How much is wine tasting in Paso Robles?
The median tasting fee across the 187 producers Cruxvine scores is $30, in a range of $0 to $50. 19 charge nothing at all, and 91 of the 187 waive the fee on a purchase.
The median Paso Robles tasting fee is $30, from $0 to $50. 19 charge nothing; 91 of 187 waive the fee if you buy. Cruxvine scores the tasting room as its own category at 15% of the Crux Score, so what it costs to sit down is part of the score rather than a footnote to it.
| Fee | Producers | Median room | Median Crux | Median bottle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No fee | 19 | 79 | 84 | $65 |
| $1–$20 | 46 | 83 | 85 | $63 |
| $21–$35 | 60 | 83 | 86 | $73 |
| $36 and up | 62 | 86 | 86 | $70 |
A little. Rooms charging no fee score a median of 79; rooms charging $36 and up score 86 — 7 points for the whole of the fee range. It is a real gradient and a small one, and it is published here in the unflattering direction because that is the version worth having.
Counoise, free to taste, no appointment, 96% estate — the most generous door in Adelaida attached to a grape nobody markets.
Six wines, eight hundred cases, free to taste, no appointment — the least friction in Santa Margarita Ranch.
Eighteen wines from eight hundred cases, free to taste, walk in — Tarrant Knoll would rather you tried everything than bought much.
Eighteen wines from eight hundred cases, free to taste, walk in: an Albariño house spread across far too many labels.
Seven wines, eight hundred cases, free to taste, walk in, and a 67-point room: cheap in every sense.
| Fee | Producer | Room | Crux | On purchase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Ashby Hill Templeton Gap District · By appointment | 96 | 88 | Waived on purchase |
| Free | Kell Bench Santa Margarita Ranch · By appointment | 96 | 94 | Waived on purchase |
| Free | Amsel Hollow Adelaida District · By appointment | 93 | 93 | Waived on purchase |
| Free | Halloran Hill Paso Robles Estrella District · By appointment | 91 | 81 | Waived on purchase |
| Free | Highland Grade San Juan Creek · By appointment | 88 | 84 | — |
| Free | Larkin Vista San Juan Creek · By appointment | 86 | 84 | Waived on purchase |
| Free | Oakhurst Bend Adelaida District · By appointment | 84 | 85 | Waived on purchase |
| Free | Lindqvist & Quint Templeton Gap District · By appointment | 82 | 83 | — |
| Free | Mabry Flat San Juan Creek · By appointment | 81 | 76 | Waived on purchase |
| Free | Fenwick Row Paso Robles Estrella District · By appointment | 79 | 79 | — |
| Free | Limestone Winery Adelaida District · Walk-ins welcome | 79 | 89 | — |
| Free | Marchetti Knoll San Miguel District · By appointment | 79 | 85 | — |
| Free | Rocky Grade Santa Margarita Ranch · Walk-ins welcome | 78 | 87 | — |
| Free | Rocky Wash San Juan Creek · By appointment | 77 | 85 | Waived on purchase |
| Free | Tarrant Knoll Creston District · Walk-ins welcome | 77 | 81 | — |
| Free | Huer Huero Vineyards San Juan Creek · By appointment | 76 | 81 | Waived on purchase |
| Free | Weald Fork San Juan Creek · By appointment | 75 | 81 | — |
| Free | Orsini Furrow San Miguel District · Walk-ins welcome | 68 | 78 | Waived on purchase |
| Free | Nolby Trail Paso Robles Estrella District · Walk-ins welcome | 67 | 75 | Waived on purchase |
| $15 | Kiler Winery Templeton Gap District · Walk-ins welcome | 98 | 94 | Waived on purchase |
| $15 | Thorne & Rhodes San Miguel District · Walk-ins welcome | 90 | 85 | Waived on purchase |
| $15 | Kestrel & Amsel Willow Creek District · Walk-ins welcome | 88 | 83 | Waived on purchase |
| $15 | Pennock Cellars San Juan Creek · Walk-ins welcome | 87 | 83 | — |
| $15 | Merriam & Whitcomb San Miguel District · By appointment | 85 | 87 | — |
