24 Hours in Paso Robles: A Symphony of Light, Wine, and Soul
In the wake of impending uncertainty, I wanted to chime in to remind you that taking a break from the norm is absolutely a good idea. With the recent flight cancellation trends, airport delays, government shutdown, and a whole lot of news we’d all prefer was farce, here in California, the road trip has never sounded more apropos to cure the need for a quick escape. With the brisk chill of fall blowing in ever so effortlessly, I called my friend Jazmin and we ventured to Paso for a 24-hour girl’s trip. This was an experiential, sensory, grounded in luxury, art, and human connection kind of trip and it was the perfect unwind.
Morning: Allegretto Vineyard Resort — Art, Architecture, and the Taste of Tranquility
There’s a moment, just as sun rises across the Paso Robles valley, when the world feels entirely at peace. It’s quiet with the softness of the subtle breeze, the sound of birds rising to begin their day, and the way nature reminds us how beauty exists in simplicity. In this wine terrain, the vineyards awaken under a gauzy lavender sky, and you can almost hear the whisper of the earth — a hum of soil, vine, and soul working in unison.
Paso Robles isn’t just a destination. It’s a sensory dialogue between nature and art, wine and light, indulgence and intention.
Photos by Dawn Garcia
As the morning sun unfurls over the terracotta rooftops of Allegretto Vineyard Resort, the first thing that strikes you is how alive everything feels. Designed by visionary Doug Ayres, Allegretto is more than a luxury resort — it’s a sanctuary where Old World aesthetics meet California’s easy modernity. Stone archways frame courtyards bursting with herbs, olive trees, and fountains that create an ambiance of tranquility. Everywhere you turn, art reveals itself: sculptures from Bali, mosaics from Italy, and original pieces that reflect humanity’s shared creative pulse. You can feel the philosophy behind it — a belief that beauty heals, and that hospitality, when done right, is an act of reverence.
Breakfast at Cello Ristorante & Bar is an immersion into local fare. From their steel cut organic oats made with flaxseed, chia seed, and fresh berries; to their dishes sourced with local ingredients, and olive oil so lush it could pass for gold. The air smells of rosemary and sunlight, and whether you sit inside or on their patio, the vibe is one of calm. This is luxury without pretension — the kind that wraps you in gratitude rather than grandeur.
And then there’s the wine. Allegretto’s vineyard produces small-batch varietals that mirror the land’s rhythm — expressive, balanced, unapologetically Californian. A glass of any one of their wines captures the sun-soaked generosity of the Central Coast, each sip an ode to craftsmanship and care. The tasting flights are a lovely way to get familiar with their vast array of blends.
Afternoon: Copia Vineyards — Sustainability, Diversity, and the Poetry of Place
A short drive from Allegretto brings you to Copia Vineyards, a winery that feels less like an enterprise and more like a love story between people and land. Founded by Anita and Varinder Sahi, Copia embodies what Paso Robles does best: community, innovation, and authenticity.
Anita Sahi greets you with the warmth of someone who truly believes in what she’s creating — and who’s rewriting what representation looks like in the wine world. She’s funny, brilliant, and cares deeply about merging story, nature, and community. What ended up being the longest date on record, Sahi and her husband Varinder decided not just to adventure through life together, they created a vineyard that feels peaceful — and it’s a family affair.
Run on love and respect for nature, as co-founder, Copia’s ethos is infused with purpose (and, should you have time to sit with Anita, expect glorious wit and endearing conversation). Every element of the winery — from its regenerative farming practices to its elegant, minimal-intervention wines — reflects the Sahi’s dedication to sustainability and diversity.
Wine is meant to bring people together,” Anita says, “It should invite conversation, connection, and care for the land.
Copia’s vineyards rest on calcareous soil, rich in character and history. Each sip of their varietals tells a story of resilience — of roots that dig deep and vines that thrive under Paso’s wild temperature swings. You taste patience, and a little bit of rebellion.
