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    Shadow Run Vineyard

    4.9 (30 reviews)
    ModerateWineries
    Closed 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    On the back patio, looking into the The vineyard...magenta the color for the day
    Brian D.

    This family run winery growing grapes since 2006 was a pleasure to find in the farthest southeast corner of Paso Robles wine country. Varietals included Grenache Blanc (we bought 2 for $28 each) Syrah, Malbec and petit Syrah. Pretty simple set up..a refreshing look to wine tasting and enjoyed the company we had. We will be back for more Wine! Check out our pics.

    a cross made out of horseshoes
    Lisa D.

    We visited the tasting room today, greeted by Sue, the owner & Consulting Winemaker to her son Aaron . It was a DELIGHT! The surroundings were well appointed, unpretentous, yet the attention to detail was so inviting....rustic, authentic, & quite inviting. Settled on their beautiful property in the Creston countryside, it was so relaxing & a true testament to the area we call home. The wines were distinctly Eastside lucious & yet calm & friendly. " Small Lot production with Estate Presence & Style"....Highly Recommended & a Definite Boutigue experience you should seek out! Thanks,& Cheers!!

    Tasting room open Fridays-Sundays $5 fee waived with bottle purchase.
    Bradley N.

    Once you've been wine tasting in Paso Robles a couple of times, you probably are curious about what else might be out there. You know: on the fringes. The new. The next. The ne plus ultra. That's why you might want to take a trip out here, to La Panza Road, where the vines haven't taken over the landscape, where cattle ranches and horse pastures and oak grasslands stretching to the distant horizon still predominate. Truth be told, Creston IS a bit out there for most wine country tourists who would prefer to stick closer to the downtown bars and Westside tasting rooms or along Highway 46E. Which is fine by me! Shadow Run probably couldn't handle huge crowds - not without losing a little of its soul in the process. It is a family-run estate winery that specializes in Viognier and Petite Sirah, with several additional varietals as well, like Malbec, Grenache Blanc, and Syrah. They open a very attractive, immaculately maintained tasting room (more of a cottage, really) on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for visitors from about 10:30am to 5pm, and will also offer tastings and optional barrel tastings by prior appointment. The current (spring 2017) tasting fee at Shadow Run is an almost unheard of $5 per person, which likely will include a selection of 6 different estate wines (2 whites, 4 reds), with bonus pours and revisits possible if you ask nicely and are interested. The operation is hands-on enough that chances are good that you'll end of meeting the winemaker, Susan E., or her hard-working husband, Les, who is deeply involved in their entire vine-to-glass process, or their son, Aaron H., who assists the family during weekends and peak times of the year and has created an entertaining and educational series of Shadow Run videos on YouTube that give an insider's view of what it takes to make estate grown wines at this small-scale level. The web site contains an excellent blog as well that has periodic musings on wine, grapes, and food. Exploring it ahead of your visit likely will make your experience at Shadow Run more enjoyable than simply showing up at the tasting room tired and thirsty from your long drive, which is no way to prepare for the range and quality of the wines to come. The Shadow Run reds that were poured during my initial visit were all excellent expressions of Paso's award-winning Eastside style, using relatively young vines that showcase the fruit cores, the intense coloration, and the alluring floral essences of the grapes grown. The whites are oak aged and undergo some amount of malolactic fermentation before being filtered and bottled, so they have nice weight and appealing texture. The reds are inky black and densely extracted, with cold soaks and multiple manual punchdowns during primary fermentation and are given extended months of barrel aging in new and neutral oak before release. This treatment is especially evident in the "Eclipse" Petite Sirah, often in the 15-16% alcohol range in better vintage years; it displays a wide range of aromas of spice and dark fruit notes, so that the wine can be savored on its own, port-style, or to accompany a hearty seasonal meal. The "Descent" Malbec shouldn't be slighted, either, as it compares quite well with Argentinian styles of this popular varietal and has food-friendly acidity that would compliment a range of cuisines from grilled pork sausages and mushroom polenta to marinated skirt steaks with green garlic mashed potatoes. I wish that the estate grew Spanish varietals, too, like Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Graciano, which might thrive in the area, as other local winemakers are coming to appreciate. Once you've sampled the wines and hopefully found a few to your liking, you can relax outside in the shade of several beautiful oak trees (many more of which grace the 150 acre property). Picnic tables and wooden Adirondack chairs offer a chance to soak in a little bit more of the solitude here, which is a marked contrast to more intensively cultivated wine growing regions in California. Here, much of the land remains dedicated to ranching, and vine cultivation exists in an aesthetically pleasing balance with nature. You can easily see why many of the wines have such intriguing names and come in such well designed bottles. Happy grapes make happy wines, and here this really shows. If you've had your fill of overcrowded tasting rooms and corporate-owned wine-making machines that churn out tens of thousands of cases of nondescript tasting reds and whites for the masses, consider a pilgrimage to Paso's extreme East side, where pleasant places like Shadow Run still are to be found: off the beaten path, but on the right track in life, indeed!

