn more: hotelcheval.com • Plan your trip: TravelPaso.com 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel 📱 Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.   For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle) Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.

    1h 24m
  7. OCT 3

    Ep 147: First Castle on the Right: The Drawbridge Between Craft & Collaboration – Featuring Fortress Custom Crush | The Anderson | Serial Wines

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 This week we go inside the new life breathed into Paso’s ‘first castle on the right’, the newest hospitality power duo: Fortress Custom Crush (production, collaboration, small-lot craft) and The Anderson Paso (flexible hospitality and events next door). I’m joined by Jeremy Leffert (Fortress), Azurae Shults (The Anderson Paso), and Jeff Kandarian of Serial Wines to talk about harvest 2025, how resident winemakers sharpen each other, and all what we can expect when all the curtains are pulled back. We taste through Serial’s current lineup and dig into the drawbridge between craft and collaboration. Paso Wine Wire Linne Calodo stays “all in on Zin,” highlighting heritage sites and Willow Creek spice with 2023 releases Problem Child and Cherry Red. → linnecalodo.com Booker achieves CCOF organic certification in the winery, completing vine-to-bottle organic status. → Read: Paso Robles Daily News • Visit: bookerwines.com Robb Report spotlights Libretto as a downtown Paso jazz magnet built around a rare 2012 Steinway Model D. → Read: Robb Report • Visit: librettopaso.com Travel Paso Spotlight We’re shining the light on the Paderewski Festival in Paso Robles, November 6–9, 2025, a multi-day celebration of music and legacy. Build your weekend around the concerts, the wine, and the vibe. • Learn more: paderewskifest.com • Plan your trip: TravelPaso.com Special Mini-Segment A quick recognition of our partnership with Strauss, including a short chat with Henning Strauss on why supporting local storytelling matters to makers and travelers alike. 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country. For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle) Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.

    1h 6m
  8. SEP 26

    Ep 146: Where the Wild Wines Are – Featuring Paix Sur Terre | Brecon | Cordant

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 This week on Where Wine Takes You, we’re going Where the Wild Wines Are with three winemakers who represent the energy and evolution of Paso: Ryan Pease of Paix Sur Terre, Alex Kemp of Brecon Estate, and Ryker Wall of Cordant Winery. Ryan has carved out a cult following with Paix Sur Terre, crafting Rhône-driven wines that overdeliver in character and soul. Alex is leading the charge at Brecon, one of Paso’s most acclaimed tasting rooms, while also exploring his Grenache obsession through Terranean Wines. And Ryker is steering winemaking at Cordant, continuing its legacy of thoughtful, vineyard-driven blends, while building his personal project Idola Wines into something truly exciting. Together, we dig into what it means to make wine in Paso right now — the harvest surprises, the challenges, the camaraderie, and the creativity. You’ll hear stories that connect the dots between established brands and the next generation of labels that are quietly rising up in Paso. Paso Wine Wire Paso featured in Forbes: “Outstanding Cabernet Year” for 2025 — cooler weather + drought conditions could deliver one of Paso’s most exciting vintages yet. Sensorio issues global open call for new immersive art installations — artists, designers, and creators invited to light up Paso in new ways. California Wine Month — celebrating the $2.8 billion impact of wine and tourism on Paso and the many events happening across the state wrapping up September. Travel Paso Spotlight This week we’re shining the light on The Bovine Classic, Paso’s gravel cycling adventure happening October 25, 2025, that mixes endurance with pure SLO CAL beauty. Riders take on rugged vineyard trails, rolling hills, and backcountry routes that show off Paso in a whole new way. Last year I even got to call riders across the finish line, and the vibe was unreal, more a fun and memorable community festival than race. This year promises the same: world-class cycling, live music, food, and plenty of Paso wine and beer to keep the celebration rolling. Whether you’re a cyclist or just want to be part of the scene, it’s a can’t-miss weekend. 👉 Learn more and register: The Bovine Classic Featured Wineries this episode: Paix Sur Terre Brecon Estate Cordant Winery Terranean Wines Idola Wines 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.   For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle) Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.

    1h 39m
5
out of 5
206 Ratings

About

Keeping it real with owners, winemakers, growers and personalities as they discuss the places and wines that have shaped the Paso Robles Wine Region

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