Barton Family Estate — Attraction in California

My husband and I are local. On June 9, 2024, we had family and friends in town to celebrate our son's graduation, and we decided to go to Grey Wolf for lunch - we have been there several times and love it. In fact, a few years ago, we made a reservation for 25 people for lunch over the holidays and it was great - they put us in the barrel room bc the weather wasn't good outside. That was great. So Grey Wolf came to mind this time around to go have lunch and some wine. I called ahead that day and they said they could accommodate our group of 20-ish people. When we got there, we sat at 2 different tables - and there were several empty tables - it was not very busy at that time. The waiter (I wish I had gotten his name but I was so annoyed with his manner that I didn't) said absolutely only one check for the entire group. We asked to at least separate the checks between the two tables - my cousin joked "we don't know them," but there was zero humor in this server, and he said absolutely NO - "it is our policy that all groups will be put on one check." We asked ok, put it all on one check but then we will use a few cards to pay - again he said NO - one check and one payment method, period. Well, no one in our group was prepared to take on the entire bill, so we got up and left. I spoke with the manager just informing her of the situation - the server came over and stood by listening to what I said to the manager - the manager said "sorry and I understand you're already leaving so there isn't anything I can do." Really bizarre comment and service. But ok, so we went to another winery, ordered lots of wine, and had a beautiful lunch. I will not be going back or recommending Grey Wolf to anyone again. A shame because it has been a go-to in years past. But this experience just soured me. Terrible...

BlendFest Paso Robles yielded another wine brand worthy of inclusion in our Top 30 wine estate list. A small winery specializing in high-quality, small-batch wines, bourbon whiskey and culinary delights. You can’t miss this winery if you’re driving on California’s Central Coast Highway 46 between Highway 101 and the Pacific Coast Highway. Tasting their wines at the 2025 BlendFest, I was compelled to sample two of their library red wines, whose taste and quality amazed me. At the wine festival, Caitlin, their wine manager, had me sample a wine called “The Dance,” a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Malbec. Yes, the name is based on the Garth Brooks legendary country western song. It was a great addition to our wine list of highly rated wines. However, the best wine I sampled at the vineyard was a bottle called “Moondance,” a blend of 43% Grenache, 23% Syrah, 21% Mourvèdre, and 13% Graciano. I loved these wines paired with the Cranberry Apple Hazelnut Salad with chicken, Margherita Flatbread, and Creamy Pesto Pasta with fresh chicken; it was incredible! I capped off the experience of live music, wine tasting, and food pairings by buying a bottle of Moondance for aging in our home wine cellar for a few more years. This year, family and friends will join me at this vineyard to recapture the positive energy I felt. You won’t regret spending money on this wine estate’s red wine blends, whiskey, food, and live music. Tiffany, our server, was friendly and knowledgeable about wine, vineyard history, and food pairings. Have some dollars ready to tip...

Where do I start? The beautiful valley setting? Original farm house and winery nestled on a rolling hill with 360 degree views of Paso Robles? The above and beyond owners and staff? The dogs and cats that will join you for your wine tastings or lunch? Barton Family Wines and Grey Wolf Cellars truly has it all. We went there with a group of friends from work and had a private, one of a kind wine pairing and tasting room set up for us by the amazingly talented Katie. Her wit, charm and superior knowledge of the wines and pairings made this a once in a lifetime tasting followed by a tasty lunch on the spacious outdoor deck where you can look out over the vineyard or play a game of checkers with a loved one.

The owners, Joe and Jenny were even kind enough to stop by and speak to us about the wine tasting and give us the history of the winery and land which their family has lived on for several generations. If wine isn't your thing, there is also a distillery on site that has gin, bourbon, rum and whiskey tastings and bottles for sale. If you are looking for a romantic, tranquil spot for lunch, wine or spirit tastings or to pick up a bottle (or four in our case) or to just stop by to take in the beautiful scenery and meet some amazing people, this is the place for you! Can't wait to return and I...