San Luis Obispo County Welcomes Your Furry Little Friend, Day 3
The last day of my incredible dog-friendly media tour began with breakfast in bed at the Best Western Cavalier Oceanfront Resort. I enjoyed a stroll on the beach with my dog, Lilly, before meeting with the rest of the group to head over to Paso Robles for a special wine tasting at Ecluse Winery.
Paso Robles is a city in San Luis Obispo County located on the Salinas River north of San Luis Obispo. The city is known for its hot springs, abundance of wineries, and production of olive oil. It is a repeat winner of the National Great American Main Street Award, and I soaked up the local history. Paso Robles offers 26,000 acres of prime vineyards supplying some 200 regional wineries, many open for tours and tastings.
Ecluse Winery, which features Zinfandel and Bordeaux and Rhone-style wines, is nestled in the rolling hills of Paso Robles.
Ecluse has a special love for dogs and even produces a wine label called Blind Dog Wines, created when the property’s dog, Bingo, was going blind and an organization stepped in to help. The wine—barrel-aged from 14 to 30 months—is a great blend of Paso Robles red; Blind Dog Midnight Run Cuvee is incredibly delicious by itself or served with cheese.
Ecluse Winery is also the home to the 2011 San Francisco Chronicle’s Sweepstakes Award for best red wine.
And finally, ladies and gentlemen, it was time for our group lunch at Thomas Hill Organics in downtown Paso Robles. Thomas Hill Organics is a dog-friendly establishment dedicated to serving a menu based on organic produce from its farm and highlighting unique wines from sustainable growers on the Central Coast. They reportedly work with local providers for their proteins to find local, organic, grass-fed livestock for beef, lamb, and poultry. I’ll be visiting again soon.
In closing, I recommend an escape to San Luis Obispo County with your little furry friend to explore, enjoy, and become captivated with the little town that by far, in my experience, is the happiest place on earth.
Author’s Note:
Thank you Amanda Collins, destination manager of the City of Paso Robles, and Stacie Jacob, executive director of Visit San Luis Obispo County.
Be sure to read about day one and two of my trip!
