It was a calm, warm night with the moon shining brightly in Paso Robles – just the kind of evening to kick off the weekend. If the perfect weather wasn’t enough, those of us who attended the first night of the 14th Anniversary Garagiste Festival for the Rare & Reserve Tasting at the Paso Robles Event Center were in a state of wine lover nirvana (I’m sure you know what I mean). Library wines, club only offerings, barrel samples and vintage verticals were poured for those lucky enough to purchase one of the 200 tickets available. This night was one for the books.
For those who are scratching their heads wondering the meaning of “garagiste,” here you go! Garagiste (pronounced “garage-east”) is a term originally used in the Bordeaux region to “throw some shade” on rogue small-batch wine makers who often worked in their “garages” (anything considered not a chateau). These renegades shunned the “rules,” but now it’s a movement to spotlight incredible wines found throughout the world. And Paso Robles may just be at the epicenter.
Each year, I anticipate attending Garagiste Festival. (For my recap of the Grand Tasting of 2024, click HERE.) This year, though, was the first time I went to Friday night’s event that included a multitude of producers, many of whom are crafting fewer than 1500 cases a year. During both days during the Rare & Reserve and the Grand Tasting, wine lovers are able to chat one-to-one with proud winemakers all under one roof. What’s more is that wines from over 25 different grape varieties were featured, including unusual blends, single varietal wines, sparkling wines, and more. What’s not to love?
Wines from the following producers were poured during the Grand Tasting on Saturday. Those in bold were poured at the Rare & Reserve event the night before and names with asterisks are participating for the first time.
915 Lincoln, Absolution Cellars, AmByth Estate, Amalgam Wines*. Bella Luna Estate, Bon Niche Cellars, Boutz Cellars, Burning Bench, Caelesta Vineyards, Cairjn Wine Cellars, Chateau Margene*, Ciento Cellars, Concur Wines, Copia Vineyards and Winery, Creekcut, Cutbow Wines, Deno Wines, Deux Seraux*, Diablo Paso, El Vinero Wines, Emercy Wines, Etnyre Wines, Grosso Kresser*, Hayseed And Housdon, IIWII Wines, Kaleidos Winery, Kiamie Wine Cellars, Kiler Canyon Vineyard*, Landsby Wines*, La De Vi Wines*, Mastro Scheidt Family Cellars, MCV Wines, Mustard Creek Vineyard*, Pelletiere Estate, Quench + Temper, Red Door Ranch, Resting Roots, RF Fine Wines, Rockbound Cellars, Ruakh Wines, Saint K Wines, Seven Oxen, Stilson Cellars, Terranean Wines*, Tercero Wines, Ulloa Wines and Uncommon Earth*.
Trust me, I appreciated all of the wines poured, but a few standouts are pictured and briefly described below. Please check out each website and consider supporting these wonderful wineries who clearly know what wine consumers, at any age, are looking for.
Boutz Cellars is a unique addition to the field of outstanding producers in the Paso Robles wine region. With full disclosure, Greek wine has always been to me intriguing, but to have a Greek family cultivating its grapes here in Paso Robles is equally so. Sips of 2025 Moschofilero exuded notes of spice, florals, and hints of stone fruit and minerality on the palate. Such a brilliant surprise was 2024 Vidiano, a grape indigenous to Crete. This wow-worthy white wine offered notes of ripe stone fruits with roasted nuts, baked apples, honey, and herbs punctuated with minerality. James and Manoli Boutzoukas, Winemakers, are channeling their Greek roots into Paso Robles terroir and I’m here for it.
Hayseed + Housdon 2022 Super La Macha Reserve is a flavorful, balanced blend of Spanish varieties Mataro (also known as Mourvedre), Graciano, Garnacha, and Tempranillo. In the glass, bright berry flavors, soft tannins and moderate acidity were incredibly satisfying and worth more than a few sips. Dry with notes of smoke from their use of Spanish oak barrels was another pleasant ah-ha moment! Bring on the tapas, Paso style.
Having never had wines from Creekcut, I was thrilled to sip 2023 La Fuente, a mostly Tannat and Cabernet Sauvignon blend. Only available for club members, don’t let that stop you from exploring this fascinating wine. I found elements of dark chocolate, hazelnut, spice and abundant flavor in each sip. Could this be my new favorite wine with a rich chocolate brownie or with short ribs falling off the bone?
Don’t get me started about how much I love wines from Cairjn Wine Cellars. I’ve tasted their new releases, but at Rare & Reserve, the 2024 Assyrtiko called my name. Snappy with racy acidity, salinity, flavor and freshness in each sip begged for some Greek egg and lemon soup, grilled fish, and a garden salad with olives and feta cheese. And a full bottle.
Fio DeRodeff, co-owner of Rockbound Cellars with her husband Colby, poured a memorable 2022 Allpa Bordeaux Blend from their estate vineyards. Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot are the stars with Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Merlot chosen as supporting roles. Complex aromas of cherries, lush plums, flint and sage led to notes of chocolate, pepper, and forest berries on the palate. Incredibly balanced with silky tannins and just-right acidity, I’ll be visiting their tasting room at the Bottle Shop in Paso Robles asap.
With a name of Saint K, the wines have to have a heavenly aspect, right? Saint K is a limited production winery producing premium, high quality wines from Paso Robles and Santa Barbara. 2020 She Doesn’t Like Diamonds is a “whoa!” blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. What? I found aromas of lemon peel, hint of honey, florals and juicy tart apples. On the palate, racy acidity lifted notes of baked apple and orchard fruit. 2021 Everything Is Under Control is a rich blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah from Santa Ynez Valley. Soft tannins and moderate acidity frame notes of chocolate covered cherries, earth, chalk, and crushed raspberries with a touch of herbs and salinity. The acidity lingered along with the fruit notes.
1.5 liters of 2021 Praying Mantis Grenache from Kaleidos Winery was an eye-catcher. And this gorgeous wine of Grenache was a true palate pleaser. Aromas of black raspberries and spicy fruit were mesmerizing. On the bold, expressive palate, firm tannins surrounded black and purple fruit and subtle herbal notes.
It’s not often I taste a vertical of outstanding wines at a consumer tasting, but those at Grosso Kresser Estate knew what the wine crowd wanted… and delivered. Their Library Vertical of their Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve from 2011 through 2015 was enlightening. Everyone had their favorite(s), but what I thoroughly enjoyed was tasting the winemaker’s style and grape expressions from one vintage year to the next. What a gift.
Photo Credit: Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance
During the evening, between sips and conversations with producers, neighborhood friends, wine industry colleagues, and new acquaintance who traveled across the United States for Garagiste Rare & Reserve, I was reminded yet again how wine brings people together, how wine starts a conversation that flows, and indeed, how a sip of wine can make people smile.
I’ll see you next year at Garagiste Festival 2026!
Cheers, Cindy
