What a wonderful winery! Thank you Dave with the wine and conversation. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the visit. Can't wait to open these bottles with family and friends! read more

Where can you get wine WITHOUT SULFITES? Caparone Winery! We intentionally picked this unique family run winery because they don't add sulfur dioxide to wines, which is used as a preservative. When we visited Caparone Winery in Paso Robles, we made the mistake of driving down a dirt path road on the way. It wasn't terrible but do try to take San Marcos Road when coming here. When we came to the winery, it literally looked like a deserted farmhouse. There was just 1 other vehicle around and a closed door to the building. We ventured inside and was pleasantly surprised that the father/owner Dave was already there pouring wine for visitors! The building was filled with wooden barrels of unsulfated wine. On a modest table, Dave offered 2015 Nebbiolo, 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2015 Merlot, 2016 Aglianico, 2013 Zinfandel, and 2016 Sangiovese. We sampled each wine and particularly liked the Zinfandel! The wine smelled fragrant and full. The wine was slightly dry and not at all acidic and we loved the lack of sulfated preservatives. At $18 per bottle, 10% discounts are offered for a half case 6 bottles and 20% discount for a full case of 12 bottles. We purchased the Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Nebbiolo. Excellent wine and without sulfite preservatives! A great little winery worth visiting! read more

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We first visited Caparone five years ago and then visited again yesterday. They have not changed, but in the case of Caparone that is a good thing. Because although the wine tasting room (which is in the warehouse and just a bar) is not like some of the other large wineries around Paso the one thing that has not changed it the excellent quality of the wine. We came here on Saturday with no one else here besides the owner, Dave who welcomed us and poured the five different wines they offer. Caparone does not spend money on looks but it does put it's money where it's mouth is and the excellent wine shows it. All their reds can be seen on their website, the cost is currently $16.00 per bottle but these wines far exceed that price point. Here is a quote on the site from Caparone: "Interesting, high quality red wines, sold at an honest price - that is what Caparone Winery is about." That is as true a statement as it can be. If you are into the comfortable tasting rooms with costs that are way too much for the quality of wine then Caparone is NOT the place to go. If you want some of the absolute BEST red wine in Paso Robles at a cost that is honest and fair, then stop in and buy it here. If you take any to a party or share with friends they will be absolutely floored at the quality and the price. Thanks Caparone for keeping it real and providing excellent wine for us to enjoy. read more

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Still excellent wines at an excellent value, plus a wealth of information and history of local weather affecting the grapes, grape origins, etc. This is our favorite winery, and we have been to many. If you are looking for a fancy tasting room and willing to pay for it, there are many places for you. Caparone is for real wine aficionados. We bought two cases today, and this is the only winery where we buy a case. Zinfandel and Aglianico. read more

Simply the best at "no punches pulled" wine making in Paso Robles. Here's who we are, here's what we make, here's the price, we will be here. Fashionistas will like the tasting room http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nFB1863hNs0vg8lCjWn1Bg?select=CO4qG-1MKEnhovxf9pNd1g Marketing moguls will drool over the marketing techniques behind the tasting counter http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nFB1863hNs0vg8lCjWn1Bg?select=17NRpU0Ak4nigke0ydgUxQ We bought the 2008 Aglianico Unfiltered and unfined, like the father pouring. read more

Caparone Winery - Can you say unpretentious? - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

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WHOA! I loved the wines here. Italian varietals that stand out. Me and my group of friends stopped by 10 wineries over Fathers Day Weekend and this was in my top 3 of all time favorite wineries. I've been to maybe 40 total in Paso Robles. This is one of those off the beaten path easy to miss places. You won't get flashy grounds but it's a clean and well kept place. The actual tasting room is more like a warehouse with no frills inside. Just Barrels and a tiny tasting table. Most of the time this is exactly the type of place that makes amazing wines. All wines were $16 They had a Nebiola that was outstanding but the first wine sampled and first wine of the day blew me away. It was the Sangiovese . Smooth, light in color and full of balanced flavors. I bought 4 bottles and I'm stingy when it comes to purchasing wines. I have a picky palate. Loved this place and it's one I will always tell people to try first to set your bar. There's life in these bottles. P.S This is a non corporate place where the wine maker is self taught. It's a father and son operation. These wines stood out. Proof you don't need to have proper training to make good wine. read more

