Came here with our wine passport and had a great time. Michael was our host and was awesome. He was super knowledgeable about the wines and took the time to explain everything to my sister, who has only been wine tasting twice. He never made her feel out of place and answered every question she had. He even gave us wine pairing suggestions and a recipe to try at home. As a bonus, we got to meet Pearl, the winery dog, who was an absolute sweetheart and made the experience even better. Great wine, great atmosphere, and even better service. If you're making a reservation, definitely ask for Michael, you won't be disappointed. We'll definitely be back! read more

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I really enjoyed my tasting at Shale Oak. It wasn't my favorite of the weekend, but the sommelier, Steve, was so funny and not stuffy at all. So laid back and his descriptions of the wine were like a comedy routine instead of a "wine person". When he described my first wine "like sucking on a wet rock" I knew we'd get along. The wines here were very unique, and there were some interesting blends. I liked some of the other wines better but ended up buying a few. The outside had plenty of shade, and the live music was really nice. The musician was chatting between songs since we were the only ones there for a while. The pacing was really slow, so make sure you have time to enjoy, we did have to track down good old Steve to check out but he had our wines ready to go when we were. I would go back next time I'm in Paso Robles. read more

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We went to Shale Oak Winery for a tasting and we were so impressed by the beautiful tasting room's design incorporating the earth elements and yin yang. The wines were excellent and Steve did a great job of juggling multiple guests with their tastings. The Albariño and Syrah were standouts having both balance and structure. We're looking forward to their live music series so we'll be back! read more

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If I could bottle up the joy I felt at this winery and take it home, I'd have a lifetime supply of happiness (and honestly, I'd probably still go back for more). From the moment we pulled up, it felt like stepping into a postcard... except better, because postcards don't come with wine tastings. The atmosphere was the perfect mix of laid-back charm and classy vineyard magic. You know that feeling when everything just clicks? The weather was perfect, the staff was smiling like they actually enjoyed being there (always a plus), and the whole place just radiated good vibes. It was the kind of spot where you immediately start planning your next visit, even before the first sip. And speaking of sips... the wine. Oh. My. Grapes. Every single pour was a delicious little journey. I kept thinking, "Okay, this one is definitely my favorite," only for the next one to completely change my mind. Rich reds, crisp whites, a rosé that tasted like sunshine and flirtation--each glass was smoother than the last. Whoever is behind these blends deserves a trophy shaped like a giant wine bottle. But the best part? It was actually fun. Not one of those stiff, overly serious tastings where you feel like you should whisper and nod thoughtfully. This was laughter, good conversation, and the kind of easygoing energy that makes you want to stay all day. We learned a few things, got a little buzzed, took way too many photos, and had an all-around exceptional time. If you're looking for a place with personality, great wine, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you forget the real world for a moment, this winery is the one. I'd give it 10 stars if I could. Trust me--go once, and you'll be plotting your return visit before you even finish your last sip. Cheers to great wine, great people, and a new favorite spot! read more

Came on here to see if anyone else had the same experience with the tasting room associate who was less than welcoming. Really like the wines, even bought a case and one extra bottle. The employee didn't let me know that buying all that wine would not wave my tasting fee. Later he told me Since the case was a special deal, the tasting fee was not waved. It Would have been nice knowing that buying a full case plus a bottle would not wave the fee before he charged me. I would have added another bottle or held off on the full case. Me and my group also felt like unwelcoming vibes... sometimes you could tell it was a joke, other times it did come off as rude. Great wines but unfortunately that service was a turn off. read more

Shale Oak Winery - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

Really good wines and a fun place to hang out. We ended up taking a few bottles with us. Really cool architecture inside as well as beautiful patio outside. read more

20/10 stars if I could! Steve was amazing and definitely made the experience so much more enjoyable. He was knowledgeable about the wine and went above and beyond on explaining the process of Shale Oak wine making. Not only that but the wine was so delicious. I've traveled the world and visited many different wineries but I will say Shale Oak wines is at the top of my list. Impressive balance and structure, rich flavors with a smooth, well-crafted finish. It was well-made and consistently enjoyable throughout our entire tasting -- a standout choice across the board. We will be recommending Shale Oak and Steve to all our friends who visit Paso Robles! read more

Shale Oak Winery - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

Amazing service and knowledge shared by Tasting room Manager Steve Burris. What a great experience, will be back!

