This is a secluded off the beaten path family owned winery just like we absolutely love. It was darling winery. Owner gives you great attention and the best part was their fabulous wine. There wasn't one we didn't like. We will be back with our friends read more

Shadow Run Vineyard - At Shadow Run Winery - Wineries Near Me - Creston, California

Old Paso feel, warm and charming. We had a great time. Wines were very good and the wine maker Eric was very fun. No pretentious, just a great wine tasting experience. Highly recommended worth the drive. read more

We were staying at an Air BNB in Creston to attend a wedding in Paso Robles last weekend and this winery was down the street from where we were staying. We did the wine tasting first then had a glass of wine outside near the vineyards under a tree. We bought a bottle of wine to take home as well! The place is family owned and run. Great people. We hadn't thought about this but they allow you to bring your own food so you can have wine and picnic outside. I would do that next time if I go back! read more

This family run winery growing grapes since 2006 was a pleasure to find in the farthest southeast corner of Paso Robles wine country. Varietals included Grenache Blanc (we bought 2 for $28 each) Syrah, Malbec and petit Syrah. Pretty simple set up..a refreshing look to wine tasting and enjoyed the company we had. We will be back for more Wine! Check out our pics. read more

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We visited the tasting room today, greeted by Sue, the owner & Consulting Winemaker to her son Aaron . It was a DELIGHT! The surroundings were well appointed, unpretentous, yet the attention to detail was so inviting....rustic, authentic, & quite inviting. Settled on their beautiful property in the Creston countryside, it was so relaxing & a true testament to the area we call home. The wines were distinctly Eastside lucious & yet calm & friendly. " Small Lot production with Estate Presence & Style"....Highly Recommended & a Definite Boutigue experience you should seek out! Thanks,& Cheers!! read more

Shadow Run Vineyard - a cross made out of horseshoes - Wineries Near Me - Creston, California

Visited this gem of a winery a little way out of town but worth the drive. Owner Les and his wife are making some impressive wines. We enjoyed the cool crisp grenache blanc and vionier the reds were equally tasteful especially the syrah, malbec and petite syrah. read more

Had a camping trip/wine trip this past weekend. Was looking forward to Shadow Run. This place did not disappoint. First off the tasting room and property are top notch. Stunning relaxed vibe with a few wooden chairs placed under some cool shady trees. The barn type tasting room is clean and elegant. The wines were fantastic! We went to 8 wineries over the weekend and this one was the only place that blew us away. We talked wine and all things good for an hour. I love wines that are not sweet. The reds had that bolder earthy tone that start off big and go down smooth. Full flavor without sugary sweetness. So delicious I walked out with the Malbec and a syrah. The owners son and his girlfriend were pleasant hosts. Felt like we were hanging out with friends for an hour. Top notch service and best of all this place won't break the bank. $10 tasting fee with a one bottle waiving. Try beating that anywhere near Paso Robles. When you wanna take a break from the woodsy west side venture out to Shadow Run and taste some quality wine at a reasonable price. read more

Love small family-owned wineries like as Shadow Run! Aaron was personable and attentive. We are now members of their wine club.

This place has a charming tasting room, excellent wine. The service was the best and we had so much fun when we visit.

This winery is part of the Creston Wine Trail, far from the tourist trap bustle of Paso Robles. This tiny tasting room is warm and inviting, their resident dog will be sure to great you. Les and his wife the winemaker will give you a warm welcome. My favorite wine here was the Red-headed Stepchild, so named because it's wine made with fruit not grown on their property when they were just starting out. Everything was wonderful though, make the drive out here and you won't be disappointed! read more

My husband and I love this winery. We wandered in because of a friend and met the lovely owners and wine maker. Their tasting room is minimalistic and clean and is located in Creston. It's a short drive from most of the other wineries but it is worth the drive. On our first visit we only planned on purchasing one bottle of wine and walked out with at least one bottle for every glass we tasted. Both Les and Susan are very kind and great conversationists. I'd like to say that the wines stand on their own but being able to talk with Les or Susan is an added bonus to visiting Shadow Run! We've been back a few times since and will continue to do so in the future! read more

