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About This Business:
"DAM FINE WINE"---discover why we say so! Spectacular array of Zinfandel (we produce six), Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Rhone… read more »
14 reviews for Caparone Winery
14 reviews in English
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Review from Maryann B.
Buena Park, CA
2/7/2012
Its in the middle of nowhere and just when you think you've missed it, keep driving. I am glad that this wasn't my first wine tasting experience but what a way to end the day. First, the grounds were beautiful. You drive up this country road to this door marked wine tasting. We walked in and it was definitely unpretentious.
If you like Italian wine, this is the place to go. This is one of the oldest wineries in the area run by a father/son team. They have Italian grapes- Sangiovese, Aglianico, and the Nebbiolo (I liked the Nebbiolo and my husband didn't...). These wines are unfiltered so you can leave them out for days and they are still good.
And the best part-the wines are $14 a bottle (even less if you beat the wine club).Listed in: Best of Paso Robles, CA so…
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Review from Larry M.
Fullerton, CA
12/22/2011
Truly excellent. Maybe that's because they only make the kids of reds I love (I bought all six offerings). They are definitely the most informal winery, the tasting room is just a bar in the warehouse.
The wines are all unfined and unfiltered and aged more than most in the area.
Definitely we'll be visiting here on every trip through the area. -
Review from Brian M.
Marina Bay, CA
2/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Small father and son run operation with every wine priced at $14 a bottle. It is one of the original wineries in Paso. This father and son team are able to keep costs down by doing everything themselves with a very small, low key tasting area located where they store the barrels. You won't find any t-shirts, jelly or cookbooks here!
If you like Italian style wines then be sure to stop here. We enjoyed the unique taste of Merlot (which is a varietal that we normally never drink).
I don't think they charge for tasting but you will probably find a bottle or two that you like. Since most wine in this area is at least double the price, it's worth a stop just to try it to see what you think.
Don't expect anything fancy but that is one of the things that makes this place unique. It's like stepping back in time... very unique.
I would love to redesign the labels for them. The font they use kills me! So many people judge a wine by its label. Glad that doesn't seem to be an issue here! Maybe I could get them $16 a bottle with the right label! :) -
Review from jilly c.
Brentwood, CA
8/30/2010
We visited Caparone on a recent trip to Paso wine country. Their 'tasting room' is their warehouse. Unpretentious and simple. We arrived a half hour before they were supposed to open, and Dave Caparone welcomed us in. We enjoyed almost an hour talking with Dave, and tasting his delicious wines.
Caparone Winery charges $14 per bottle, for every varietal wine they sell. You can't beat that anywhere. The next time we drive down 101, we will make a side trip to go visit Caparone Winery. No need to go anywhere else.
I can't really add anything to the reviews below, other than:
Take the time to go visit this winery. You won't regret it!!. -
Review from Hywel J.
San Francisco, CA
8/27/2006
This is a great little winery that specializes in Italian grapes. They were the first (or one of the first - there seems to be a heated dispute on this topic!) Californian vineyards to grow nebbiolo etc.
They make strong, pure examples of several grapes, including nebbiolo, sangiovese, aglianico, cab sauv etc.
The prices are extremely fair and the father/son owners are great.
I am still trying to persuade them to make a Super Tuscan blend!
UPDATE: Jean-Georges pours these wines at his bastions of culinary greatness in NY and Vegas, so it's not just me that likes the stuff!Listed in: Wine, Glorious Wine
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Review from Don H.
11/20/2009
Caparone is one of the oldest Paso Robles wineries, they were the 6th back when they opened in 1979. When you walk into the tasting room, which is just a bar against the wall in one of the barrel warehouses, you'll realize that they must have hardly changed since then - the tasting glasses are little round things that have probably been there as long as the winery, and all the wines are only $14 each, which is an UNBELIEVABLE steal for their quality.
Caparone's Italian style and background is clear in every wine they produce (all of which are red) - they're all in the 13% alcohol range (nearly unheard of in today's massive California style), incredibly food friendly, with balanced tannins, medium body, and bright acidity throughout. Every wine they produce would go fantastically with any Italian food made - fish, meat, pasta, poultry, you name it. These are highly refined, restrained, complex wines that (apparently) also have great aging potential. They have a library of their wine going back to the beginning, and open some of the older bottles every year to find they've only continued to improve, even after 25 years.
You'll also notice that all the wines are at least 4 years old. They barrel age for at least 2 years, and then age in bottle for some time after that, so the wines are already wonderfully balanced by the time you buy them.
