#415 TOBIN JAMES CELLARS, Paso Robles, CA, Boondock

We were on our final descent into Neal Taylor and we were about 4 hours away so Tobin James winery was halfway. I had looked at many possibilities for a boondock and there were quite a few wineries in that same area. I had to pick the one that would allow a big rig and not too far off the main road. I was looking on the harvest host site for possibilities.

We called ahead and Tobin said it would be fine to stay for the evening but they wanted us to do a check-in process. They also mentioned that if we would like to participate in a wine tasting they would need the credit card to hold her spot. I asked India if this was something she would enjoy and she said yes but it was a little weird that they were so pushy about wanting a credit card to hold our tasting reservation for the so-called free site. They also mentioned she should be on time because if you are a no-show we charge your card anyway.

They told us where to park and it was a huge dirt area. We were the first ones there so we position our big in my favorite way with the refrigerator side facing west so the afternoon sun would not be killing us. We settled in I walked up the hill and registered us and they seem very cordial and wanted to verify that we were going to be there at 6 which means India because I have some baggage with alcohol.

They seem to have this down to a science in that they said well we do need you to show up but if you don't we've already charged you $20 for the wine tasting so it's to your advantage to show up.

I walked with India up there at 6 p.m. to check-in just to make sure she was comfortable with the process and as soon as she was I went back to the RV and let her have fun. They do have to keep an eye on things so they corral you through a roped-off area. You can't enter without paying and showing ID otherwise people would just wander in having a free tasting and they don't want that.

She came back home with a little bit of a buzz but a happy kitty and we settled into streaming our favorite TV shows and had a nice evening of it.

This part of the world was still pretty dang hot meaning in the mid-90s so I had called emailed ahead and asked if it was okay if we just show up on Saturday instead of Sunday. To go back a little I had told them would be there on Sunday the 18th but if it just means sitting out into a dirt parking lot at hundred degrees. I didn't see any reason to wait another day so they said come on it's fine.

Phone: 805-239-2204

Email: info@tobinjames.com

10:00 am to 6:00 pm - Daily Tasting Hours

9:00 am to 5:00 pm - M-F Office Hours