Yelp reviews promised us a unique winery visit with some varieties different than anywhere else. This is a barebones tasting with 6 very basic wine bottles in a row (see pictures) telling you which grape it is from. No blends...just taste the grape. Marc the son poured describing their operation, the techniques they use and the varieties his father had planted. We chose Caparone not only for the higher yelp rating but also to experience some different varieties of grape. We Americans limit ourselves to only a few varities, while Marc explains there are over 1000 varieties in Italy. Tried Aglianico and Nebbiolo for the first time. Purchased 2 of the Nebolli because of its unique taste. All wines now cost $16. Overall these are not the finest of wines we have enjoyed this 3 day getaway...but solid wines combined with a very unique winery visit that everyone should experience (especially as more & more of the PR vineyards get bigger name and i fear are on the verge of becoming napa-like. Caparone was refreshingly simple! read more

Caparone Winery - Learning about Caparone wines from Marc. - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

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The first time I went to Caparone was over 20 years ago. I was wine tasting in Paso and asked a local what the hidden gem winery was and without hesitating he suggested I try Caparone. And, every time I go to Paso, I stop at Caparone. I was just there this past weekend. The tasting experience is no-frills. The wines are food friendly and very reasonable priced ($18 each). They're definitely worth checking out read more

Free wine tasting in Paso Robles! The owner was great and very knowledgable. However, their wines weren't my favorite. Marc was telling my friend and I that they use an older, more traditional method of wine making, and it wasn't quite my jam. I just prefer more "jammy" red wines. However, I really liked their cab and left with a bottle. Their wine prices are reasonable. They have a couple Italian wines (Nebbiolo, Aglianico, and Sangiovese) that you won't see at every winery. Lovely family! read more

My husband and I arrived a little late for our reservation and were greeted by one of the Caparone family. We tasted in a casual atmosphere and learned about their history while enjoying affordable wines. We would recommend this winery for all who just want to enjoy good wines without the fluff. read more

Caparone Winery - Our favorite with the vineyards in the background. - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

I've been to 13 wineries in Paso and Caparone is my second favorite, right behind Turley. I probably won't get to post reviews for all the others, so this is how I rank them: 1. Turley 2. Caparone 3. Tobin James 4. Doce Robles 5. San Marcos Creek 6. Vista Del Rey 7. Grey Wolf/Barton 8. Rabbit Ridge 9. D'Anbino 10. Whalebone 11. Wild Coyote 12. Robert Hall 13. La Cuvie Keep in mind, these are rated based on the wines I tasted and not the atmosphere, customer service, etc. (yes, I really enjoy the wines from Tobin James- specifically the reserves). Another thing- from #7- #12, I only liked 1-2 wines out of the several that were put in front of me. At La Cuvie, I liked nothing, hence their ranking of dead last. All (not some) of Caparone's wines are bretty, similar to an old Bordeaux, which you will either love or hate. I love it. These are not typical tastes you find in wines from the Paso region so you may not dig Caparone if you came to Paso for the super jammy zins. One of the best parts... if you do like Caparone's style, every one of their bottles is only $16 a piece! And if you buy 6 bottles or more, you get 10% off! I enjoyed everything I tasted there and left with 6 bottles- 2 zins, 2 merlots and 2 sangioveses. $14.40/bottle for THESE?? That's insanity. I should have bought more. This was confirmed when I brought a bottle of their 2007 Zin to a dinner last week along with a bottle of Oregon Syrah that I paid $75 for. Guess which bottle fared better? I immediately joined Caparone's wine club as soon as I got home. Why not? Great wines for a great price. read more

