The space is intimate - please book an appointment! Then, experience Paso's most unique white wine offerings through an exclusive and personalized service. Elliott is awesome!!! Located in Tin City with great surrounding food options. read more

Monochrome Wines - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Paso Robles, California

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We eat a lot of fish and chicken at home and are always running out of white wine. We decided to hit Monochrome Wines on our way into Paso Robles Presidents' Day weekend. We enjoyed a lovely tasting and walked out with a half dozen bottles. Monochrome is a small winery in Tin City, where you can park your car and hit any number of the dozens of exciting food and beverage producers in a single visit. We reserved a 4:00 tasting time at Monochrome, immediately following a 3:00 at Giornata. Stephanie at Giornata had nice things to say about Monchrome, and noted that they'd only just moved into a new space. You might not get sweeping views and multimillion-dollar buildouts in Tin City, but I like the communal vibes and the obvious passion behind every enterprise. We had our tasting with winemaker David McGee, who hosted us and three other couples in a cozy, attractive space that felt like a freshly remodeled dining room. We were a little late coming off of Giornata and the tasting had already started. We missed the first couple of pours, but got them in the end, after David took us through the rest of the tasting with the group. He was a friendly, informative host who welcomed all of our questions, fostering (along with the late afternoon wines) a pleasant, convivial atmosphere. Monochrome doesn't own any vineyards and only makes white wines, specializing in complex blends that are as cerebral and varied as they are delicious. We tasted Playing Against Type, North by Southwest, Vibrance, By the Edge of the Deep Blue Sea, and Barrel Distortion, and every one of them was fantastic and unique. They all ran $50 a bottle. Not cheap for white wine, but I felt they were fairly priced. The tasting fee was $35 each, but we got it waived by joining the wine club (you can also just buy two bottles to knock out each tasting fee). We opted for the Club 8, which comes with two annual four-bottle shipments. There's a club discount too: 10% for the eight-bottle tier, 20% if you commit to sixteen bottles. The way we run through whites, I wouldn't be surprised if we upgraded the Club 16 in a couple of years. The next club shipment doesn't go out until next month, but Dave let us buy the bottles we wanted on the spot in lieu of our spring allotment, saving the hassle/shipping/anticipation. It seems like the club is pretty customizable in general. Not content with four bottles, we got two each of the Vibrance, By the Edge of the Deep Blue Sea, and Barrel Distortion. We look forward to drinking them in the near future and coming back to Monochrome whenever we get up to Paso. read more

Really cool intimate tasting experience in Tin City. This spot specializes in white blends and actually only makes white wines, quite a difference from the heavier reds traditional in Paso tasting rooms. We were lucky enough to be able to taste on a whim, but I'd definitely recommend making a reservation as seating is extremely limited and the experience is very one on one. We happened to walk in while a tasting was happening, and they had space for two at their next seating 45 minutes later, so we hung around Tin City until it was time... We definitely got lucky and I would not expect this to be the norm. Our tasting was our host, Elliot, and 6 of us tasters total. We sat at a long table all together, and went through the wines one at a time as a group. Elliot was a great host that had a lot of knowledge and passion for wine. The way he spoke about wine was approachable, yet he still got into the complexities of the grapes and the wine making process. A very cool experience for those that really want to learn about the wine they're drinking. We ended up coming home with 2 bottles and one of the groups with us joined the club, so it's safe to say we all had a great time! read more

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Had a reservation here Saturday afternoon but we finished with our pickup party early so we decided to pop in early to see if they could take our party of 4 early. My friend went in to ask and the person working and they pretty much laughed at her and so uh no but then the person caught themselves on their response and went to double check and said no there wasn't availability early. She left feeling that the persons response was not customer friendly and a bit arrogant. This wasn't a place that she wanted to spend her time at and she was really looking forward to trying there white wines. Recommendation for this person who was working this past Saturday afternoon is: there is a way to let people know there is no availability that is more customer service friendly. We knew it was appointment only and you were probably busy but making someone feel like it was a stupid question wasn't the right approach. Unfortunately we won't be visiting this place due to the feeling that this isn't the vibe our group is looking on our paso trip but I do wish this place the best and hopefully they can learn from this and grow to be more welcoming. read more

The person that runs this place is extremely arrogant and not someone I want to spend my wine tasting time with. He was extremely rude when we first walked in and tried to make up for it as I was walking out. Didn't try their wine but I'm assuming it's bad based on their attitudes. Please go to Union Sacre instead! read more

