Saralee S.
Yelp
Best way to get the holiday spirit is try a winetasting! Super fun and spirited Yelp event at the Cypher Lounge Wine tasting room at the historic Paso Robles train station. Cypher presented Yelpers galore with a fabulous selection of their sophisticated wines and charcuterie. It was a festive kick-off to the holiday season, and everyone was sporting their best "bad" holiday regalia.
The Cypher tasting room is a bit off the beaten path in Paso, and we were delighted to discover it next to the beautifully restored Paso Robles train station. It is adorably decorated with wood walls, understated chandeliers, antiquey ceiling fans, a marble topped bar and comfortable lounge furniture. Landscaped charcutery boards invited us, along with spicy dark chocolate brownies, both promising rich and savory flavors.
We proceeded through the wine flight, which included five wines, starting with the slighty acidic but noble Grenache. The One Tree Hill Syrah delivered a fruity taste, which stood up to the charcuterie well. The Mourvedre had a big bouquet of rich flavor, the grape hailing from Provence, the south of France. The wine that killed it for me was aptly named Slayer. It filled my mouth with a song of wine, and left me singing along to the classical holiday music! The last sip, from Cypher Eclectic had my senses going in severals taste directions at once, and I think the chile brownie best suited its almost savory flavors. A tasting flight is a bargain at $15, which is the usual cost of a single glass of wine.
We lingered and tasted and chatted in the happy ambience of yesteryear, something that is very welcome on the Central Coast. I have had the pleasure of the scenic train trip from SLO to LA, and now the adventure of riding the rails from SLO to San Francisco calls me. I look forward to memorable stops like Cypher along the way.