This is a great little winery that specializes in Italian grapes. They were the first (or one of the first - there seems to be a heated dispute on this topic!) Californian vineyards to grow nebbiolo etc. They make strong, pure examples of several grapes, including nebbiolo, sangiovese, aglianico, cab sauv etc. The prices are extremely fair and the father/son owners are great. I am still trying to persuade them to make a Super Tuscan blend! UPDATE: Jean-Georges pours these wines at his bastions of culinary greatness in NY and Vegas, so it's not just me that likes the stuff! read more

Its in the middle of nowhere and just when you think you've missed it, keep driving. I am glad that this wasn't my first wine tasting experience but what a way to end the day. First, the grounds were beautiful. You drive up this country road to this door marked wine tasting. We walked in and it was definitely unpretentious. If you like Italian wine, this is the place to go. This is one of the oldest wineries in the area run by a father/son team. They have Italian grapes- Sangiovese, Aglianico, and the Nebbiolo (I liked the Nebbiolo and my husband didn't...). These wines are unfiltered so you can leave them out for days and they are still good. And the best part-the wines are $14 a bottle (even less if you beat the wine club). read more

A winery for the true wine lover. One of our friends, who came on the trip with us, was real hot and heavy to come here. The GF and I, being the wine sluts we are, were just as eager. Pulling up to the property, it was the classic, no frills wine tasting. If your looking for a Frass Canyon style winery, you will not find it here. This place is for the wine purest and the wines show it. I was even fond of their Merlot, what the hell?? 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Nebbiolo - Great and unconventional color but still had it going on. 2004 Merlot 2005 Zinfandel 2009 Aglianico All of them were amazing. 2009 Sangiovese was sold out, too bad. Really wanted to taste that one. The GF and I walked away with one each and 2 of the Aglianicos, love that grape. This is a must visit for all wine lovers and don't forget to ask about the lounge area. read more

Caparone is one of the oldest Paso Robles wineries, they were the 6th back when they opened in 1979. When you walk into the tasting room, which is just a bar against the wall in one of the barrel warehouses, you'll realize that they must have hardly changed since then - the tasting glasses are little round things that have probably been there as long as the winery, and all the wines are only $14 each, which is an UNBELIEVABLE steal for their quality. Caparone's Italian style and background is clear in every wine they produce (all of which are red) - they're all in the 13% alcohol range (nearly unheard of in today's massive California style), incredibly food friendly, with balanced tannins, medium body, and bright acidity throughout. Every wine they produce would go fantastically with any Italian food made - fish, meat, pasta, poultry, you name it. These are highly refined, restrained, complex wines that (apparently) also have great aging potential. They have a library of their wine going back to the beginning, and open some of the older bottles every year to find they've only continued to improve, even after 25 years. You'll also notice that all the wines are at least 4 years old. They barrel age for at least 2 years, and then age in bottle for some time after that, so the wines are already wonderfully balanced by the time you buy them. They also make locally-grown pure Italian varietals like Aglianico, Sangiovese, and Nebbiolo better than pretty much anywhere else I've tasted in California (and were the first to plant many of them!). Caparone is officially on my visit-every-time list, and it should be on yours. read more

Caparone is quickly becoming a must-stop for me on any visit to Paso. I've talked to son Marc and now his father, Dave, of this father-son operation and both are great to talk to, although Dave is certainly the more laconic. It's nice to have a bare-bones tasting room where you're not being told exactly how the wine should taste, though. Nothing but you and the wine and a little quiet. We ended up talking a bit after the tasting about old cars - he had a beautiful old Lincoln outside, and I have a much newer '70 Mustang. Talking with Dave was one of the highlights of my trip down there this past weekend. Caparone's wines are unique in a very good way - it's hard to find anything like them in Paso, with the bright acidity another reviewer mentioned and the sense that these are the best table wines (as in pairing well with food, not as in cheap) I could hope to have. If I could have only one wine to pair with dinner and serve to friends for the rest of my life, their Aglianico just might be it. It's not obtrusive, it's not a big fruit bomb, but it is quite flavorful. You really have to try it to see what I mean. As for the labels and the tasting room, I wouldn't have them change a thing. They've got a good thing going, and it's all part of the charm. I know that if I ever have to dress up as a '30s gangster, I'm going to accessorize with one of their bottles if I have to drive down to Paso to get it. read more

