August 8: Winemakers’ Cookoff

Thirty of Paso’s best wineries will be cooking and pouring at this annual fundraising party that benefits the Paso Robles Rotary Club. Net proceeds from the Winemakers’ Cookoff go to the Rotary’s Harlow Ford Scholarship Foundation which awards $30,000 for education to deserving local high school students. The Cookoff has made roughly $230,000 in scholarships possible so far.

Even though it’s in its 11th year we’ve somehow never made it to a Winemakers’ Cookoff so this year will be our first. We’re thrilled at the roster of wineries taking part his year and particularly looking forward to what Clayhouse Wines, Chronic Cellars, Cass Winery, Eberle Winery, Halter Ranch Vineyard, Calcareous Vineyard (and oh, well, all of the 24 other participating wineries) will be pouring and dishing up.

Unlike a lot of wine events, participants in this one will be judged not just on their wines but on their food prep and pairing as well, so come thirsty and hungry! Tickets are still available and $75 gets you all your food and wine plus really good karma. Not drinking? Event organizers smartly offer designated driver tickets for $40.

Did we mention the live blues music and a chance to win a Hawaiian vacation?

August 21: Olive Festival

The 6th annual Olive Festival will be held from 10 am to 5 pm in downtown Paso Robles and while not technically a wine event, strictly speaking, where’s there’s wine there are usually olives and we’re looking forward to tasting some creative versions as well as classics and dipping into some of the olive oil that Paso is becoming known for. To keep the natives happy, wine and beer tasting will also be offered along with free olive oil ice cream.

August 22: Wine for Water  Benefit Event

Readers of this blog know that we’re huge fans of the not-for-profit group Wine for Water, its founder Ryan Boersma and its mission to creatively and effectively raise money to drill wells and install pumps to provide clean water to people living in the most needy corners of the globe. Here’s our original post about it.

We think August is not too early to start wracking up the tax write offs so come to the first ever Wine for Water Benefit Event from 4-6:30 in downtown Paso Robles. You’ll be treated to hors d’oeuvres and wine from Paso wineries including Booker Vineyard, Saxum Vineyards, L’Aventure, Torrin Vineyard, Jada Vineyard and Winery, Terry Hoage Vineyards and Jack Creek Cellars.

All proceeds go directly to Wine for Water’s efforts and each $40 ticket will help provide clean drinking water for at least 2 people for 20 years. That warm fuzzy feeling you get inside very time you turn on the tap are realize you’ve helped ease the planet’s water access problem? Priceless.