I promise, the wine + paint will make sense.
Welcome back friends! I hope your new year is off to an amazing start. We recently got quite a bit of snow here in Nashville, which was... exciting? I tramped around a bit in my rain boots, so that was cool. I’m still a California girl though, and I get freaked out by large amounts of snow. But on to better things.
Today we have a very important topic to discuss, and that topic is wine tasting.
Wine tasting was basically invented for people like me, who like to try a million samples before committing to anything. Plus, the area where I grew up now has over 200 wineries (I KNOW), so checking out a new place and trying their wine is always a fun experience. This visit, I was lucky enough to be my mom’s plus-one to few of the wineries, (which is great because I get to drink wine for free and also hang out with my mom).
Thus I introduce to you: Oso Libre Winery.
Pretty wine in a pretty glass!
Oso Libre Winery is located off Vineyard Drive in Paso Robles, just past where I used to work (holla Opolo!). Meaning "Free Bear" in Spanish, the winery has been in operation since 2009, although the owners have spent years learning and perfecting their wines. Today, the winery produces all estate grown (that is, grown on their property) wines that are totally delicious.
One of the great things about Oso Libre is that they aren't just a winery, they are also a working ranch. They use sustainable practicies, and are 100% wind and solar powered. This commitment also means that they have English Babydoll sheep (as cute as they sound!), Angus cows, and chickens roam the property to help fertilize vines. These roamers help cover crops grow too (which is the stuff that vineyards plant between the vine rows to give the soil extra nutrients).
Trying Solera in the tasting room means you get to drink out of this sweet barrel!
Wine-wise, Oso Libre's wines are some of my favorite in Paso. They have a ton of flavor, but aren'y overly sweet, which is a delightful combination. One of the stand-outs is the Solera— it's a wine-club member only wine. What makes this wine so unique not just that it's a blend, it's actually a blend of about seven different years and 14 varietals. Basically, it's a mega-blend that features a bunch of their wines. I KNOW, it sounds crazy, but trust me when I say it's kind of amazing.
Painting + Wine = a complete delight!
I'm also obsessed with their "Volado," which is a white blend of Viognier, Roussanne, and Marsanne (all Rhone-style whites). It's crisp and refreshing, but still has a peachy/tropical fruit flavor. In fact, I brought a bottle back with me and drank it while painting at Sips 'n Strokes (aka wine painting). My sister and I painted some lighthouses, sipped wine, and (in my case) pretended to be a lot more artistic than I actually am.
Drinking out of these classy cups!
This illustrates what I love about wine. It's not always just the taste, or the smell, or the buzz— it's the experience. It's the sharing stories part, and the way that a great glass can accompany a great memory. Oso Libre's got both.
P.S., they also have a meat club, where you can sign up to receive about 30lbs of meat each year. So there's that.
In case anyone was curious about my lighthouse... I feel like the top reminds me of the Cheshire Cat's face.