| $15 | Jack Gate Santa Margarita Ranch · By appointment | 84 | 81 | Waived on purchase |
| $15 | Salinas Rise Adelaida District · By appointment | 84 | 86 | — |
| $15 | Zephyr Bench Paso Robles Highlands District · By appointment | 84 | 80 | Waived on purchase |
| $15 | Stapleton Knoll Templeton Gap District · By appointment | 83 | 85 | Waived on purchase |
| $15 | Calder Gate Templeton Gap District · By appointment | 82 | 80 | Waived on purchase |
| $15 | Braithe Trail San Miguel District · Walk-ins welcome | 81 | 92 | Waived on purchase |
| $15 | Orrick Hollow Creston District · By appointment | 81 | 83 | — |
| $15 | Tar Estate San Miguel District · By appointment | 81 | 88 | — |
| $15 | Fenwick & Sable Santa Margarita Ranch · By appointment | 79 | 81 | Waived on purchase |
| $15 | Hollis Bend Paso Robles Geneseo District · By appointment | 79 | 80 | Waived on purchase |
| $15 | Amsel & Thorne Santa Margarita Ranch · By appointment | 78 | 87 | Waived on purchase |
| $15 | Huer Huero Hollow Paso Robles Highlands District · By appointment | 78 | 79 | — |
| $15 | Nolby & Larkin Santa Margarita Ranch · By appointment | 75 | 85 | Waived on purchase |
| $15 | Summit Ridge San Miguel District · By appointment | 73 | 80 | — |
| $20 | Kestrel & Quint Adelaida District · By appointment | 94 | 95 | Waived on purchase |
| $20 | Highland Cellars Willow Creek District · By appointment | 92 | 94 | Waived on purchase |
| $20 | Kenmar Winery El Pomar District · By appointment | 90 | 86 | Waived on purchase |
| $20 | Highland Gate Paso Robles Geneseo District · By appointment | 89 | 89 | — |
| $20 | Jack Furrow El Pomar District · Walk-ins welcome | 89 | 84 | — |
| $20 | Marrow Cellars Adelaida District · By appointment | 89 | 84 | Waived on purchase |
| $20 | Stapleton Wash Willow Creek District · By appointment | 88 | 87 | Waived on purchase |
| $20 | Dellamo Vista El Pomar District · By appointment | 87 | 84 | Waived on purchase |
| $20 | Limestone Bend Adelaida District · By appointment | 87 | 87 | — |
| $20 | Summit Estate Adelaida District · By appointment | 86 | 92 | — |
| $20 | Yost & Orsini El Pomar District · Walk-ins welcome | 86 | 90 | Waived on purchase |
| $20 | Orsini & Oakhurst San Miguel District · By appointment | 84 | 87 | Waived on purchase |
| $20 | Dellamo Hollow Willow Creek District · By appointment | 83 | 89 | — |
| $20 | Hemsley Grade Adelaida District · By appointment | 83 | 85 | Waived on purchase |
| $20 | Jarrow Grove Adelaida District · Walk-ins welcome | 83 | 85 | — |
| $20 | Salinas Grove Paso Robles Highlands District · By appointment | 83 | 83 | — |
| $20 | Ridgemark Bend San Juan Creek · By appointment | 82 | 84 | Waived on purchase |
| $20 | Oyster Grade El Pomar District · By appointment | 81 | 75 | Waived on purchase |
| $20 | Tarrant & Marchetti Templeton Gap District · By appointment | 81 | 89 | — |
| $20 | Calf Gate San Miguel District · By appointment | 80 | 91 | Waived on purchase |
| $20 | Corliss Wash El Pomar District · By appointment | 80 | 83 | — |
| $20 | Kiler Draw El Pomar District · By appointment | 80 | 86 | — |
| $20 | Tarrant & Bellamy Creston District · Walk-ins welcome | 80 | 83 | — |
| $20 | Vineyard Grade Creston District · By appointment | 79 | 87 | — |
| $20 | Vashon Grove Paso Robles Highlands District · Walk-ins welcome | 78 | 85 | — |
| $20 | Sable Bluff Santa Margarita Ranch · By appointment | 77 | 82 | — |
| $20 | Fenwick & Fairbourne Creston District · By appointment | 68 | 76 | — |
| $25 | Hemsley Trail Willow Creek District · Walk-ins welcome | 96 | 89 | Waived on purchase |
| $25 | Prewitt Bench Santa Margarita Ranch · Walk-ins welcome | 95 | 91 | Waived on purchase |