Belly up to the bar and drink the best wine for the price in Paso. If you like fancy go elsewhere but if you want history, good wine and great conversation then this is the place. More traditional Italian varietals makes it even more interesting. What a breath of fresh air. read more

Thank goodness there is Yelp. I would have never found this place otherwise! I went to 5 total wineries on my short trip to Paso Robles, and this one is #2 on my list just after Kukkula. When you factor in the price difference though, this place was definitely the best value for the quality of wine. I really loved the wines here (just about all of them except the Merlot). $16 each, doesn't matter the variety. Our favorite was the Sangiovese (2012) and we also got a bottle of the Nebbiolo and Cab. I ended up leaving with a half-case, but really should have bought the whole case. This winery was the first we visited of 5 total for that day, and it really, really screwed up the rest of our wine tastings. By screwed up I meant that pretty much no other winery could impress like Caparone did! Everything else was just a disappointment in taste and/or in price. Had I known I would have also bought more wines here, but you can't start your day by buying a whole case... you just know that's usually going to end badly (and broke) by the end of the day! So if you're like me, I would highly recommend going to Caparone last. We also met the owner there the morning of the tasting. He was telling us about the backstory of Paso Robles - he was one of the original wineries that is still around from the days that Paso Robles was just starting to become a wine region - and other random nonsense. Really nice guy and very knowledgeable about wines. Don't expect much when you walk in - the tasting location is literally just in a warehouse, but that's how they keep their costs so low. Free wine tasting too. The only bummer is that they don't really distribute their wines (again, to keep costs low), so I guess I will definitely be back and bringing my friends with me next time! (They do online orders and they do ship though!) read more

Small father and son run operation with every wine priced at $14 a bottle. It is one of the original wineries in Paso. This father and son team are able to keep costs down by doing everything themselves with a very small, low key tasting area located where they store the barrels. You won't find any t-shirts, jelly or cookbooks here! If you like Italian style wines then be sure to stop here. We enjoyed the unique taste of Merlot (which is a varietal that we normally never drink). I don't think they charge for tasting but you will probably find a bottle or two that you like. Since most wine in this area is at least double the price, it's worth a stop just to try it to see what you think. Don't expect anything fancy but that is one of the things that makes this place unique. It's like stepping back in time... very unique. I would love to redesign the labels for them. The font they use kills me! So many people judge a wine by its label. Glad that doesn't seem to be an issue here! Maybe I could get them $16 a bottle with the right label! :) read more

Hard to beat their wine prices. Tasting will most likely be done by one of the owners which is cool. Cool back story. However, in my opinion most of the wine needs serious help. Most of the wines are extremely oxidized and past their prime. Other wine-making flaws, besides the over oxidation, exist in almost all their other wines, which is a bummer. I believe the winery could greatly be improved if they had an out sourced wine expert help them with some of their current problems in their current bottling's. read more

This winery is my favorite small winery in Paso Robles. It is an father and son operation. You not only get many great quality wines with distinct characters, the price of their wine is unbelievable reasonable. During our visit, we got the chance to meet the father and the son. Marc, the son, is a wine maker by day and musician by night. We also found out that the caparone grow and produce aglianico, a not so common style of wine that is generally hard to find in united state. The 2002 aglianico i got from caparone reminded me of some expensive bottles of amarone. At $11 a bottle club member price, it was turely unbeatable. My favorite are their Italian specialty: sangiovese, nebbiolo and aglianico. read more