Booked a tasting at Monochrome at the request of one of the 4 ladies in our group who prefers white wines over red. You must book a tasting - very small operation so it's not staffed like some of the other tasting rooms. The tasting room is in Tin City/ Paso. Elliot was our host and is very knowledgeable about wine making. We really enjoyed the interesting white blends. If you like white wines that aren't Chardonnay and are not sweet, definitely recommend Monochrome wines. We each had a couple of favorites and bought several bottles. We all bought several bottles of Monochrome wines to enjoy back home. read more

Very good white wines made with a creative edge. I love rebellious winemakers, and Monochrome delivered tasty, bold, unusual white wines. They were gracious enough to provide a tasting without a reservation, on the patio, and walked us through a number of interesting offerings. Definitely worth a stop! read more

The tasting with Elliott was informative and entertaining. There is only one tasting at a time so we felt fortunate to get an appointment. We loved all the different white wines. We hadn't had several of the grapes varietals. read more

Paso is mainly known for red wines, but as a white wine lover, I just had to come to Monochrome! It's a cute little shop that has plenty of outdoor and indoor seating, and all the wines are very different, so you're in for a surprise with every sip! My boyfriend and I did tastings here, and although not all of the wines were really up to our personal tastes, there were a few that really were so unique and so delicious that we had to get a bottle! The owner is very knowledgeable and is open to talking about his life and changing careers! We loved talking to him and just learning so much more about his experience in winemaking! Be sure to stop by if you enjoy white wines and want a more comfortable and welcoming wine tasting! read more

Monochrome Wines - two glasses of wine on a table - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Paso Robles, California

This was my first experience with Monochrome. My parents had visited last summer and fell in love. We live out of the area, so when I was headed down this past weekend for an event, they asked me to stop by and pick up additional bottles. I was unaware of appointments required for tasting. Fortunately after a quick phone call, David allowed me in during his break to do a super fast 1 on 1 tasting and purchased quite a few bottles to bring home. He is extremely knowledgeable and creative. Loved chatting with him for a couple minutes about his sourcing and enology process before we got back on the road. Really appreciate the flexible hospitality!!! We'll be back. read more

If you're looking for something different, this is the place. All white wine, each one unique. It's a very small operation, with one seating for six or so at a time so the tasting room lead's attention is totally on the guests. It is not a "walk in" type of tasting room because of this and we've found being on time is much better than early and definitely never late. Elliott answered all our questions, no matter now mundane and we had a great experience learning about their philosophy in making wine. We're members but also seem to buy even more at every visit. The wines are that good!! read more

The vibe: I may have overhyped myself for the Monochrome experience as I am a white wine drinker and this place only serves white wines. Although I appreciate the idea of being seated at a spacious table with other parties of wine tasters, the room is a bit cramped. I was excited to be served by the winemaker himself but did not connect with him as I felt as soon as different groups of parties connected, the owner seemed uptight by anyone talking about something that wasn't his wine. The vibe in the room was pretentious and uncomfortable. I felt at any moment someone was going to be scolded. If you have a tasting room in which you seat different parties close to each other at one table, that leads patrons to believe it's to encourage connections. The pours: while in Paso Robles, we visited several tasting rooms and wineries and most pours were universally the same. The pours at monochrome were parsimonious and disappointing, especially given the price point. The cost: $35 per tasting which would be fine if the overall experience was wonderful and the pours were in line with what we've experienced in Paso and elsewhere during wine tastings. The wine: I was disappointed. I am a white wine drinker only and love exploring different white wines. I felt many of the monochrome wines were too similar in taste. I do hope that the changeable things are open for change and would never ask a winemaker to change his/her recipe because that's what makes it their wine and just because I didn't like it certainly doesn't mean other won't, I watched a couple people in the room love the wine! I want nothing for the best for hard working business owners! Cheers! read more

Not many all white wineries wineries in Paso Robles, this is one not to be missed if you prefer white varieties. All were drinkable, unique blends that leave you wanting more. Elegant setting, with a personable vibe. Recommend scheduling in advance. read more

The tasting was only started after all the appointments scheduled for that time had arrive and not everyone was on time..... Being by the street it was hard to hear everything being said to all the groups especially when cars drove past. From what I understood the winemaker experiments with several different factors when producing his wine and then blends them together. I definitely found the experience as unique as the wines. read more

Monochrome Wines - a menu for a wine tasting - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Paso Robles, California

