Falcon Nest Vineyard & Winery

This winery is a unique and surprising experience. Having never consumed aged wines before, we really had little background going in. The owner (Carol) sat and talked with us. Turning the glass sideways and rolled each vintage to show the changes in smell and color. She called the peacock, Peabo, over to eat out of our palms and walked us around to see the grounds. Told us about the cats and other pest control methods that are non-​chemical. It was fun, low-​key, and friendly. I left feeling more knowledgeable and as though I’d been allowed to play with my food… Or wine.

Anyone who knows about wine will immediately recognize on first taste that these wines are in a class by themselves. .. absolutely fabulous. They produce straight varietals (no blends), which you rarely find these days, and they are made in an old Italian style, with some remaining residue and aged many, many years before released for drinking. Even the color shows richness, with the deep red of a younger vintage giving way to a fine, slight brownish color. They produce 4 primary varietals — Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, and when you’re tasting, they’ll blend them right then so you can try different combinations and come up with your own favorite. It’s just wonderful! This is not a foo-​foo place at all — pretty plain and unassuming as far as tasting rooms go, but they take great pride and enjoyment in their wines, and it shows in the exceptional quality.

I absolutely love the paso Robles area. I’ve never come across a vineyard/​winery/​tasting room that I didn’t like until today at Falcons Nest. I knew it wouldn’t be good as we were driving in and knew something was very wrong when we saw the completely empty parking lot at 6pm for a place that closes at 7:30.
They only have reds, which I do have a preference for reds, however not these ones that were all 2003 vintages and the bottles looked like they had been opened since the year 2003! All 3 wines tasted the same, absolutely gross!
They had no AC and the windows were closed. The wine bottles that we tasted from were in direct sunlight and again I’m sure those bottles have been opened for quite some time.
Please do not go to this winery, there are too many other great ones.

We are just coming off our wedding weekend here, and this review is for our experience working with Carol and Francesco over the past few months for our big event. They are the most welcoming and hospitable couple who have owned this winery since the ‘90s. Francesco is a classically trained chef with over 40 years of experience, and three restaurants in SoCal prior to running this vineyard and winery. They are a family operation and they treat their guests as their own family, so working with them was comfortable and relatively flexible.
We had been to Falcon Nest for the first time four years ago for a NYE event. We weren’t sure what to expect from this small mom and pop place, but when we got to the dinner, it was just amazing. We also enjoyed dancing afterwards. It was such a fun time to mingle and eat a delicious meal with the locals, and the wine paired well with the food at the time. When we decided on the Paso region as our wedding destination, we thought back to our warm experience there and chose it without hesitation.
Falcon Nest is the perfect place for a nice event with a rustic feel. We had the option to choose a menu that was as fine as we wanted (if you want caviar, we can provide that, Francesco says!) or they can work with your budget and still provide quality dining. We went middle of the road, and we couldn’t be happier. His signature chicken, the Chicken Grand Duchessa (chicken served in a cognac reduction creamy sauce, olives, mushrooms, and prosciutto) was to die for. We had had it during that NYE dinner years back and it stood out, and it did not disappoint this time, either! The special salt cod dish was a special Mediterranean treat, and both were served along side delightful french green beans and rice pilaf. Our starter was a bright tomato basil pasta that tided over our guests to the point where they left their seats after finishing the plate to go out and take pictures of the spectacularly beautiful «rising» full moon that glorious evening. We had a lot of pleasant distractions that are not always easy for a chef to work with, but Francesco came through with a hot and scrumptious meal when we were ready. That was impressive! They were so flexible with timing the food that everything was free-​flowing and allowed everyone to maximize their experience of a lovely winery and surrounding vineyard, while enjoying food paced on their own time. We were able to enjoy extra time on the dance floor beyond what other wineries would have allowed. Most wineries require you to shut down no later than 10pm, and we went well over an hour past. No other place would’ve been as accommodating!
We had a tad over a hundred guests, and that was just enough to fit in the banquet hall. Carol was able to configure the room accordingly to accommodate, but anything bigger would have changed the dynamic of the event. Carol was so sweet and is always ready with a polite suggestion or a great compliment, so she’s a joy to work with. She suggested shuttle service even though they have boundless parking space to make sure everyone was transported safely. They also have great friends to help them with large events, but we brought in some drink servers for some extra reinforcement, which seemed to work out well. They could have handled it all themselves, and they are quick to make sure that we didn’t spend too much for outside costs, but we wanted to make sure no one was overwhelmed. As long as we were able to communicate what we really wanted, they were able to come through within reason. We had a great wedding there without the hype and cost of other wineries in Paso.
Thank you, Carol and Frank for welcoming us and our loved ones into your home.