| $25 | Ziegler Bend Paso Robles Geneseo District · By appointment | 95 | 92 | Waived on purchase |
| $25 | Boye Cellars Creston District · Walk-ins welcome | 88 | 87 | Waived on purchase |
| $25 | Lindqvist Furrow El Pomar District · Walk-ins welcome | 88 | 81 | — |
| $25 | Foxglen Mesa Willow Creek District · By appointment | 86 | 87 | — |
| $25 | Old Creek Wash Creston District · By appointment | 83 | 83 | Waived on purchase |
| $25 | Ostrom Rise San Juan Creek · By appointment | 83 | 86 | — |
| $25 | Bald Bend Paso Robles Estrella District · By appointment | 81 | 86 | — |
| $25 | Linne Crossing Paso Robles Highlands District · Walk-ins welcome | 81 | 77 | — |
| $25 | Mabry & Vantrease Paso Robles Highlands District · By appointment | 81 | 89 | — |
| $25 | Paper Draw Paso Robles Highlands District · By appointment | 81 | 78 | Waived on purchase |
| $25 | Mabry & Thorne Creston District · Walk-ins welcome | 80 | 83 | — |
| $25 | Mabry Knoll Santa Margarita Ranch · By appointment | 80 | 85 | Waived on purchase |
| $25 | Stapleton Ridge Willow Creek District · By appointment | 79 | 88 | — |
| $25 | Ellery Field Templeton Gap District · By appointment | 78 | 88 | — |
| $25 | Rhodes Trail Paso Robles Geneseo District · By appointment | 78 | 85 | Waived on purchase |
| $25 | Orsini Vineyards Paso Robles Highlands District · By appointment | 75 | 75 | — |
| $25 | Rushmore Rise Paso Robles Highlands District · Walk-ins welcome | 75 | 82 | Waived on purchase |
| $25 | Bellhaven Winery Paso Robles Highlands District · By appointment | 74 | 75 | — |
| $25 | Corliss Hill Creston District · By appointment | 72 | 83 | Waived on purchase |
| $25 | Verrone & Orsini Paso Robles Highlands District · By appointment | 71 | 79 | — |
| $25 | Barn Row Paso Robles Estrella District · By appointment | 70 | 77 | Waived on purchase |
| $30 | Whitcomb & Naveau Templeton Gap District · By appointment | 100 | 96 | Waived on purchase |
| $30 | Wexler Crossing Adelaida District · Walk-ins welcome | 97 | 91 | — |
| $30 | Cordell Fork Templeton Gap District · By appointment | 95 | 89 | — |
| $30 | Huer Huero Hill Willow Creek District · Walk-ins welcome | 92 | 91 | — |
| $30 | Fairbourne Bend Adelaida District · By appointment | 91 | 86 | Waived on purchase |
| $30 | Hemsley & Ulmer Adelaida District · By appointment | 91 | 90 | — |
| $30 | Nolby & Ostrom Santa Margarita Ranch · By appointment | 90 | 83 | — |
| $30 | Barn Terrace El Pomar District · By appointment | 89 | 88 | Waived on purchase |
| $30 | Highland Furrow Paso Robles Geneseo District · By appointment | 89 | 81 | — |
| $30 | Huer Huero Gate Creston District · By appointment | 89 | 84 | — |
| $30 | Oyster Crossing Adelaida District · By appointment | 87 | 93 | — |
| $30 | Huer Huero Winery Willow Creek District · Walk-ins welcome | 85 | 93 | Waived on purchase |
| $30 | Varney Bend Paso Robles Estrella District · By appointment | 85 | 82 | Waived on purchase |
| $30 | Dellamo & Fenwick San Juan Creek · By appointment | 84 | 88 | Waived on purchase |
| $30 | Fairbourne Rise Santa Margarita Ranch · Walk-ins welcome | 82 | 91 | — |
| $30 | Larkin & Wexler Paso Robles Highlands District · By appointment | 81 | 90 | Waived on purchase |
| $30 | Mabry Mesa Creston District · By appointment | 81 | 82 | — |
| $30 | Marchetti Furrow Creston District · By appointment | 81 | 81 | Waived on purchase |
| $30 | Norwood Flat Santa Margarita Ranch · By appointment | 80 | 83 | Waived on purchase |
| $30 | Summit Row El Pomar District · By appointment | 79 | 79 | Waived on purchase |
| $30 | Jack Hollow San Miguel District · By appointment | 78 | 86 | — |
| $30 | Jack Terrace San Juan Creek · By appointment | 78 | 79 | — |