Once you've been wine tasting in Paso Robles a couple of times, you probably are curious about what else might be out there. You know: on the fringes. The new. The next. The ne plus ultra. That's why you might want to take a trip out here, to La Panza Road, where the vines haven't taken over the landscape, where cattle ranches and horse pastures and oak grasslands stretching to the distant horizon still predominate. Truth be told, Creston IS a bit out there for most wine country tourists who would prefer to stick closer to the downtown bars and Westside tasting rooms or along Highway 46E. Which is fine by me! Shadow Run probably couldn't handle huge crowds - not without losing a little of its soul in the process. It is a family-run estate winery that specializes in Viognier and Petite Sirah, with several additional varietals as well, like Malbec, Grenache Blanc, and Syrah. They open a very attractive, immaculately maintained tasting room (more of a cottage, really) on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for visitors from about 10:30am to 5pm, and will also offer tastings and optional barrel tastings by prior appointment. The current (spring 2017) tasting fee at Shadow Run is an almost unheard of $5 per person, which likely will include a selection of 6 different estate wines (2 whites, 4 reds), with bonus pours and revisits possible if you ask nicely and are interested. The operation is hands-on enough that chances are good that you'll end of meeting the winemaker, Susan E., or her hard-working husband, Les, who is deeply involved in their entire vine-to-glass process, or their son, Aaron H., who assists the family during weekends and peak times of the year and has created an entertaining and educational series of Shadow Run videos on YouTube that give an insider's view of what it takes to make estate grown wines at this small-scale level. The web site contains an excellent blog as well that has periodic musings on wine, grapes, and food. Exploring it ahead of your visit likely will make your experience at Shadow Run more enjoyable than simply showing up at the tasting room tired and thirsty from your long drive, which is no way to prepare for the range and quality of the wines to come. The Shadow Run reds that were poured during my initial visit were all excellent expressions of Paso's award-winning Eastside style, using relatively young vines that showcase the fruit cores, the intense coloration, and the alluring floral essences of the grapes grown. The whites are oak aged and undergo some amount of malolactic fermentation before being filtered and bottled, so they have nice weight and appealing texture. The reds are inky black and densely extracted, with cold soaks and multiple manual punchdowns during primary fermentation and are given extended months of barrel aging in new and neutral oak before release. This treatment is especially evident in the "Eclipse" Petite Sirah, often in the 15-16% alcohol range in better vintage years; it displays a wide range of aromas of spice and dark fruit notes, so that the wine can be savored on its own, port-style, or to accompany a hearty seasonal meal. The "Descent" Malbec shouldn't be slighted, either, as it compares quite well with Argentinian styles of this popular varietal and has food-friendly acidity that would compliment a range of cuisines from grilled pork sausages and mushroom polenta to marinated skirt steaks with green garlic mashed potatoes. I wish that the estate grew Spanish varietals, too, like Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Graciano, which might thrive in the area, as other local winemakers are coming to appreciate. Once you've sampled the wines and hopefully found a few to your liking, you can relax outside in the shade of several beautiful oak trees (many more of which grace the 150 acre property). Picnic tables and wooden Adirondack chairs offer a chance to soak in a little bit more of the solitude here, which is a marked contrast to more intensively cultivated wine growing regions in California. Here, much of the land remains dedicated to ranching, and vine cultivation exists in an aesthetically pleasing balance with nature. You can easily see why many of the wines have such intriguing names and come in such well designed bottles. Happy grapes make happy wines, and here this really shows. If you've had your fill of overcrowded tasting rooms and corporate-owned wine-making machines that churn out tens of thousands of cases of nondescript tasting reds and whites for the masses, consider a pilgrimage to Paso's extreme East side, where pleasant places like Shadow Run still are to be found: off the beaten path, but on the right track in life, indeed! read more