    Shadow Run's ultra-cute tasting room.
    Camelia N.

    One of the best things about a five-star winery is a great tasting room, one that is both intimate and inviting; another is the people who pour the wines, who are friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about what they do; and a third best thing is a harmonious integration of indoor and outdoor spaces, where you flow smoothly from one to the next without feeling out of place or uncomfortable. Wine grapes, after all, grow in the ground, are teased into elegant expressions in the winery, cellar, and barrel rooms, and are ceremoniously exposed to the air after years of aging in the tasting room, where visitors from all over the world come to enjoy and share them. It is perhaps one of humanity's finest collective achievements, to have harnessed the power and passion of the sun in liquid form and to make this nectar of the gods (small "G," and plural) available for others. Shadow Run, which began in 2005 to produce estate wines, seems to sense all of this, intuitively. The tasting room here is perhaps the cutest, most charming, and most personal of all I have witnessed in California, North or South. Unlike Napa tasting palaces that make you feel like peons in the face of great luxury, Shadow Run is Creston to the core, which means it is more of a working "grape ranch" than a prestige-enhancing prized property. The winemaker, Susan E. and her Stanford-educated, civil engineer husband, Les, oversee much of the work, using an estate vineyard that is slightly more than a decade old. Susan studied enology in San Luis Obispo and apprenticed at a respected Paso Robles winery before setting out on her own, focusing on a select number of white and red varietals that could be coaxed to thrive here at the Eastern edge of the Paso Robles AVA, well beyond the inner core of vineyards on the Westside and along the Highway 46 corridor. If you are a parent (or if you can still recall, objectively speaking, your early adolescence), you may appreciate what vines 10-12 years can often be like: rambunctious, unpredictable, moody, uncommunicative at times, prone to periods of withdrawal and temporary illness, but always full of surprises and still bursting at the seams with energy, vibrancy, and a guileless joie de vivre that older people only wish that they still possessed. The resulting wines - Viognier, Malbec, Petite Sirah, Syrah - are overflowing with fruit and floral essences, more elixirs than ordinary refreshments. While "old vines" may get a lot of praise for producing enigmatic, complex, restrained wines, "young vines" deserve their share of credit for making wines of charisma and character that don't forget to have fun in the process of becoming one of the planet's most prized fermented beverages. I really enjoyed Shadow Run's 2015 "Fair-Haired Child" blend of Viognier (70%) and Grenache Blanc (30%), their 2013 "Eclipse" Petite Sirah, and their 2015 "Jolie" rosé of Petite Sirah. Actually, I liked all the wines we tasted (6 plus 2 extra, for a $5 tasting fee waived with one bottle purchase per taster), especially because Les and Susan were present to pour them, using state-of-the-art Coravin wine dispensers (which inject Argon gas into the wines without removing the cork, preserving their freshness for days and weeks if used properly). Given how fruit-forward, highly extracted, and rich the wines were, this method really helped showcase the wines on the tasting flight. The colors and aromas of these wines are really impressive, and several recent vintages have garnered top medals at San Francisco tasting competitions. The tasting room at Shadow Run is separate from the wine-making facility and has shaded outdoor areas for tasting and picnics. Especially in spring, when the surrounding ranches are covered in green and flowers, this is a perfect spot for resting and refreshing before heading back to Paso Robles, or to Santa Margarita for a tasting at Ancient Peaks, or to Tin City in Templeton for a stop at Giornata or Field Recordings (some of our favorites in the area). You also can explore the Creston Wine Trail, including during special wine passport weekends, when all participating wineries (plus one olive oil maker) are open for tastings paired with small bites of food. If you have already explored the "usual suspects" on the Paso Robles wine tasting trail and are willing for a new adventure on the fringes, then consider adding a stop at Shadow Run to your list. You will be very glad you did!

