(Excerpted from Wikipedia’s page on Paso Robles – photos by John D. Charnley)
Paso Robles, California
Located on the Salinas River north of San Luis Obispo, California, the city is known for its hot springs, its abundance of wineries, production of olive oil, almond orchards, and for playing host to the California Mid-State Fair.
Geography
Hwy 46 West – Paso Robles, California
The topography of the area consists of gentle rolling hills on the eastern half of the city, and foothill peaks which rise in elevation to the Santa Lucia Coastal Range on the west, which are all blanketed in the Californian chaparral environment, which is mainly dry grassland and oak woodland. Simply “Paso,” as it is referred to by locals, sits on the eastern foothills of the Santa Lucia Coastal Mountain Range, which lies directly to the West of the city, and runs in a North-South direction, starting at Monterey, then runs down South to its terminus, in the San Luis Obispo area.
Climate
Paso Robles, California
The Paso Robles area actually consists of two different climate types and classifications, a semi-arid dry and the typical, coastal Californian & ‘Mediterranean’ type. Paso Robles enjoys long-lasting, mild autumns and occasional early springs, giving the region a unique climate suitable for growing a variety of crops ranging from primarily grapes, to olives, to almonds and other tree nuts.
Wine and Vineyards
Peachy Cyn Road – Paso Robles, California
The Paso Robles Wine Country has a number of wineries and vineyards in the area. More than 25 different varieties of grapes are grown in the Paso Robles Wine Country and there are over 250 bonded wineries. The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance is a cooperative marketing alliance made up of Paso Robles Wine Country wineries, vineyards and related businesses. They host many of the festivals in the Paso Robles Area, and strengthen brand awareness locally, regionally and nationally. The wine alliance focuses on trade and consumer outreach, media relations, buyer tours, educational and research programs and giving back to education and health organizations in the Paso Robles community.