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One of the best things about a five-star winery is a great tasting room, one that is both intimate and inviting; another is the people who pour the wines, who are friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about what they do; and a third best thing is a harmonious integration of indoor and outdoor spaces, where you flow smoothly from one to the next without feeling out of place or uncomfortable. Wine grapes, after all, grow in the ground, are teased into elegant expressions in the winery, cellar, and barrel rooms, and are ceremoniously exposed to the air after years of aging in the tasting room, where visitors from all over the world come to enjoy and share them. It is perhaps one of humanity's finest collective achievements, to have harnessed the power and passion of the sun in liquid form and to make this nectar of the gods (small "G," and plural) available for others. Shadow Run, which began in 2005 to produce estate wines, seems to sense all of this, intuitively. The tasting room here is perhaps the cutest, most charming, and most personal of all I have witnessed in California, North or South. Unlike Napa tasting palaces that make you feel like peons in the face of great luxury, Shadow Run is Creston to the core, which means it is more of a working "grape ranch" than a prestige-enhancing prized property. The winemaker, Susan E. and her Stanford-educated, civil engineer husband, Les, oversee much of the work, using an estate vineyard that is slightly more than a decade old. Susan studied enology in San Luis Obispo and apprenticed at a respected Paso Robles winery before setting out on her own, focusing on a select number of white and red varietals that could be coaxed to thrive here at the Eastern edge of the Paso Robles AVA, well beyond the inner core of vineyards on the Westside and along the Highway 46 corridor. If you are a parent (or if you can still recall, objectively speaking, your early adolescence), you may appreciate what vines 10-12 years can often be like: rambunctious, unpredictable, moody, uncommunicative at times, prone to periods of withdrawal and temporary illness, but always full of surprises and still bursting at the seams with energy, vibrancy, and a guileless joie de vivre that older people only wish that they still possessed. The resulting wines - Viognier, Malbec, Petite Sirah, Syrah - are overflowing with fruit and floral essences, more elixirs than ordinary refreshments. While "old vines" may get a lot of praise for producing enigmatic, complex, restrained wines, "young vines" deserve their share of credit for making wines of charisma and character that don't forget to have fun in the process of becoming one of the planet's most prized fermented beverages. I really enjoyed Shadow Run's 2015 "Fair-Haired Child" blend of Viognier (70%) and Grenache Blanc (30%), their 2013 "Eclipse" Petite Sirah, and their 2015 "Jolie" rosé of Petite Sirah. Actually, I liked all the wines we tasted (6 plus 2 extra, for a $5 tasting fee waived with one bottle purchase per taster), especially because Les and Susan were present to pour them, using state-of-the-art Coravin wine dispensers (which inject Argon gas into the wines without removing the cork, preserving their freshness for days and weeks if used properly). Given how fruit-forward, highly extracted, and rich the wines were, this method really helped showcase the wines on the tasting flight. The colors and aromas of these wines are really impressive, and several recent vintages have garnered top medals at San Francisco tasting competitions. The tasting room at Shadow Run is separate from the wine-making facility and has shaded outdoor areas for tasting and picnics. Especially in spring, when the surrounding ranches are covered in green and flowers, this is a perfect spot for resting and refreshing before heading back to Paso Robles, or to Santa Margarita for a tasting at Ancient Peaks, or to Tin City in Templeton for a stop at Giornata or Field Recordings (some of our favorites in the area). You also can explore the Creston Wine Trail, including during special wine passport weekends, when all participating wineries (plus one olive oil maker) are open for tastings paired with small bites of food. If you have already explored the "usual suspects" on the Paso Robles wine tasting trail and are willing for a new adventure on the fringes, then consider adding a stop at Shadow Run to your list. You will be very glad you did! read more

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They open earlier than other wineries because they are waaay out from either Templeton or Paso. We made the trek out to start a six winery visit along the Creston Wine Trail on a Friday. Turned out to be a very good choice. We were greeted by a friendly mutt. Winemaker, Susan, and husband, Les, retired engineer, hosted us along with representatives from six nearby Creston wineries. It was all great conversation while enjoying some truly memorable wines. Learned a lot about the history of local wineries from owners/winemakers. The line-up was a number of summer whites along with some standard reds. Some good stuff here and it will get better with more of their vineyards being used in the coming years for estate bottlings. We bought the 2010 Eclipse Petite Syrah. Better hurry, only five cases left and it is well worth the fair price. Recommended read more

Shadow Run is such a cute quaint vineyard. Upon arrival you are greeted by the cutest pups Hector and Sammy. My fav wines there are the Fair Haired Child (viognier/ Grenache Blanc blend) and the 2010 and 2012 Petite Syrah. You gotta stock up on them! I sure did! Fair Haired Child is the perfect starter wine for any event. By the pool, after work, before dinner, or just for the heck of it. The Petite Syrah goes with everything I eat. It's owned by Susan and Les and they are the nicest, most sincere couple I've met. You will really feel at home in the tasting room. We already finished the 10 bottles we got last month and need to restock! Oh and it was really fun tasting all the new stuff straight from the barrel! read more

