Wine and dine

With a rental car in possession for the weekend, what else can one do but take a road trip? So was the agenda: Paso Robles and the 318 some odd wineries in the region. With an overnight bag and my yoga mat in tow, I was set to go on this trip. I can't say I'm the best long distance traveler, and two and a half hours in the car is more than plenty for me. I can honestly say it was worth every single moment of getting there and returning home. I tasted countless wines, only one of which stood out to me: A 2009 Bailey Vineyard zinfandel from Minassian Young Vineyards. I don't know much about wines, but I do know what I like and don't like and this wine revealed a nice soft explosion in my mouth, without being overzealous. I also tasted amazing olive oil from Pasolivo where at which I discovered black salt, the ever-so-sneaky spicy ghost pepper salt, and Katz's late harvest sauvignon blanc vinegar. Oh-my-goodness. It was soooo good, and at $15 for a 12.7 bottle, I caved in and bought just one. For dinner, my companion and I enjoyed light fare at Thomas Hill Organics, a restaurant which utilizes organic seasonal local crops. It was simply pretty good. I would have to say that what I enjoyed the most about the trip was the breathtaking views of the manicured vineyards and the humble magic behind mother nature. Some grapes had not yet been harvested, and their beauty glistened in the sun as the sun's rays shone over the majestic hills of the vineyards. It is moments like these where I realize that it's really the simple things in life that are the richest.