Cozy small tasting experience. This winery specializes in white wines. The 14 ft x 18 ft tasting room can accommodate approximately 6-7 people in a dinner table setting. Located inside Tin City a building with 3 wineries and adjacent buildings of a few more 5 to 6 wineries. David is a wine expert and makes wines with innovative techniques, different barrels and even clay amphora. Wine tasting is $15 for 6 wines. If you buy two bottles, tasting fee is free. We didn't make an appointment and david was so accommodating to take 4 of us in to join the 2 people already present but usually you would need to make appointment. Chenin Blanc blends, Sauvignon Blanc, marsanne, chardonnays...and more! read more

Monochrome Wines - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Paso Robles, California

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We really enjoyed our experience with Elliot. His experience as a chef really helped put the winemaking and blending process in context. Highly recommend making a reservation and experiencing these unique wines. read more

I was very excited to try these wines for their adventurous and creative approach to blending white grapes. While the wines were nice, the overall experience with our host Elliott ruined Monochrome for me. I rarely write reviews like this, but he was so incredibly off-putting, fellow wine tasters should be warned. While he had a good base of knowledge about the wine, he was arrogant, pompous and overall unfriendly. He has a lot to learn about customer service and creating an experience for his guests. This was a disappointing tasting appointment, and what made it 100x worse is that I invited guests to this appointment. read more

It's rare, nay impossible, to find an all-white wine tasting where every white wine tastes incredible, let alone a winemaker that only makes white wine. Monochrome did the impossible. When it comes to my whites, I like the daring, the cunning, the foreign - I'm more of a Grüner Veltliner or Albariño or Viognier profile than a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc type. Monochrome was a welcome respite from the type white California wines because it blended these interesting grapes with the more popular wine varietals of CA. We pretty much walked out with one of every bottle from the tasting list and are currently evaluating which of our other 9 wine clubs we ditch to fit the one in. Cute patio too for tastings during COVID, but very small so make a reservation. read more

The most unique wines can be found at this winery. Only serving whites (a rarity in Paso), Monochrome's winemaker has creatively blended the most amazing wines! There wasn't one I didn't like...definitely a must try read more

They specialize in all sorts of white wine blends / styles / taste. The owner was an engineer in a previous career, and being an engineer myself, it definitely seems like he approaches blends with a balance of known practices and tradition, but also an engineering "scientific method" of testing things that make scientific sense regardless as to whether they're "traditional" or not. They had a variety of tastes / styles and I found some that I liked, but they definitely don't offer whites at a low price point. read more

I have been wanting to get into white more and this was an obvious choice. It was high up on my list and my wife surprised me with a reservation! It is a small tasting room with a single table for up to eight. It is a sit down personal tasting with the owner (or at least ours was). Tasting is $15 per person and I didn't see any notes about tasting being waived with bottle purchase. We tried five of the six wines on the tasting menu (they were sold out of own). Everything we tasted was excellent. Most of the grapes are sourced from North and South of us as it's a bit too hot for white wine grapes around here. But all the grapes are from within three hours drive. All very tasty and really tempting to buy. We opted not to buy any as we were already in for $30 for two tastings and a $30-40 bottle with no guarantee of a waived tasting was more than I wanted to spend at the time. If you like super intimate one-on-one tastings this will be your jam. I prefer to be able to engage and disengage while tasting so I can talk and spend time with my wife (or whoever is with me) and that's not really possible while you're seated 2 feet from the owner who is talking about everything the whole time. I would prefer a more open and relaxed tasting experience so I can mingle and not feel like I am being pushed along to each next wine. It's not the kind of place you can get a glass and just sit/stand and enjoy. It's come to taste, buy, and move on. While the wines were amazing, I was not the biggest fan of the tasting experience personally. Though David was very nice, very informative and super willing to answer questions and let us revisit anything, I just prefer a more relaxed leisurely tasting experience. read more

By appointment only. However, my gregarious amigo poked his head inside after some people left, and the proprietor said he could accommodate us after just a few minutes to reset. This tasting room is just a conference room inside the Turtle Rock tasting room. However, they've done it up to be as good as a conference room could ever hope to be. The aim is for a more intimate, dinner-with-friends sort of vibe rather than the more impersonal trendy-bar-vibe that many other tasting rooms seem to have going. Our impromptu, private wine tasting experience was fantastic, and exceeded all expectations. I've got a newfound respect for Central-CA wines, mostly thanks to Monochrome Wines. Fun fact: Named "Monochrome" because the only do white wines! read more