Shadow Run Vineyard - Barrel tasting - Wineries Near Me - Creston, California

What a fun find! On Saturday afternoon, we were directed here after stopping at a few other wineries nearby (several people in fact). We were told they had some excellent reds, my focus for the day, and we weren't disappointed! I really enjoyed the blends and they had an excellent Viognier. I left with a Syrah based blend with a peppery finish. Would highly recommend a stop! read more

Very great experience visiting Shadow Run Vineyards. Our family of 6 enjoyed meeting Les and tasting all of the wines. It was very intimate and personal, and Les is friendly with a good sense of humor. He was very informative and made sure to give his wife all of the credit for the wines. Our favorites that we went home with were Cellar Door and The Violinist. Our only regret is we didn't get to meet the rest of the family. Thank you, Les! read more

Fantastic experience at Shadow run. Run by incredibly friendly people with wonder wines. The 2010 Eclipse was by far my favorite! read more

Shadow Run Vineyard - The entrance to shadow run - Wineries Near Me - Creston, California

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This winery is a delight. The presentation is like no other. The reds are bold, elegant, and inviting for more. The white wine is not all what I expected, however is has a lot of bold fruit favors and crispy after taste. Very delightful for a summer day. If your looking for a place to go this is your place. However for the price you can't go wrong. It's surprising its not more on the pricy side... but wait..... that might change once people start spreading the word.. Hands up to the makers. I tip my glass to you! read more

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First time at Shadow Run and what an experience. The owner was a pleasure and the wine was excellent. I purchased several bottles as gifts and they were loved by everyone. I highly recommend Shadow Run, Cheers read more

Terrific wines and great service. Drove up from San Diego and very impressed. Highly recommended. Oh, and we bought a case plus 2 more bottles. Yes, we really liked this place! read more

Excellent experience! The host was the owner and he took his time with us. We even got to taste syrah grapes fresh from the vine! Tastings were only $7 each and each fee was waived with the purchase of a bottle. The prices were very fair considering how small of a production they had. The wines had a nice mature flavor and could be drank now or sit for a little while. read more

Great fun experience, great range of wine flavor. The tasting room is cozy and the owners were super friendly and knowledgable about wine. A gem, a must visit. read more

Shadow Run's Eclipse could seriously convert a Cabernet lover into a Petite Sirah devotee. When you taste the Eclipse, it really seizes your sense of smell, taste and touch. With its dark and beautiful flavors of blueberries, blackberries, and chocolate. You feel the almost velvety texture and the intensity of the wine in your mouth. The Petite Sirah has all the qualities of a Cabernet without the overpowering or 'more than intensity your care for' after taste. read more

Wonderful experience and wonderful Rhone varietals! I hate to expose the Creston trail but it was such a good experience! Loved the varietals and landscape here read more

On Paso's East Side, Shadow Run Vineyard is a gem on the wine trail less traveled, just a couple miles past Chateau Margene on La Panza. I think they've got the perfect balance of great reds and whites. Their reds are big- my particular faves are the Cellar Door Syrah, and the Eclipse Petite Sirah. Viognier fans will love their straight Viognier Grace, or the 50/50 Viognier/Grenache Blanc Melissa, plus a Viognier dessert wine that's on the light side- also very good. I've got to say that winemaker Susan and partner Les' laid back unpretentious Paso wine vibe is one of the reasons I love stopping in here the most. Some of the nicest winery folk you'll ever meet. Set in Creston's quiet, high desert country surroundings, Shadow Run is absolutely worth the trip. Highly recommended!! read more

One of my absolute favorite wineries. Nicest owners, stunning location, and yummy wines. I love the seclusion of this gem. A must visit for sure! read more

Excellent wines! This is one of those out of the way wineries that is worth the drive! I did not know this winery was here and was pleasantly surprised! They have a wonderful melbac, petite Syrah and Syrah blend, and a Viognier franc blanc blend! Wonderful wine! The owner was so fun to talk with and Sam the dog will lead you into the winery! We will be back! read more

Wonderful winery; bought the 2012 Cellar Door, 2013 Eclipse,Raven and Rose. Had a great time tasting and getting to know Les and Susan.

This vineyard is hidden away off the 101 freeway. The owners, Susan, Les, and Aaron are so friendly and knowledgeable. Delicious cheeses accompany your selections. read more