The wine I tasted had been sitting open too long. I made a mercy purchase of their 2003 Cab. I opened it yesterday and I’m happy to report it was good but not great. I think they would sell more wine if they kept fresh samples.

The couple who runs this winery are very welcoming and personable. She is very knowledgeable about her wines and the story of them.
The wines were all very aged from 2003, I didnt care for any of them, too strong for my taste.
There is a peacock there named Peebo, he welcomed us when we arrived and sent us on our way!

I still can’t believe they are open til 7:30 pm.
Super nice couple but their wine are kind of middle of the road.
They only had 3 wines to taste, Zin, Syrah and a Cab. They have a pet peacock that can be fed by hand.
If it’s 6 pm and you still want to taste wine, go here!
Great place to have a party or wedding. In fact there was a couple there who were inquiring about a wedding reception there.
5 stars for the friendliness

Lovely people, but did not like the wine or the facility.
They were pouring 2003 vintage. Most tasted oxidized and off. The first zin had an orange tinge.
There are other options. Avail youself of them.

We’ve been here three or four times now, today was actually the first time we came early. (Good thing we did, because the party that rented out the hall was arriving as we left.) Normally it’s the last stop on our trip, as they’re the last winery open in the region, and once you’re in they never kick you out. In the past we’ve even been treated to a disco party and a tour of their huge new kitchen, which is quite awesome, and no wonder he can feed so many. Very nice people, very personable and knowledgeable and deservedly proud of what they’ve built.
I can’t help feeling that I liked their older wines (2001 and 2002) better; maybe my palate was off but I felt they were more sweet and syrupy than previously. Still good, definitely worth a taste. They age their wine nearly ten years before releasing, so look forward to some unique styles!
The pasta sauces are some of the best ever. We pick up those by the case when we get a chance, but they sell out quickly!

After having to find a new spot to have our wedding we were recommended to this place. Our budget was very diminished due to being so close to the wedding. Even the place can look dated my friend was able to spruce it up. There are so many pros to this place they let us stay and hang out Kate we got a ton of food for a very inexpensive amount and they were very nice people. The food was amazing and we ate a ton… Plus his tiramisu was to die for! Great experience and we had the best wedding!!! Thanks to them!

In full disclosure, i am a friend and frequent customer.
I live just down the road from the Nest. I go there often and have to say, the food is really good. Frank and Carol, the owners, are fun and unique people that make for an interesting experience.
The wine is good, but a bit dated and I really wish they would release a new vintage line. If you’re looking for a fun time while wine tasting, or need some food to soak up what you’ve tasted, this is the place. Dog and kid friendly.
Gary
PS, they have the best Caesar salad and home made sauces for sale. Kind of pricy, but very good.

Lovely place. Food is good. Wine is unfiltered. It’s like a throw back to a time when owners connect with their customers in a real way. I will return to this quaint place.

