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Paso Robles 101

5 out of 5 starsTrusted by 20,000+ students

The wonders of Paso Robles

From Cabernet Sauvignon to Rhône-style blends, the sub-regions, grapes, and producers that made California's Central Coast a wine destination.

  • 7 chapters
  • 12 videos
  • 3h
  • certificate
$99.99
lifetime access · usd

30-day money-back guarantee

Paso Robles 101 course mark

Introduction

Discover California's Paso Robles wine country

11 sub-AVAs across a 600,000-acre region, a Mediterranean climate, and a mix of Bordeaux varieties and Rhône-style blends. Paso Robles is California's most varied wine country. We'll get you fluent in what grows where and why it matters.

Curriculum

Seven sections, end to end

  1. Chapter 1

    History

    Paso Robles, flourishing since the 18th century, has evolved into a cornerstone of Californian viticulture.

  2. Chapter 2

    Grapes

    Celebrated for Cabernet Sauvignon, Rhône-style blends, and Zinfandel, Paso showcases over 60 unique wine varieties.

  3. Chapter 3

    Terroir

    How Paso Robles soils, climate, and geography create unique characteristics you can see and taste in the glass.

  4. Chapter 4

    Regions

    With 11 sub-AVAs and neighboring York Mountain, discover what makes each Paso Robles region unique.

  5. Chapter 5

    Buying

    What to look for when buying Paso Robles wines, including vintages and lesser-known varieties worth exploring.

  6. Chapter 6

    Tasting

    Experience the diversity of Paso Robles by tasting four distinct wines, each showcasing the region's character.

  7. Chapter 7

    Certification exam

    Ace the 50-question quiz finale and earn your Paso Robles 101 certificate.

Inside the course

Past the tasting-room loop

The basics

What makes Paso Robles unique

Paso Robles' Central Coast geography sits between the Pacific cooling and the inland heat, creating one of the most extreme diurnal swings in California winemaking. We'll cover the 200-year journey from Spanish missions and Andrew York's Zinfandel pioneering to today's Cab- and Rhône-led identity.

Goals

Taste like a pro, with a pro

Identify quality, age-worthiness, and regional character in Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon and the GSM blends that anchor the region. Learn the 11 sub-AVAs and what each one delivers, so you can read a label and know what's in the bottle before you uncork.

Companion

Paso Robles Wine Region Guide

Paso Robles 101 pairs with the Paso Robles Wine Region Guide, the online knowledge base for the region's producers, sub-AVAs, and signature wines. Use the course to build the framework; use the guide for lookups and deeper exploration.

Visit the region guide

Course wines

Get to know Paso Robles' wines

Taste with best-selling wine author Madeline Puckette through 4 stellar Paso wine styles. Plus, learn how to taste like a pro.
  • Cabernet Sauvignon

    Cabernet Sauvignon

    Paso Cab shines with rich, ripe fruit and a balance of earthy, spicy notes.

  • GSM Blends

    GSM Blends

    Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre combined, depth, complexity, and layered fruit and spice.

  • Syrah

    Syrah

    Paso Syrah is full-bodied and intense, with robust dark fruit and distinctive peppery notes.

  • Viognier

    Viognier

    Aromatic, lush, full-bodied, Paso Viognier brings floral and fruit notes in equal measure.

Every region, grape, and map at your fingertips. keep studying with Wine Folly+ →

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Your wine guides

Taught by world-class wine educators

Paso Robles' diversity rewards careful study. You'll learn from a James Beard award-winning author of the bestselling Wine Folly book and one of the world's most credentialed wine educators. Over 20,000 students taught.
Christine Marsiglio

Christine Marsiglio

Director of Education

Christine guides the tasting modules across Paso's flagship Cab, GSM blends, Syrah, and Viognier.

Director of Education and one of only 35 Bollinger award-winning Masters of Wine worldwide.

Read full bio
Christine is our Director of Education and one of only 35 Bollinger award-winning Masters of Wine worldwide.

Before Wine Folly, she taught the WSET Diploma in London and contributed to the latest global Diploma materials. She also led tastings at Decanter, running panels and organizing the Decanter World Wine Awards.

She's the rare expert who can teach at the Master of Wine level and still meet a beginner where they are.
Madeline Puckette

Madeline Puckette

Wine Folly Founder

Madeline frames the regional story, from Andrew York's pioneering Zinfandel to today's 11 sub-AVAs.

Wine Folly co-founder, James Beard Award winner, and New York Times bestselling author.

Read full bio
Madeline co-founded Wine Folly in 2011 and turned it into the world's go-to wine cheat sheet.

She's a James Beard Award winner, a New York Times bestselling author, and was named both Wine Blogger of the Year and Wine Communicator of the Year by the International Wine & Spirits Competition.

Her articles, infographics, and videos are what made wine knowledge feel approachable to a generation of drinkers.

student reviews

What students are saying

“Once again the folks at Wine Folly have created an easy to understand, educational and interactive experience! I loved the class, and of course the wine from the central coast of California. Keep up the great work!”

Mark F.

“It was good. A couple of thoughts. It would be nice to have printable map of the region. It helps as a reference as you are reading or studying. The quizzes are good for retention.”

Dann L.

“First course I have ever purchased from WF, but won't be the last. Fun, informative and entertaining.”

James C.

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Ready to start?

Paso Robles 101

$99.99
one-time · usd · yours forever
5 out of 5 stars
  • 7 chapters of regional deep dive
  • 3+ hours of expert video
  • Tasting walk-throughs with our wine experts
  • Lifetime access, yours forever
  • Paso Robles 101 certificate ($50 value)
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Next step

Ready to go deeper?

Wine 201 takes you from confident regional drinker to certified wine professional, taught by the same Wine Folly instructors.

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