Day Trip

Sometimes the best wines come from taking a different route/​the road less traveled. Day Trip 2024 began with a half ton each of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre sourced from Rancho Arroyo Grande Vineyard, an historic, dry-farmed vineyard tucked into the southern Arroyo Grande Valley near Lopez Lake. With old, gnarly vines rooted in a completely different soil profile than our estate vineyards in Paso Robles, the vineyard offered an exciting opportunity to explore a new expression of these varieties and bring something unexpected to our lineup.

The 2024 vintage is an almost equal-part blend of 34% Syrah, 33% Grenache, and 33% Mourvèdre. Picked on October 1 at 24° Brix, the fruit arrived with the balance and character Josh was looking for — ripe enough to express generous fruit while retaining the freshness and savory character of this cooler coastal growing region.

In the cellar, each variety was vinified separately before coming together as a final blend for aging. A combination of new and neutral oak allowed the individual lots to develop while giving the wine room to evolve without overpowering the character of the fruit. The result is a wine that balances ripe fruit and floral aromatics with earthy, savory depth and a distinctly mineral finish.

Day Trip opens with aromas of stone fruit, cherry, flowers, and dried fruit, followed by a subtle interplay of earth and spice. On the palate, juicy strawberry and ripe stone fruit meet savory sage and crushed rock. Mild, supple tannins give the wine structure without weighing it down, while its bright acidity keeps the fruit fresh and lively. The wine strikes a balance between generous fruit and refreshing lift. 

Day Trip is made for food — especially dishes that bring out its savory, earthy side. Try it with roasted chicken, grilled sausages, mushroom pizza, or a hearty bowl of pasta with tomato and herbs.

For an easy vegetarian pairing, try crispy roasted mushroom tacos with sautéed mushrooms, warm corn tortillas, avocado, and a squeeze of lime. The earthy mushrooms echo the wine’s savory and mineral notes, while the bright toppings play beautifully with its fruit and acidity. For a Paso Robles takeout shortcut, pick up a mushroom pizza or roasted vegetable dish from a local pizzeria and open a bottle of Day Trip alongside it.

Only 74 cases were produced, making this first vintage of Day Trip a small-scale exploration of a special vineyard — and a reminder that sometimes the best way forward is to take a little detour.