About a week ago my wife and I stopped by at ths place because it had a flashing sign that said Wine and Pizza. Boy, were we pleasantly surprised. The owners are really down-​to-​earth. The lady of the house definitely made us comfortable. The place has a really nice view of the wineries. The owner is actually a great cook. The pizza was fantastic.
I only reason I didn’t give it five star is because I was not really impressed with the wines. They were good though. I definitely recommend this place to visitors of paso robles.

Falcon Nest came highly recommended from a friend of mine for wine tasting and lunch. We were the only ones there our entire visit and received quite the personalized attention. This place embodies the spirit of Paso Robles wine tasting in my opinion. It is a small family operation and you can tell they love what they do. They welcome you into their business and treat you like a family member. I could not rave more about the wonderful ‘service’ which felt more like an old friend or family member than someone providing service to us. It was wonderful.
The wines were enjoyable — not the best but far from the worst. The tasting was unique — in addition to what was listed on the flight information sheet she «mixed» some 100% wines to make special blends. She poured for instance a 100% Merlot and a 100% cabernet sauvignon and each blend had a name. like «The Nest.» Very cool!
Also, I got to feed their domesticated Peacock, Peebo. That was a neat experience.
The lunch — I was expecting a little higher caliber, but it was still good. Just not gourmet. Perhaps a little overpriced. I had the pasta with shrimp and my husband had chicken marsala. I was a little shocked by how small the items on his plate appeared — the green beans were miniature and the chicken was a VERY thin slice. But he said it did taste delicious.
The salad dressing was a bit oversalted — and I have read that on some other reviews, so perhaps they are a bit heavy on the salt.
The owner picked some fresh parsley from the garden to garnish our meal, which was an awesome touch. We saw so many animals from their dining area while we ate — guinea hens, dogs, jackrabbits, etc. Beautiful location.
Overall — these people obviously are passionate about what they do and provide top notch service. Their hearts are 100% into their business and I would absolutely come back.

I am quite surprised by the reviews on Falcon Nest Winery, specifically the food. The owners are quite lovely, but I hardly felt the food and wine were anything to rave about. This place was highly recommended by someone who indicated that the owner is not a trained chef per se, but a very good cook. He indicated that, while the menu was very simple, with a handful of items, it would be very good food.
We were seated and the wife brought over a bread basket filled with… white sandwich bread! White sandwich bread sliced in half with butter that felt it had been sitting in the freezer. I was shocked! My friend ordered the Chicken Parmesan and it was nothing more than a piece of chicken covered with cheese and flavorless ragu. I ordered the Rotisserie Chicken because I figured it was the safest bet on the menu for flavor. I chose wisely; the chicken was flavorful, but just OK and definitely nothing special. I could have gone to the local Albertson’s a purchased the same chicken there. The green beans served with both our dishes were so salty neither one of us could eat them. The Crème Brulee was good, the wine was mediocre at best. We dropped $ 86.00 on two entrees, a bottle of wine, dessert and let’s not forget the Wonder Bread. If you’re looking for a culinary experience, this is definitely not the place. Save your money and opt for places like Artisan or Enoteca, where you’ll get what you pay for and freshly baked bread to boot!

WOW! I didn’t know what to expect when stopping at this winery because I had never been here before and it was our last stop but we had such an amazing time and were impressed with the homey feel and really good food.
I would definitely recommend this winery to anyone who is planning a trip to Paso Robles, it is a must do!

I usually take the 101 a lot from to get from the Northern to Southern California. It’s a beautiful drive (much better than the 5). Recently, I decided to check out wine-​tasting in Paso Robles. There are lots of wineries in Paso Robles these days, but I was really fortunate to stumble upon a true family-​owned vineyard: Falcon Nest.
This place really embodies the beauty of what California wineries are all about.
The down-​to-​earth owners (Carol and Franco) are really knowledgeable and into their wines. They are also a charming and friendly couple that made the experience that much better by being approachable and informative. I don’t usually purchase wine, but I found myself buying 2 bottles from them (a wonderful Merlot and the famous Californian Zinfandel).
Now to the best part – the food, of course! This is not some cheese and crackers winery. This place has food! Amazing, fresh, perfectly cooked. It complimented the wine and enhanced the entire experience. Watching the sunset there, I felt very fortunate to be a Californian.