We visited Caparone on a recent trip to Paso wine country. Their 'tasting room' is their warehouse. Unpretentious and simple. We arrived a half hour before they were supposed to open, and Dave Caparone welcomed us in. We enjoyed almost an hour talking with Dave, and tasting his delicious wines. Caparone Winery charges $14 per bottle, for every varietal wine they sell. You can't beat that anywhere. The next time we drive down 101, we will make a side trip to go visit Caparone Winery. No need to go anywhere else. I can't really add anything to the reviews below, other than: Take the time to go visit this winery. You won't regret it!!. read more

Truly excellent. Maybe that's because they only make the kids of reds I love (I bought all six offerings). They are definitely the most informal winery, the tasting room is just a bar in the warehouse. The wines are all unfined and unfiltered and aged more than most in the area. Definitely we'll be visiting here on every trip through the area. read more

Hysterical - go for a new and unique experience. Father and son manage the winery and the tasting room, and there are no frills involved here. Taste in the dark, cold warehouse and check out the sign posted with the prices (they are all the same - Caparone Sr. said it is easier to remember them this way). The wines are good, and high in acid as many others are saying. We love the Sangiovese and the Nebiolo. Pricing is great (was $16 a bottle when we went), and you will not taste anything else like it. read more

Family owned and traditionally made Italian-style reds: Unfiltered and unfined. My personal favorites are the Zin, Merlot and Nebbiolo. Helpful hint: Leave yourself some time; it's a bit of a drive, but worth every mile of it! read more

Caparone Winery - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

Wow their unfiltered Sangiovese is the best I've ever had! For 16 dollars you can't beat it! And free tasting

A must stop on your Paso Robles wine tasting adventures. The tasting happens in a warehouse that is dark and basic but don't let that scare you off. There are some great wines to be had here and the owner is very knowledgable. The price of these wines are an incredible value. It's a little out there but totally worth the drive ! read more

A traditional family winery that is as unpretentious as you can get. One of the very first wineries in Paso Robles. The tastings are complimentary and the bottles are all very reasonably priced. All wines are 100% single varietal; you won't go wrong with any, especially the Nebbiolo and Sangiovese. The owner shared stories about the region over the last 40 years - that alone made the visit something you don't experience everyday and very memorable for us. read more

I just love this winery. It is a step back in time. They have a simple, bare bones approach to wine making that I find honest and refreshing. The tasting room is in a warehouse with all the wine barrels so you get to see "behind the scene" while tasting. You also get a chance to talk up the winemakers which is a nice treat. It is a father and son and they are soft spoken and honest and extremely knowledgeable about their craft. The wine, like everything else about the experience is fantastic and simple. All singe varietals, unfiltered and unfined. They have an old world quality and taste that I find romantic and delicious. My personal favorites are their Zinfandel and Nebbiolo. Caperone is on the to-do list any trip I take up to Paso. Take a break from all the glitz and glam of the big producers and give Caperone a try. You won't regret it. read more

Caparone was exactly what I've been looking for in a winery. Nice view, unpretentious facility, and wine tasting right in the cool, dark cellar. And we were the only visitors on a Sunday afternoon in May. Plus wine tasting hosted by the winemaker, himself. It's a father and son operation. The day we arrived Caparone Sr. was hosting the wine tasting. He explained that he had been growing grapes in Paso Robles since the 1970's, We mentioned a few of his neighboring wineries, and he was able to tell us the history of each of them. He was a treasure trove of historical knowledge, and he enjoyed sharing it without being over-burdening. Most of the wines are unusual old-world varieties that I had never heard of, but they tasted wonderful. He told us they were all un-blended and un-filtered. Highly-recommended! read more