    Barrel tasting
    Betty L.

    Shadow Run is such a cute quaint vineyard. Upon arrival you are greeted by the cutest pups Hector and Sammy. My fav wines there are the Fair Haired Child (viognier/ Grenache Blanc blend) and the 2010 and 2012 Petite Syrah. You gotta stock up on them! I sure did! Fair Haired Child is the perfect starter wine for any event. By the pool, after work, before dinner, or just for the heck of it. The Petite Syrah goes with everything I eat. It's owned by Susan and Les and they are the nicest, most sincere couple I've met. You will really feel at home in the tasting room. We already finished the 10 bottles we got last month and need to restock! Oh and it was really fun tasting all the new stuff straight from the barrel!

    Amazing homemade wine....
    Kimberly W.

    This winery is a delight. The presentation is like no other. The reds are bold, elegant, and inviting for more. The white wine is not all what I expected, however is has a lot of bold fruit favors and crispy after taste. Very delightful for a summer day. If your looking for a place to go this is your place. However for the price you can't go wrong. It's surprising its not more on the pricy side... but wait..... that might change once people start spreading the word.. Hands up to the makers. I tip my glass to you!

    The entrance to shadow run

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    4 years ago

    Love small family-owned wineries like as Shadow Run! Aaron was personable and attentive. We are now members of their wine club.

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    5 years ago

    This place has a charming tasting room, excellent wine. The service was the best and we had so much fun when we visit.

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    8 years ago

    Wonderful winery; bought the 2012 Cellar Door, 2013 Eclipse,Raven and Rose. Had a great time tasting and getting to know Les and Susan.

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    Ask the Community - Shadow Run Vineyard

    Review Highlights - Shadow Run Vineyard

    Once you've been wine tasting in Paso Robles a couple of times, you probably are curious about what else might be out there.

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    Stanger Vineyards - Quaint wine tasting bar at Stanger Winery

    Stanger Vineyards

    4.8(17 reviews)
    5.6 mi
    $$

    Great wine and great host. We stayed with our harvest Host membership. Was hard to get level, but…read morewas able too and had great views

    You need a reservation to taste here, but we called and they were able to fit us in with another…read moretasting they had scheduled. We arrived and there was a big house with a bunch of old farm equipment around and some campers on the front lawn. We followed the signs to the winery and entered the tasting room. This room smells like mold, or mildew. It was kind of strange. Also, seemed like this was their shipping room it seemed very full and cluttered. There were several people that looked like they had been waiting to begin tasting. So we quickly sat down and joined the group. First, I must say every wine we tasted at this establishment was fantastic. And the other folks in the tasting room were friendly and fun. The sommelier was also the vintner. It must be said, Roger told lots of stories that were a bit off-color. I don't think it's necessary to insult or put other people down to get a laugh. Laurie was kind and friendly, and he put her down several times in front of all of us. That part of the tasting experience was not fun. I have only spent less than an hour in his presence and I know I would not want to spend more time with him. He is a classic white male misogynist with a big ego. But if Laurie is running the tasting, I am sure you'll have a great experience.

