An Experience You Won't Forget

October 1, 2015

CLAUTIERE VINEYARD -One of a Kind
The tasting room at Clautiere Vineyard is one of a kind; part
fantasy, part serious, it’s an amalgam of the best of the wine world.
You need to see firsthand the vibe and the wines of this very unique
winery—it’s an experience you won’t forget.
Creative & Distinct
Visitors to their farmhouse tasting room are greeted by grounds dotted with sculptures, ornaments hanging from an old oak tree and a custom created
metal fence that surrounds the property. Once inside the tasting room, you’re confronted with bold purple and black colors, and patterns and checkers adorn the floor.There is a gorgeous outdoor patio and out back, there are tables
under stunning oak trees that sit ready for the perfect wine country
picnic.
The creative forces behind Clautiere Vineyard are Claudine
Blackwell and Terry Brady—Clautiere is a merging of their first
names. Between the two of them, they have accomplished much with
job titles ranging from fashion designer, restaurant owners, welder,
landscape designer and more. Since moving to Paso Robles in 1999,
the couple has breathed new life into their 145-acre ranch, as well as
the local wine industry, by creating something distinctive.
Food Friendly Wines
“We pair all our wines with gourmet cheeses, which is a fun and educational way to introduce our wines to consumers both seasoned and new to wine,” says
Susan West, Operations Manager.
“Our wines are across the board the most food friendly wines,” she
adds. The cheeses, which Tasting Room Manager Lindsay Jacobsen
has perfectly paired to Clautiere’s fine collection of wines, come from
premier cheese-producing regions such as Wisconsin, France and
Holland.
The wines are a cross between a European style and a Paso style,
neither as light as European wines nor as heavy as Paso wines. “We
strike a good balance between the two,” West says. Typically, the
tasting menu rotates monthly, so there is always something new. They
only create 2,500 cases each year, so the wines are extremely limited.
Bottle prices range from $16 to $44 and Clautiere’s wines include a
new Sparkling Viognier, Syrah, Reserve Grenache and their BDX
Bordeaux blend, just to name a few. The BDX Bordeaux blend won a
Double Gold at the Cabernet Shootout in San Francisco this year.
Artistic Expresion
Adjacent to the tasting room is a playroom, stocked with all
manner of wigs. Once wigs are donned, they allow a person to release
their inhibitions and morph into their alter ego—and perhaps that is
the best way to try something new, without any prejudices. Certainly,
every winery feels that it is important to differentiate themselves from
other wineries, and it’s merely a question of how you chose to do so.
“Clautiere has a magical feel and it’s evident from the minute you get
out of your car with the landscaping, the metal gate and the large
mosaic balls—all of which were made by Claudine. “We truly have
wines with an artistic expression,” Jacobsen says. People might feel
more subdued at other tasting rooms but the aim of Clautiere is to
offer a fun and informal environment that expresses to guests that the
owners are passionate about the artistic side of wine. The experience
is elegantly rebellious!

Visiting Clautiere Vineyard
Clautiere Vineyard is located
at 1340 Penman Springs Road on
Paso Robles’ Eastside. Their
tasting room is open Thursday
through Monday from 11:00 a.m.
to 5:00 p.m. and Tuesday and Wednesday by appointment. Tasting
fees run $10. Contact them at (805) 237-3789 or at clautiere.com.
 BY MICHAEL CERVIN

Paso Robles Harvest Festival Weekend
Coming October 16-18, it’s the Paso Robles Harvest Festival Weekend and Clautiere will
be celebrating all weekend long! On Friday night, reserve wines will be paired with
chocolate; on Saturday, they will offer small bites all day along with live music outside;
and on Sunday, Winemaker Ed Bracamonte will be conducting barrel tastings—so there
is something for everyone! Gear up for the unexpected and plan a visit to Clautiere.
An Experience You Won’t Forget