Our Host, Chris, was informative and very entertaining. What a beautiful tasting room. The wine was excellent and we had a great afternoon. read more

My wife really liked the wines although they might not have been worthy of the price tags. Had a tasting indoors as the live music was a bit loud. Place is very cool look and a relaxing experience tasting the wines. Would come back. read more

I wanted to really like this winery, it's beautiful and had nice live music while we were there. Similar to other reviewers, what we experienced was a less than friendly server who made us feel unwelcome. Normally I don't mind if the wine tasting experience isn't very interactive. But, this guy's lack of energy and enthusiasm was contagious. We were there for 49 minutes but didn't even stay for the full tasting. read more

We loved the wines and ambiance here so much that we joined their wine club. Wide variety of award winning wines...Albarino, Rose, Zin, Syrah, Cab, blends and more. I like my wines with full body that feature the fruit notes of the grapes, are not over oaked, and have soft tannins... and I find the winemaker here has similar priorities. We especially enjoy their Ka blend... petit verdot , Petite sirah, Zin and Syrah. Big and complex with luscious dark fruit and silky smooth tannins. Nice boutique winery with a small but inviting tasting room. Contemporary styling with lovely, big stained glass windows. Bar seating, lounge seating, or patio seating. Pet-friendly. Variety of charcuterie boxes to pair with your wine. Steve, the tasting room manager, is always friendly & hospitable. Our first wine club wine pickup event was a blast... Seafood Boil, DJ dancing, and copious pours of their lovely wines. read more

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We had a great afternoon on the upper deck outside. It felt 20 degrees cooler up there! We opted for a variety of bottles instead of a tasting, and we all enjoyed our choices, along with a cute little veggie and dip box. read more

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The service here is far below sub par. My wife and I became members about a year and a half ago & each visit left us confused about whether they wanted our business. We were repeatedly made to feel we were not welcomed and that our business bothered them. The straw that broke the camels back occurred yesterday. A guy named Steve was tense from the moment we arrived. We asked for a taste of something off the menu and the man rolled his eyes and completely blew us off. Didn't even answer to the request and did not bring out what we asked. We respectfully informed him about this lack of professionalism. He acknowledged it was rude & apologized for it which I do give him credit for. However, he told us he's done this many times to clients in the past and was only joking. Strange. Our decision was made about this place and we were refunded and dropped the club membership. Good wines, bad vibes. read more

It was a beautiful building and the wine was fine, but I agree with the reviewer who said it felt like she was interrupting the employee's day by coming in :/ We came by on a Sunday and were the only people in the tasting room. We got zero info about the winery, and it felt like I was prying even asking questions to our server. Just rude service and not a worthwhile experience for the price. read more

Awesome wine selection! We loved every single wine we tasted! Became members, very excited!

Cynthia was great! We enjoyed the Ka, Chi, and petite Verdot, as well as a white that I can't remember. We added this place to our list after trying the 2019 petite Verdot that won a recent wine competition and loving it. We're in the industry and we're treated so well. It's always hit or miss if wineries accept inter-winery visitors and how we're received, especially on weekends. As I said before Cynthia was great. This looks like a happening location for live music and I loved the array of salts and items for sale in the tasting room. Check this place out if you're looking for obscure location, big reds with heavy oak influence. read more

What a lovely spot! We came here with a group of 16 while on a wine tour and absolutely loved our experience here. We were greeted at the front with a tray of rosé (none of the other spots did this - such a nice touch!) and then despite the tasting room being on the smaller side, they had a great setup for us on their patio with heaters and all! Their wines were delicious and we were enjoying ourselves so much that our tour guide had to drag us outta here! It made the perfect last stop to an incredible day in the paso wine country. Not to mention, the architecture is absolutely gorgeous! I love the colorful windows on the front and modern vibes. I'd absolutely come back here. Thanks for being awesome! read more