Visited Caparone on 8/8/14. Seven people showed up within a few minutes of each other. Marc easily handled the group and provided a wealth of info from describing each of the varietals to the history of Caparone. We tasted the following wines: 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Sangiovese 2009 Nebbiolo 2005 Merlot 2005 Zinfandel 2010 Aglianico Enjoyed all of the wines with the exception of the Merlot. Joined the club which made each bottle $12. You will be challenged to find a better wine for almost twice that price. Walked away with two each of the Italian varietals (Sangiovese, Aglianico, and the Nebbiolo). Personal fav was the Nebbiolo. If you enjoy the Italian style wines, Caparone is a can't miss. Great value winery, keep that in mind and you will enjoy!,, read more

Our "research"group started out at Caparone. This is one of the First 5 wineries in our county and the laid back warehouse is a great time to enjoy italian wines. read more

I love their unpretentious attitude and the philosophy of "keeping it simple." Their wine is excellent. I ordered a few bottles of their Italian reds - Sangiovese, Aglianico, and Nebbiolo, best wine I have tasted in a while! And, on top of it, at a reasonable price. I look forward to visiting them soon again. Christa Polkinhorn, Author (and wine aficionada) read more

If you want a huge fancy corporate winery DO NOT go to Caparone. If you want to talk to the winemakers in a basic facility with excellent wines. Bought more bottles here than any other stop on the trip. They are old school all the way - just what we look for. read more

I loved this winery. But first, a warning: The decor is very simple, because the wine tasting happens in their minimal wine storage house. So if you are looking for made up (and I believe typically cheesy, though it appeals to most people) winery architecture, you are not going to find it here. Basically, all the wines taste good. And they are very reasonably priced. The bottles were $16 each and the tasting was free. This is apparently one of the few? wineries that makes wines from single grape varieties (no blends). In the tasting, I got a series of very nice stories from the (older) owner, who is a humble, interesting, hardworking, and honest person. Conclusion: Good wine you can afford, nice personal stories. read more

Tasty Sangiovese at a steal of a price. No fanfare, no small talk, pour, taste, buy. Easy breezy!

Possibly my new favorite winery. They are, imho, the only people in Paso who know how to grow Italian varietals properly. No they're not exactly Borolo or Brunello, but they're not super ripened high alcohol fruit bombs either. They make the only wines in Paso that I've tried which are under 14% alc. shocking for paso!...... The Aglianico and Sagiovese are my favorites. Medium bodied, food friendly, and structured. Something missing in many Paso wines. I've met both father and son. Dave is total "old school", and I love that. He's been doing things the same way since he started over 30yrs ago, and isn't changing for anyone!. His son Marc is very cool. We chatted a long time about the wines, music, and his fathers old cars. The main reason their wines are so cheap is simple. Very low overhead. Dave bought the land when it was cheap. They don't have big fancy manicured landscaping. No flowers or trees, no statues or water falls. They don't have a huge staff. The tasting room is simply one side of the warehouse where they store the wine. , no chairs or couches..... just bar, wine, glass, you buy, the end. These are the kind of people who we as wine drinkers should support more then ever these days. I like the "high end" stuff as much as anyone, but being able to drink wine this good everyday, and have it be so affordable is a no brainer. CAPARONE I say!, CAPARONE! read more

Less than 3000 cases, father, son operation with all Italian varietals. No charge for the tasting, all bottles $14. I wanted to like this winery, but struggled here. Being a huge fan of Italian wine the only thing I could recommend is the Sangiovese. The Nebbiolo was thin and watery. I know it's not grown in Italy, but it didn't represent anything like any Barolo or even some decent california Nebbiolo I've tasted. read more

Father and son-owned niche winery that specializes in wines made of a single Italian varietal. A great boutique winery, something unusual but that tastes great as well! We loves the Aglianico and the Nebbiolo. read more

The owner was very helpful and nice as he explained the difference between Caparone's process of making wine and all the other wineries in the area. While the wines were good, they didn't satisfy my desire for big and bold reds. I think Caparone is worth the trip to taste the difference in their unfiltered and unfined wines. read more