At the tasting room, the experience feels curated for reflection. The design is one with the earth, the elegance is present and unassuming, and being on the property feels like a retreat to nature and sophistication. Music hums through the speakers, the tasting notes read like poetry, and the energy is grounded, intentional, and inclusive. The bites prepared for us are certainly worthy of mention, as every ingredient is locally sourced and prepared with Michelin-chef level presentation and profiles. Copia wines and the Sahis passion and dedication to the land and the quality is thoughtful, You leave with the sense that wine, in Anita’s hands, isn’t just a product — it’s a language of empathy.
Evening: Sensorio — Light, Landscape, and the Spirit of Awe
As twilight spills across Paso Robles, the road leads you to Sensorio, the breathtaking immersive art installation by British artist Bruce Munro. The experience defies expectation — a vast, undulating landscape illuminated by over 100,000 solar-powered spheres, each one pulsing in color and rhythm like the earth’s own heartbeat.
Standing amid the Field of Light, you feel both infinitesimal and infinite. The installation seems alive, breathing with the subtlety of nature itself. The soft hues — blues, violets, ambers — shift across the rolling hills in waves of calm brilliance. It’s meditative and otherworldly, yet deeply human. This trip to Sensorio meant delighting in the latest installation additions. The
Munro’s art is rooted in connection — between light and dark, nature and technology, solitude and community. As people wander through the glowing expanse, there’s a collective hush, as if everyone has instinctively remembered how to be.
A glass of Paso Robles red in hand, you pause at the edge of the installation. The breeze carries the scent of sage and soil, and in that stillness, you realize that everything here — the light, the land, the wine, the people — is a reflection of something far greater: our shared need to belong to beauty.
Nightfall Reflections
When the stars rise over Paso Robles, the city quiets into a hush that feels sacred. The day feels like a journey inward — through the tactile pleasure of Allegretto’s artful serenity, the soulful innovation at Copia, and the transcendence of Sensorio’s light. This is a place that insists you slow down. That you listen. That you taste the earth and remember how much wonder still exists in it.
Paso Robles isn’t just where luxury meets sustainability. It’s where humanity meets harmony — where the soil beneath your feet and the stars above your head remind you that life, when experienced fully, is its own exquisite art form.
ABOUT COPIA
The word Copia is a Latin root word that means abundance or plenty. It’s an apt name for a winery that is created by two people that have always chased the glass half full.
The story of Copia Vineyards begins with the passion of Anita and Varinder Sahi, their shared love of wine and the beauty of its source. The Sahis each had different paths to this world. He has an engineering and business background, and she is a restaurant and marketing veteran. He globetrotted for work and his love for wine grew. She worked side-by-side with some of the finest restaurateurs and Michelin-starred chefs, cultivating her zeal for fine food and wine. Their shared interests, entrepreneurship and life’s ever-winding path sparked a trip to Paso Robles Wine Country in 2015. Essentially, they never left.
In 2017, the Sahis’ search to find a special site to produce world-class Rhône and Bordeaux varietals was successful. They became the proud stewards of 50 acres of paradise-on-earth in the Willow Creek District of Paso Robles. It is now a veritable winemaker’s dream with nearly 40,000 vines planted in 24 distinct blocks. In 2022, their estate grew to include 26 acres of dramatic landscape in the Adelaida District. Both vineyard sites have breathtakingly beautiful slopes, calcareous soils and strong marine influence. Simply put, the Sahis believe that these vineyards are legendary. The vines on the Copia Estate are now producing some of the most opulent, concentrated fruit with densely rich varietal characteristics.
The Copia wines are the result of a lifetime’s worth of learning experiences, efforts taken and opportunities seized. This is but a snapshot of the story that surrounds each bottle. It is our pleasure to share this with you as you explore Copia wines. “Cheers,” to the path that brought you here today. // www.copiavineyards.com