I could sum up my incredible experience in just one remark if I wanted to, which would be «Ooh la la!» That could be it, but no. Brilliant food, long honest laughter and succulent, red wine went perfectly together to create an experience that deserves a longer story.
We were lucky enough when we walked in at sunset to find both the owners there, Franco and Carol, who served us with warmth and kindness, and reminded me of old world candor and humor. Carol taught me a ton about wine in just twenty short minutes as I’m fairly naïve about the whole thing. For me, if it tastes good and the energy from the people and the place rock, then we’re good. Yes, their red wines were amazing, loved every one.
As we didn’t set up a reservation at all and just walked in to check them out, they were starting to get ready for a small private group of four, for whom Franco was magically conjuring up venison stew, squab soup and some other amazing scented treasures wafting in from the kitchen. They offered to check on how much they had, and if enough, would love to include us in the special dinner. Granted, dinner at The Falcon Nest is regularly offered by Franco, but this was a special rare blend of food that they had arranged to cook previously… so we felt very honored that we could be included. Their pricing seemed more than fair, and later we were thankful we stayed.
Carol was already open and warm to us and once Franco had made everything and served it, he was happy to stick around and talk about cooking stories and world travels and cultures with us. They made an adorable couple and we quietly made photographs of them (check out my profile to see some shots) while we all laughed and brought our conversation late into the night. They closed at 7:30pm, but Carol and Franco stayed and joked with us until 10:30! That’s THREE HOURS… not a tiny slice of time!
The experience was exactly what we were hoping to find… a small family owned vineyard and winery with excellent quality, a small environment, and kind, down to earth people to talk with. There’s some huge thing to say about family owned places that care about quality of life.
Thank you Carol and Franco for giving us our first Paso wine experience of tremendous caliber, and can’t wait for our family and friends to visit from New England so we can bring them to your special place (we’ve already told them about you two and your winery)!
Sincerely,
— Doug D

So we continue our journey up Union Rd. The next place we stop is here at Falcon Nest. I know, I know, I keep wanting to call it Falcon Crest. Maybe that was part of the owner/winemaker’s ploy, maybe not. Who’s to say.
The man who owns this winery is from Italy who also has a background in the culinary arts in France. So he’s definitely qualified when it comes to making and appreciating wine. All he makes are reds, nothing else.
He still cooks on site for events and recently opened up a new event room for rental. While there, he took a phone call and explained the fees to other person (in Spanish). He’ll waive the room fee if you let him cater the event. We didn’t try any of his eats, but the menu look exquisite.
I thought the wines tasted alright, but a bit on the expensive sign for me. One notable thing I can say is that when you initially drive-​up to the tasting room you are welcomed by a flashing neon sign saying «open, open, open, open» ala the Mervyn’s lady from those Christmas commercials about ten years back.

A small operation on Paso’s east side, my wine tasting posse found Falcon Nest quaint, quirky, and charming. One of the owners was behind the counter pouring our samples. She was very friendly and easy to converse with.
We didn’t get to meet the other owner (her husband) because he was busy in the kitchen, preparing dinner for the Mardi Gras-​themed party they were having later that night. Apparently they recently added a new large dining/​multi-​purpose room adjacent to the tasting room for the purpose of having regular events. It’s a rather simple room, but with tons of windows looking out on their vineyard, and it was decorated for the party.
The wines were good (four reds) but they were more expensive than most of the other places we visited that day. Still, it was a pleasant stop and I’d happily revisit again.
In addition to their wines, they also sell the husband’s pasta sauces. We took home the meatball and bacon spaghetti sauce, and had it for dinner later that week. It was excellent, and it paired nicely with the Falcon Nest Cab.