They also make locally-grown pure Italian varietals like Aglianico, Sangiovese, and Nebbiolo better than pretty much anywhere else I've tasted in California (and were the first to plant many of them!).
Caparone is officially on my visit-every-time list, and it should be on yours. -
Review from Neena W.
9/3/2008
This winery is my favorite small winery in Paso Robles. It is an father and son operation. You not only get many great quality wines with distinct characters, the price of their wine is unbelievable reasonable.
During our visit, we got the chance to meet the father and the son. Marc, the son, is a wine maker by day and musician by night. We also found out that the caparone grow and produce aglianico, a not so common style of wine that is generally hard to find in united state. The 2002 aglianico i got from caparone reminded me of some expensive bottles of amarone. At $11 a bottle club member price, it was turely unbeatable.
My favorite are their Italian specialty: sangiovese, nebbiolo and aglianico. -
Review from Lilian R.
San Francisco, CA
4/10/2011
All $14 bottles - some pretty amazing bottles for such a price. Love that its small , quaint, and family run too - a definite must see.
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Review from Maxwell H.
Silver Spring, MD
3/31/2010
I just love this winery.
It is a step back in time. They have a simple, bare bones approach to wine making that I find honest and refreshing.
The tasting room is in a warehouse with all the wine barrels so you get to see "behind the scene" while tasting.
You also get a chance to talk up the winemakers which is a nice treat. It is a father and son and they are soft spoken and honest and extremely knowledgeable about their craft.
The wine, like everything else about the experience is fantastic and simple. All singe varietals, unfiltered and unfined. They have an old world quality and taste that I find romantic and delicious. My personal favorites are their Zinfandel and Nebbiolo.
Caperone is on the to-do list any trip I take up to Paso.
Take a break from all the glitz and glam of the big producers and give Caperone a try. You won't regret it. -
Review from John S.
San Jose, CA
9/7/2010
Father and son-owned niche winery that specializes in wines made of a single Italian varietal. A great boutique winery, something unusual but that tastes great as well! We loves the Aglianico and the Nebbiolo.
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Review from Alured P.
San Francisco, CA
6/13/2010
Well off the beaten path. Despite this, some pretty good red wines that are well worth trying, especially at the price.
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Review from john w.
Santa Monica, CA
5/14/2009
Possibly my new favorite winery.
They are, imho, the only people in Paso who know how to grow Italian varietals properly. No they're not exactly Borolo or Brunello, but they're not super ripened high alcohol fruit bombs either. They make the only wines in Paso that I've tried which are under 14% alc. shocking for paso!......
The Aglianico and Sagiovese are my favorites. Medium bodied, food friendly, and structured. Something missing in many Paso wines.
I've met both father and son. Dave is total "old school", and I love that. He's been doing things the same way since he started over 30yrs ago, and isn't changing for anyone!. His son Marc is very cool. We chatted a long time about the wines, music, and his fathers old cars.
The main reason their wines are so cheap is simple. Very low overhead. Dave bought the land when it was cheap. They don't have big fancy manicured landscaping. No flowers or trees, no statues or water falls. They don't have a huge staff. The tasting room is simply one side of the warehouse where they store the wine. , no chairs or couches..... just bar, wine, glass, you buy, the end.
These are the kind of people who we as wine drinkers should support more then ever these days. I like the "high end" stuff as much as anyone, but being able to drink wine this good everyday, and have it be so affordable is a no brainer.
CAPARONE I say!, CAPARONE! -
Review from Tim M.
Visalia, CA
7/20/2008 1 photo
Family owned and traditionally made Italian-style reds: unfiltered and unfined. My personal favorites are the Zin, Merlot and Nebbiolo. Helpful hint: Leave yourself some time; it's a bit of a drive, but worth every mile of it!
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Review from t w.
Los Angeles, CA
11/9/2009
We've been enjoying Caparone's wines for going on five years and are wine club members. "john w."'s comment [5/14/09] is spot on, so I won't repeat what he said.
This is not a style for folks that only like "Parker" wines.
I am not a big fan of their Cab and Merlot, both of which use fruit that is not grown on their property. The Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, and Aglianico are our favorites. They are fairly consistent from year to year, but sometimes giving them some bottle age works in their favor.
My only 'complaints' would be:
- The varietal characteristics are somewhat muted and an overarching "Caparone / Paso" signature may dominate too much across them all.
- It would be great if they'd plant some acres of rare Italian varietals suited to their terrior. The world needs more artisan winemakers defending the variety available rather than adding me-too grapes. (Sorry, that's how I see the Cab and Merlot at Caparone.)