| $30 | Merriam & Wexler El Pomar District · By appointment | 78 | 85 | Waived on purchase |
| $30 | Amsel Gate Creston District · By appointment | 77 | 85 | Waived on purchase |
| $30 | Hollis & Hemsley San Miguel District · By appointment | 76 | 81 | — |
| $30 | Kell Grove Adelaida District · Walk-ins welcome | 65 | 76 | Waived on purchase |
| $35 | Marchetti & Braithe Santa Margarita Ranch · By appointment | 99 | 96 | Waived on purchase |
| $35 | Dunmore Springs Paso Robles Geneseo District · Walk-ins welcome | 92 | 91 | Waived on purchase |
| $35 | Fenwick Cellars San Juan Creek · By appointment | 91 | 89 | Waived on purchase |
| $35 | Quarry Gate San Miguel District · Walk-ins welcome | 91 | 83 | — |
| $35 | Dover Wash Santa Margarita Ranch · By appointment | 88 | 80 | — |
| $35 | Rhodes & Corliss Willow Creek District · Walk-ins welcome | 84 | 87 | Waived on purchase |
| $35 | Bramble Hill Templeton Gap District · By appointment | 83 | 91 | Waived on purchase |
| $35 | Hallow Estate Santa Margarita Ranch · Walk-ins welcome | 83 | 87 | — |
| $35 | Tarrant & Kell Templeton Gap District · Walk-ins welcome | 82 | 81 | Waived on purchase |
| $35 | Lockwood Row San Juan Creek · Walk-ins welcome | 81 | 84 | — |
| $35 | Paper Flat El Pomar District · By appointment | 80 | 91 | — |
| $40 | Verrone Vista Templeton Gap District · By appointment | 100 | 96 | Waived on purchase |
| $40 | Bald Row El Pomar District · By appointment | 95 | 87 | — |
| $40 | Boye Grove Paso Robles Geneseo District · By appointment | 91 | 86 | Waived on purchase |
| $40 | Calder Draw Creston District · Walk-ins welcome | 91 | 87 | — |
| $40 | Cripple Cellars Adelaida District · By appointment | 91 | 83 | Waived on purchase |
| $40 | York Knoll Paso Robles Estrella District · Walk-ins welcome | 91 | 84 | — |
| $40 | Garvey Hollow Willow Creek District · By appointment | 90 | 85 | — |
| $40 | Shell Vineyards Adelaida District · By appointment | 89 | 89 | Waived on purchase |
| $40 | Huer Huero Rise Paso Robles Highlands District · By appointment | 88 | 89 | — |
| $40 | Kell Wash Paso Robles Highlands District · Walk-ins welcome | 87 | 87 | — |
| $40 | Thorne Bench Willow Creek District · By appointment | 87 | 86 | — |
| $40 | Cañada Reach San Miguel District · By appointment | 86 | 80 | Waived on purchase |
| $40 | Shell Fork El Pomar District · By appointment | 82 | 91 | Waived on purchase |
| $40 | Wexler Draw Adelaida District · By appointment | 81 | 91 | Waived on purchase |
| $40 | Naveau Estate Paso Robles Highlands District · Walk-ins welcome | 76 | 82 | — |
| $40 | Cripple Trail Paso Robles Estrella District · By appointment | 75 | 84 | — |
| $40 | Marchetti & Fenwick Paso Robles Estrella District · By appointment | 74 | 82 | Waived on purchase |
| $40 | York Flat Paso Robles Geneseo District · By appointment | 74 | 82 | — |
| $40 | Barn Bench Paso Robles Highlands District · By appointment | 70 | 77 | — |
| $40 | Chalk Field Paso Robles Estrella District · By appointment | 69 | 75 | — |
| $45 | Boye & Yarrow Adelaida District · Walk-ins welcome | 100 | 92 | Waived on purchase |
| $45 | Naveau Furrow San Juan Creek · Walk-ins welcome | 97 | 92 | — |
| $45 | Bald Ranch Creston District · By appointment | 95 | 94 | — |
| $45 | Alder Knoll Willow Creek District · By appointment | 93 | 93 | — |
| $45 | York Mesa Creston District · Walk-ins welcome | 92 | 89 | — |
| $45 | Bellamy Winery Santa Margarita Ranch · By appointment | 91 | 82 | Waived on purchase |
| $45 | Jessup Ranch Adelaida District · By appointment | 91 | 87 | — |
| $45 | Cañada Springs Creston District · By appointment | 90 | 86 | Waived on purchase |
| $45 | Cold Spring Row San Juan Creek · Walk-ins welcome | 90 | 86 | — |