    Photos
    Stanger Vineyards - Beautiful setting where we camped!

    Beautiful setting where we camped!

    Stanger Vineyards - Stranger Vineyards under an Oak at sunset.

    Stranger Vineyards under an Oak at sunset.

    Stanger Vineyards - Rogers card

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    Rogers card

    HorseTail Ranch - Photo Credit: Tayler Enerle  http://taylerenerle.com/

    HorseTail Ranch

    5.0(16 reviews)
    4.5 mi

    This is possibly THE best weekend experience we've had so far. This beautiful house is nestled…read morebetween several acres of private serene land with amazing views. Everything inside the house is upgraded, well planned and pleasing to the eye. The 5 bedrooms with multiple beds could easily accommodate our large group. We just couldn't get enough of the patio, spent hours around the fire pit enjoying the quaint ranch. Come prepared with all your essentials as the closest grocery store is at least 20 minutes away. We went to a few wineries in the area and enjoyed our time there as well. Overall highly recommend, I won't be surprised if I come back this year.

    What can I say. . . . . I am one of the pickiest people around, but I love spreading the word when…read moreI have been somewhere extra stellar - like HorseTail Ranch. The amenities this destination spot offers are top notch. Everything from the linens they use to the fire pit at night, my girlfriends and I could not have had a better time! Girl time is sooooo important and when you don't have to worry about anything but "What are we drinking tonight?" it's a no brainer to keep coming back. HorseTail Ranch is a location known for weddings, so if you are planning a nice getaway you won't be disappointed. Booking our trip was super easy and convenient. Can't wait to come back! Thanks HorseTail Ranch for the amazing memories! :)

    Photos
    HorseTail Ranch - Photo credit: Tayler Enerle http://taylerenerle.com/

    Photo credit: Tayler Enerle http://taylerenerle.com/

    HorseTail Ranch
    HorseTail Ranch

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    JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery - JUSTIN Estate Tasting Room Patio

    JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery

    4.0(941 reviews)
    28.6 mi
    $$
    Luxury
    Takes reservations

    Back at Justin and was able to take my eldest daughter, her boyfriend and my Border Collie…read more I would not normally post a review, but we were talking about the travesty of Yelp reviews being mostly negative. I am a nobody. Sure, I am a longtime Wine Society member, but I don't expect a Michelin Star restaurant and one of Forbes best places in the world to remember me. They didn't know me; but it didn't matter Justin Winery and Restaurant, treated my party fantastic! Service was excellent. Food was great. Wine was superb. The tasting went slightly off list, which was welcomed with the heat. Lovely white wines to start off, which lead into the bold reds. 10 out of 10 atmosphere. 10 out of 10 for service. 10 out of 10 for food. Wine was a solid 93 average. IYKYK

    This is at best a mediocre winery with OK views. If it's on your way you can go (I will not),but…read morenot something to be planned . There are way better wineries in Paso like Daou and Sculpterra. The people there care for your experience and every wine you taste is great and doesn't change with every sip. This place mostly was focused on extracting money. I went there because they were recommended by so many friends to me. That's probably where they are lucky. That's why people visit them and because they are so hyped the person visiting has to also like them. The employees here are not motivated enough to be nice or attend the guests properly during the end of the day. The lady on the front desk in front of the entry was super rude. In a 3 mins conversation she mentioned at least 4 times how they were about to close and they are unable to provide us anything except the wine tasting. We had an appointment for 3:30 and the winery closes at 5:00. I would have understood if it was 4:30. I was celebrating my birthday and I mentioned it. It literally meant nothing to her and she never mentioned it in her notes while she mentioned that they will do a chocolate flight with a candle. The guy who helped us with our wine tasting was good but visibly tired. He tried his best. Even arranged a charcuterie board for us. He did mention they were about to close but that made sense. He was genuinely happy to see us when we went inside to pay. The only good deed done to us was asking us if we needed waters for the road. Also I liked the breezy fan feature. The wines are not very appealing. A lot better can be done with the taste,recipes and fermentation process. The prices are very high for the experience and the wines. Next day we went to another winery with Amazing views. They were so welcoming and warm and the moment I mentioned I was celebrating my birthday they were extra pampering. There wine flights were appropriately priced.Every wine we tasted was great and even after my wine purchase I did not feel robbed.That was some unforgettable experience. At Justin our experience was DULL and TIRING and not good at all. I am never going to recommend Justin to anyone. PS- Don't go there because people are mentioning it the moment they hear Paso Robles. There wines are no better than the wines you get at the medium shelf of the drugstore. Views are just OK. Use your money at a better winery.

