Wine Tasting at Epoch Winery-What to Wear, and how to Pack a Simple Picnic

Hi All!  Sorry for the late post but we have been without power for five (count them) days.  We have a back up generator as of last night.  Apparently power will be restored tomorrow night late.  It has been a crazy winter here on the Central Coast !! Those of you that follow me on instagram know that we have a second home in the Paso Robles Wine Country.  We try to get down at least once a month and we always enjoy wine tasting. One of our favorites is Epoch Winery.

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Epoch, founded in 2004, quickly developed a reputation for small production,artisnal wines.  Their new tasting room is built on the bones of the Old York Mountain Winery which was established in 1882 and was the county's first bonded winery.   The owners Bill and Liz Armstrong (both geologists) started Epoch over ten years ago after purchasing the vineyard that once belonged to locally renowned Polish Pianist and politician Ignacy Paderewski (pictured above).  The Armstrong’s opened a temporary tasting facility on the mountain in 2010; also known as the chicest double wide trailer on the Central Coast.

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Applying the same meticulous attention to the design and architectural detailing , the couple recently completed the reconstrucion of  the old York Mountain Winery on the site.

The new facility has a look that appears minimalist and unfinished but is cleverly cohesive and chic. The exterior walls were salvaged, and the interiors are filled with repurposed metals, woods, and brick from the original winery.


The finished interiors have a raw, earthy, masculine vibe that suits the site.  The end result is a marriage of contemporary craftsmanship and historical integrity.


The original fireplace was salvaged and incorporated into the outdoor space.

The landscape is minimal but purposeful with respect to the location and integrity of the land.

We often eat lunch out at one of Paso's great restaurants and dinner in. Since there are so many wineries with such great spots to picnic I thought I would give you some ideas on what to wear and how to pack a simple picnic.  Why not pack a simple lunch of cheese and fruit. There are a number of things to consider such as fat, texture, acidity and tanin when pairing wine and cheese. I am breaking it down to basics so even a novice (like me) can't screw it up!

This time of year (if it isn't raining) most mornings are cool and it warms up in the afternoon.  I wore my Calder Vest by Cynthia Ashby for Artful Home with a black turtleneck, leggings and boots.  On a warmer day I would pair it with flats and the mesh layering tee, also from Cynthia Ashby.  I have always wanted to get a nice fully equipped picnic basket an my husband always has a thermal carrier for the wine so it doesn't get too warm. Here are some wine tasting essentials for your day trip.

1. French Cheeses 2. Picnic Basket 3 French Bread 4. Calder Vest Cynthia Ashby for Artful Home 5. Wine Carrier with tools 6. Eat this With Paso Robles Wine  7. Winery Map

Here is a snap of me and my pal Mary Ann (at Farmers Union Pour House) in my Cynthia Ashby vest.I love standing next to Mary Ann it is the only time I feel statuesque.

I hope the weather is nice where you are.  We are hoping for a couple days of sunshine here!
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