Attempted to visit this place on July 1, 2023 due to the fact that it was recommended by another local vineyard; however, the fella that was working on this particular day was less than hospitable. On the initial encounter, he told us the tastings were by reservation only, which we respected. When we returned 7 minutes before the next tasting, the fella told us to stand outside (and there was only one person inside) . July 1, 2023 was/is the hottest day on record for the year for the region and this unaccompaying behavior isn't worthy of my hard earned money. If this is how an individual treats a prospective patron, I shutter to think how he treats clients and I couldn't bring myself to depart from my money. I'd suggest folks go next door to kaleidoscope and imbibe in their rosé read more

We really enjoyed our private tasting with Elliot. He was engaging and very knowledgeable. He made us feel very welcoming and was easy to talk to. All the wines are white blends and very unique. Would highly recommend. read more

My daughter and I both work in the wine industry in Paso Robles and have sometimes been informed by our guests that they only like white wine. I'd heard some really good things about Monochrome but couldn't give a personal recommendation...until now! Dave, the owner/winemaker took us through a flight of some of the loveliest I've ever had the pleasure to enjoy. The names were quite amusing and his approach to winemaking is sometimes unconventional, however, the end results range from just plain pretty to layered and complex. Do yourself a favor and make Monochrome a destination! You'll be glad you did! read more

We were a walk in. He had a gap in his scheduled tastings and welcomed us in. David the winemaker and owner leads tastings in an intimate dining room/office in Tin City. We loved that he only does White Wines. Reds abound in the Santa Barbara area so Monochrome was a real find. Talking each wine with the vintner, tasting, and ultimately buying a half case was very entertaining and enlightening. He does unusual grape pairings and triplings for his wines. Not your average Chardonnays etc. Drop by, make a reservation, have a taste. If not already you might find a white wine you love. These are top notch. Most of his wines that we tasted were Wine Spectator rated 90+ read more

Disappointed , I appreciated the different styles of white wines, however , the host was arrogant and pretentious. It was an unpleasant experience overall. read more

I love this winery, all whites and blends that I didn't even know were possible! I like to do this one first since it can be tough transitioning from a red tasting. David is so nice and you can tell that he's truly passionate about this project. read more

Lovely little spot. Owner served and shared about his wines. And the wines were lovely. White's only, hence the name. He had a special going with a local animal rescue. read more

Solid white wine but the setting and owner were off-putting to us. It is an intimate setting and we felt as though we had to whisper as to not talk over the owner's commentary, others did the same. Being served less than one ounce pours makes it difficult to judge the wine. Many of my guests "revisited" several wines just to be able to adequately taste them. read more

The winery that I work at scheduled an after hours tasting with David and I had the pleasure of being invited to attend. I appreciate the unique processes and techniques that David uses for his winemaking and had a great time exploring the depth and complexity that white wines can have! The wines were unusual in all the right ways and absolutely worth a visit to the tasting room. read more

Paso Robles tends to get associated with red wines due to the higher temperatures of the region. It's great to see a winery such as Monochrome show how much potential the area has for superb white wines as well. Dave's tasting room setting is very intimate and enjoyable. He talks you through the process for each bottle and is happy to answer any questions you might have. If you are a fan of white wine, or even just curious to see what white wine can taste like beyond a standard chardonnay, definitely make an appointment at Monochrome! read more

David fit our large group in on a Friday. Levo recommended Monochrome since I prefer whites but my group loved reds. David was very informative on the wine making process. Learned quite a bit from him. It was a sort of a quiet and formal setting. Not my personal preference but that's just me. We didn't purchase any wines however several in my group did. Really enjoyed his knowledge and the wine he made in terra cotta. We recommend a stop here when you're in Tin city. read more

David the owner and wine maker did a private tasting for me and my wife. My favorite wine is white conundrum so we are always looking for complex whites. Paso is dominated by red wine makers that occasionally dabble in white. Monochrome is exclusively white and David experiments with different techniques and grapes which is awesome. All of his wines in his first year were rated 90+. We never subscribed to a wine club but immediately joined theirs and took home 1/2 of our allotment on the spot. read more

We happened to order the Monochrome Sauvignon Blanc at Thomas Hill Organics in Paso. It was so delicious, we went to the tasting room. The tasting was wonderful. The winemaker was knowledgeable and provided an informative and enjoyable tasting. We loved all the wines presented so much, we joined the club and left with a case! read more