    Photos
    JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery - JUSTIN's Onsite Garden

    JUSTIN's Onsite Garden

    JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery - A bottle of ISOSCELES to share on the JUSTIN patio

    A bottle of ISOSCELES to share on the JUSTIN patio

    JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery - JUSTIN Wine Caves

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    JUSTIN Wine Caves

    Eberle Winery - the estate has complimentary tasting and cave tour. Needs to be booked in advance.

    Eberle Winery

    4.4(1.2k reviews)
    15.6 mi
    $$

    Free cave tours, free tastings of really well-balanced and smooth wines! The Barbera was my…read morefavorite. It was smooth and mildly fruity, but not heavy. I liked all five wines on the tasting menu, including the rosé, which is new for me because I don't usually love rosés. I ended up getting another glass of the Barbera after we finished the tasting. Beautiful view from their deck. We caught the tail end of their cave tour, which always fun. Overall a really lovely wine experience.

    Let me preface this with this - I rarely write reviews, and never have had to write a bad one…read moresadly. I believe sometimes companies have off days, and employees may have a bad day, which can affect one's experience, thus I dont let one bad experience ruin a company's review. But when it comes to my CHILD, you best believe i will never forgive and forget or let our experience be forgotten. We visited this winery expecting a relaxing, family-friendly experience and instead left with our daughter crying after being scratched in the face near her eye by the owner's off-leash dog. What makes this especially frustrating is that the winery's own rules state dogs must be leashed, yet the owners' dogs were roaming the property freely. Our daughter was calmly petting one of the dogs with me standing directly beside her when the dog suddenly growled and scratched her across the face. This was completely unprovoked and witnessed by the owner himself, who said absolutely nothing afterward. No apology, no concern, no accountability. An employee later approached us and said, "Sorry, he's old and maybe didn't like that she was the same height as him, which made him react".....which felt less like accountability and more like an absurd attempt to excuse why a reactive dog was allowed to roam off leash around guests and children. We also observed the dogs behaving territorially toward other leashed dogs on the property, making it even more inappropriate that they were allowed off leash in a public setting. My father-in-law is a VERY well known, well respected, and prominent winemaker in Virginia and across the United States, if you know anything about wine, you know him. So lets say, we understand winery culture and hospitality, fairly well. Had something like this happened on his property, it would have been handled immediately and professionally with genuine concern for the injured guest.....especially a child. Watching the owner casually continue on in his conversation with whomever, and pet the dog like nothing happened while our daughter screamed and cried was honestly unbelievable. In my opinion, not worth the visit for the subpar wine, if you want to take your children/dog somewhere. The poodles were friendly to me, and other adults, until we saw their behavior to other dogs & then my child....The complete lack of concern from ownership after a child was injured was shocking. Frankly, they are fortunate we chose not to escalate the situation further. Parents should absolutely be cautious visiting here with children or pets. An off-leash dog with territorial behavior has no place interacting freely with guests. Absolutely shocked and the owner should be ashamed of his actions & response (or lack there of) to the situation.

    Photos
    Eberle Winery - Poodles ...owner's poodles

    Poodles ...owner's poodles

    Eberle Winery - 5/19/24 Private tasting

    5/19/24 Private tasting

    Eberle Winery - 5/19/24 Interior entrance

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    5/19/24 Interior entrance

    Shadow Run Vineyard - wineries - Updated June 2026

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