| $45 | Pell & Hollis San Miguel District · Walk-ins welcome | 90 | 89 | Waived on purchase |
| $45 | Steelhead Vineyards Santa Margarita Ranch · By appointment | 90 | 90 | — |
| $45 | Jarrow Ranch Adelaida District · By appointment | 89 | 90 | — |
| $45 | Salinas Terrace San Juan Creek · By appointment | 88 | 83 | Waived on purchase |
| $45 | Whitcomb Vista Santa Margarita Ranch · Walk-ins welcome | 87 | 90 | — |
| $45 | Chalk Furrow El Pomar District · By appointment | 86 | 89 | Waived on purchase |
| $45 | Ridgemark & Nolby Templeton Gap District · By appointment | 86 | 92 | Waived on purchase |
| $45 | Ivers Mesa El Pomar District · By appointment | 82 | 87 | — |
| $45 | Nolby Estate San Juan Creek · Walk-ins welcome | 82 | 87 | — |
| $45 | Cripple Row Paso Robles Geneseo District · Walk-ins welcome | 81 | 83 | Waived on purchase |
| $45 | Calf Bench San Juan Creek · Walk-ins welcome | 79 | 78 | — |
| $45 | Whitcomb & Kell Paso Robles Estrella District · By appointment | 76 | 80 | — |
| $45 | Boye Bluff Paso Robles Highlands District · By appointment | 75 | 84 | Waived on purchase |
| $45 | Corliss Draw San Miguel District · By appointment | 70 | 82 | — |
| $45 | Vantrease & Ashby Paso Robles Highlands District · By appointment | 69 | 83 | — |
| $50 | Linne Field Willow Creek District · By appointment | 94 | 87 | — |
| $50 | Draycott Trail Templeton Gap District · By appointment | 88 | 89 | Waived on purchase |
| $50 | Steelhead Bench Adelaida District · By appointment | 87 | 84 | Waived on purchase |
| $50 | Yost & Halloran Paso Robles Estrella District · Walk-ins welcome | 87 | 85 | — |
| $50 | Bellamy & Vashon Santa Margarita Ranch · By appointment | 86 | 91 | Waived on purchase |
| $50 | Prewitt & Halloran San Miguel District · Walk-ins welcome | 86 | 84 | Waived on purchase |
| $50 | Dry Creek Gate Willow Creek District · By appointment | 84 | 90 | Waived on purchase |
| $50 | Oyster Furrow Willow Creek District · Walk-ins welcome | 83 | 86 | — |
| $50 | Naveau & Corliss Adelaida District · By appointment | 79 | 83 | Waived on purchase |
| $50 | Yarrow & Rennick Paso Robles Estrella District · By appointment | 79 | 83 | — |
| $50 | Gorse Bluff El Pomar District · By appointment | 77 | 87 | — |
| $50 | Rocky Ranch Paso Robles Geneseo District · By appointment | 77 | 80 | — |
| $50 | Lindqvist & Merriam Adelaida District · By appointment | 76 | 85 | Waived on purchase |
| $50 | Peachy Hollow San Juan Creek · By appointment | 76 | 76 | — |
| $50 | Thistle Fork San Juan Creek · By appointment | 76 | 82 | Waived on purchase |
| $50 | Chalk Gate San Miguel District · By appointment | 75 | 84 | — |
| $50 | Cold Spring Grove Paso Robles Highlands District · By appointment | 74 | 81 | Waived on purchase |
| $50 | Lindqvist Crossing San Juan Creek · By appointment | 66 | 79 | — |
The median tasting fee across the 187 producers Cruxvine scores is $30, in a range of $0 to $50. 19 charge nothing at all, and 91 of the 187 waive the fee on a purchase.
A little. Rooms charging no fee score a median of 79 for the tasting room; rooms charging $36 and up score 86. That is 7 points for the difference between free and $36 and up — real, but smaller than the fee gap suggests, and the $36 and up band's median Crux Score is 86 against 84.
19 charge no fee. 5 take walk-ins as well: Limestone Winery (89), Rocky Grade (87), Tarrant Knoll (81), Orsini Furrow (78), Nolby Trail (75).
At 91 of the 187 producers Cruxvine scores, the fee is waived on a purchase. The other 96 keep it. Cruxvine scores the tasting room as its own category — pour size, staff knowledge, reservation friction and what it costs to sit down — at 15% of the Crux Score, so the fee is part of the score rather than a footnote to it.