Paso Robles Oz and James get to grips with wines made by California's 'Rhone rebels' in Paso Robles.

In this article

Paso Robles wine and food

Recipes to go with Paso Robles white wines

Recipes to go with Paso Robles red wines

Paso Robles is evolving into one of the most exiting regions in the Golden State. The big story here is wines made from grape varieties that are grown in France's Rhône Valley: Roussanne, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc and Viognier for whites and Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre for reds.

If you want to sound like a CA native, you have to pronounce this winemaking region without a Spanish accent - it's 'Pass-o Ro-bulls'. Pretty ironic when, as Oz points out, the name is derived from the Spanish 'el paso de los robles', or 'way of the oaks'.

Wine fact

'Syrah' and 'Shiraz' are the same grape variety. In New World winemaking regions, such as California, the distinction is mainly a stylistic one. Bottles labeled as 'Syrah' are made in a way that's more similar to French Rhône-style wines, while those labeled as 'Shiraz' are more like their Australian cousins.

Oz says, "It's all about the big cook-outs here. There's loads of deer in the woods, so have these wines with venison, sausages and beef."

Not every high-street wine merchant will sell California wine from Paso Robles, but track down a California specialist or a US-focused independent merchant (the California Wine Institute's website is a good place to start). Once you've got your hands on some Paso Robles gems, put them to the taste test with these recipes:

• Californian scallop salad
• Instant Portobello burger
• Caesar salad
• Salmon burgers with basil and lime mayonnaise

• Peppered loin of venison with red wine sauce (VIDEO RECIPE)
• Collops of wild red venison with bramble sauce
• Venison sausages with red onion marmalade
• Venison chilli