THE SPICIEST OF SIPS: While there are some truly palate-tickling wines out there, the zingiest of the zingy, no one wine can summon a description that includes "spicy" as often as zinfandel. Maybe it is because it has very strong ties to the Golden State, a pretty zingy, spicy, palate-strong region, or maybe it is because a sipper can expect more of a laid-back blush experience which isn't always what a zin delivers. Cabernets can be strong and chardonnays lighter but zinfandel isn't filling the gap between: It occupies its own powerful space, full of personality -- or wineality -- and presence. The flavor-packing grapes get their due at numerous wineries and happenings around their home turf, but few California wine weekends can rival the one that lands in Paso Robles at the start of springtime. It's a full-on zinfandel weekend, complete with a pair of grape-y gatherings under the single header of Zinposium.
SPICY SEMINARS: The Zinposium includes both the 100% Zinfandel Seminar and the Zinfandel Blends Seminar, both of which take place at the Paso Robles Inn. "Each seminar will feature a panel of six different winemakers that will guide you through the heritage grape of Paso Robles Wine Country." Joining the seminars are wine houses such as Tobin James Cellars and Chronic Cellars Winery. The weekend? All of that zingy libation liquid loveliness gets a-flowin' over March 20 through 22. And isn't zinfandel a nice winter-into-spring kind of wine? There's some hearty body there, for colder temps, but enough kapow and brightness to bring warmer days to mind.
PASO'S BEST BOTTLES: For all of the wine-focused to-dos on the Paso Robles Wine Country calendar -- and they do burble up come the spring and summer -- leave a wine charm on this page, so you'll remember to return.
