paso robles

Bill Foley Adds Eos Wines To His Empire

Filed under: Wine

Lately it seems like every time I turn around billionaire Bill Foley is buying something new. The owner of Foley Family Wines recently announced the purchase of Eos winery in Paso Robles, California. The sale includes the Eos, Cupa Grandis, Lost Angel and Novella labels.

Eos winery was founded by the Arciero family in 1985 but sold to Sapphire Wines in 2007. The winery now produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Petite Sirah, Pinot Grigio among others along with really delicious dessert wines including a Late Harvest Moscato and an outstanding Zinfandel Port. Wines are in the $12 to $40 range. It puts out over 200,00 cases per year and is one of the stars of the growing Paso Robles region. The winery switched to being 100% solar powered in 2008. Back in May 2010, the winery went into receivership.

Foley Family Wines is based in Sonoma but has brands all the way from Napa to New Zealand. Foley is the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Fidelity National Financial Inc. He is also the developer of Rock Creek Cattle Company, an 80,000-acre working Montana ranch with a golf community and real estate development as well as other resort and farm properties around the world.

Tags: bill foley, eos winery, eos wines, paso robles, william p foley, william p foley ii

EOS Winery In Receivership

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

One of the largest wineries in the Paso Robles area of California, EOS Estate Winery has been placed in receivership. The San Luis Obispo Tribune reports that one of the winery's lenders, Farm Credit West, is acting as the court-ordered receiver and has been put in charge of the books. Business continues as usual at the winery which puts out over 200,000 cases of wine a year.

Saint James EOS Winery bought the company from Sapphire Wines, a Tennessee-based firm owned and controlled by Jeffrey Hopmayer and Saint James chief executive officer Kerry Vix says that the winery is in trouble because of extensive borrowing by the previous owner. Hopmayer meanwhile says that Saint James failed to obtain the necessary funding to keep the winery afloat because of the flabby economy.

EOS Estate Winery sells a large range of wines including whites, reds and desert wines. Most wines are in the $12-$40 range. It was founded by the Arciero family in 1985 but sold to Sapphire Wines in 2007. EOS owes an estimated $16.5 million to lenders, including a $7.5 million loan from Farm Credit West and $8 million owed to Entertainment Properties Trust. The winery also owes $2 million to $3 million to growers and $1.2 million in rent not paid since August 2009. As much as $1 million may be missing from the winery's books and a hunt is on find the missing finds. There is also talk of a potential buyer who might come in and takeover the winery. Another hearing on the case is scheduled for next week.

Tags: eos estate winery, eos winery, paso robles, receivership, winery

Beef, Wine And A Little Bit of Country

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Wine, Events

If you like beef, wine and country music, have we got an event for you. The Best Of Country, Beef and Wine Tasting Festival on July 14 in Bridgeport, California offers a country-style feast Paso Robles wines and country entertainment. The event takes place at the Bridgeport Ranch Barns & Terrace, an outdoor entertainment venue. The fare from local restaurants will be paired with wines from the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance and the Hunewill Ranch Bakery will be featuring country style desserts also paired with Paso Robles wines. Tickets are $65 each and include a souvenir Riedel wine glass and "The Best Of" recipe book which features recipes and wine pairing suggestions from the evening's festivities.

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Tags: california, cookout, dining, event, paso robles, PasoRobles, wine festival

25th Annual Paso Robles Wine Festival

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Events

It's time for a spring road trip, Paso Robles is having their 25th Annual Paso Robles Wine Festival May 18-20. When the festival begin in 1983 there were just 17 wineries in Paso Robles. Now there are 170 wineries in Paso Robles and more than 90 producers will be at the festival in the downtown city park. The festival usually sells around 6,500 tickets to wine enthusiasts from all over the nation. The marquee event in the park is on Saturday, May 19. There are two levels of passes, general admission which costs $50 and the Silver Pass admission ticket which sell for $75 and lets you in an hour before general admission so you can taste a bit before things get hectic.

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Tags: california, paso robles, PasoRobles, wine, wine festival, wine tasting

Hotel Cheval To Open In Paso Robles

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The Paso Robles area of California is getting increasingly chic. The latest luxury property in the area is the Hotel Cheval which will open in April 2007. Robert and Sherry Gilson spent two and a half years refining the concept and location of Hotel Cheval. The property has just 16 room with details like window seats, fireplaces, outdoor patios, flatscreen televisions and bathroom amenities by Temple Spa. Each rooms is named after a famous racehorse and the horse them continues in the Pony Club, a Parisian inspired horseshoe shaped zinc bar. The hotel will also offer complimentary carriage rides to dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings with Chester, Hotel Cheval's Belgian draft horse. Rates start at $225 but the hotel is offering special introductory rates starting at $195 for weekday stays until June 30.

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Tags: california, hotel cheval, HotelCheval, paso robles, travel, vacation

Reality TV Show For Winemakers Holds Casting Call

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

I wrote about this a while back for Slashfood, a public television show that will have contestants compete to launch their own wine label. The program, "The Wine Makers" is now casting and and will be filmed this September on the Central Coast. Want in? A casting call is scheduled for the Hospice du Rhone wine celebration in Paso Robles on May 12. Applicants don't have to attend the Hospice du Rhone, there will be a separate entrance and there is no charge to audition. Other casting calls will be held in major cities in the U.S. so if you've ever dreamed of life as a winemaker this is your chance.

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Tags: grapes, paso robles, reality television, wine, wine making

Esprit du Vin

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

The eleven wineries along Highway 46 East in the Paso Robles area of California are holding their Esprit du Vin event this weekend, January 13 -15. The Esprit du Vin grand event is held on Saturday night at the Robert Hall Winery and includes a wine sensory tour, gourmet food, live music by the Big Daddy’s Blues Band and award-winning wines from the wineries of Highway 46 East and costs $60.

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Tags: paso robles, vienyards, wine, wine events, wine tastings

Zin Alley

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

If you like Zinfandel then you should know about Zin Alley, a small winery in Templeton, California. They specialize in Red Zinfandel and Zinfandel port. They do not ship to stores and their wine is only available in restaurants in the Paso Robles area. They are happy to sell to individuals and people who have made the trek to the winery rave about the experience. The Red Zinfandel sells for $42 and the Port costs $40.

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Tags: paso robles, port, wine, wine tourism, winery, zin alley, zinfandel