Came here for a wine tasting over memorial day weekend. I'm not sure if the wine is organic, but it's definitely eco friendly and sustainable. For some reason, the organic wineries that I've been to have been very beautiful, but the wine has too much sediment in it for me. Their winery has beautiful stained glass on it, and there was a concert going on which was fun, but unfortunately I didn't find a single wine that I enjoyed. I still think it's a nice place to visit and everyone's palate is different, so if you're looking for a beautiful winery to visit, Shale Oak is definitely beautiful. read more

A couple friends highly recommended Shale Oak and I'm so glad they did. We enjoyed the wine so much we joined their wine club (viognier and petit verdot are both so good). Shale Oak's got this modern yet relaxing vibe, and the stained glass windows are gorgeous! We visited on a weekday before lunch time and we were the only ones there. Steve was friendly and very knowledgeable, and my 5 year old was thrilled to explore the outdoor space. Shale Oak is LEED gold and SIP certified! All about sustainability and they recycle water. I believe they are also pet friendly. read more

I'm pregnant, so I'm not drinking these days, but I still enjoyed a quick visit to Shale Oak Winery, where I read and took in the nice scenery while my husband Matt B. sipped some wine. We spent a weekend in Paso Robles for a wedding, so we figured it'd be a waste not to hit up at least one winery, and we came here on the recommendation of our newlywed friends. It was a great recommendation, so I'm passing it along. The winery was beautiful, with gorgeous architecture and grounds. Matt ordered a tasting inside, opting for the higher-end $25 option, then we sat down on two chairs right outside the main doors. The view was lovely, and the people/dog watching was fun, too. There was live music on the back patio, and it was actually kind of nice. Less nice was the noisy music coming from across the street, but that wasn't Shale Oaks' fault. Service was excellent. The woman helping us actually came out to pour Matt his wines, explaining what he was drinking in satisfying detail. He sampled something like a half dozen wines, and she even threw in a bonus taste at the end, of an older petite sirah that cost a reasonable $27 a bottle. He liked all the wines and ended up buying this last one, getting the $25 tasting fee waived. Good deal. I had a great time just sitting and relaxing and watching my husband drink. I imagine I would've loved this place even more if I could've done an actual wine tasting. Will definitely keep Shale Oaks in mind the next time we're in Paso Robles, hopefully when I'm free to drink again. read more

I've been to at least 70+ wineries in Paso Robles. This place is in my top 3. I tell everyone I know who loves wine to start here and then work their way up VIneyard drive to some other hidden gems. As you approach this building you will be in Awe at the architecture. It's an earth friendly certified sustainable operation they have going. The wine is spectacular and will not break the bank. Their Syrah is so tasty and rich for only around $25. The design and color schemes are so attractive you will want to have the bottles just to decorate your kitchen. The wines here have character and bursts of flavor that will make you smile. I also purchased their CAB which is AMAZING! Gayle is hands down the best pourer in all of Paso and for that matter in the whole world. can't say enough good things about her. Just friendly, informative and generous. All these ingredients with the quality of the wines plus their pricing and the atmosphere and the friendly service make this spot a MUST SEE WINERY!! read more

I came here with a bunch of friends without a reservation a few weeks back and it was a really nice environment very inviting, very friendly, and a modern design. I liked that they had plenty of shade on that hot day and it was really a nice treat to enjoy live music as well. The wine was tasty on the lighter side. It's a nice place if you have a small group of people that you want to get together. There's plenty of seating and you can stay cool on a hot day under the shade sails. read more

I love exploring new roads and new wineries. A quick accidental turn onto the wrong road gave us a great day of new wineries and a fun adventure. Shale Oak Winery was our first stop. The cool building and amazing large stained glass drew us in. I didn't know much about Shale Oak, so I was open to learning more. We were greeted by their friendly wine pourer (whose name escapes me!) and she started by explaining that the building was recently built (2011) and is a LEED Green Building. The buildings roof serves to recycle water for grey-water use and everything is built with a purpose. I loved that! The patio was constructed around this recycled water feature and is exceptionally peaceful. Each wine was pleasant and the price point more than fair. My favorites were the 2016 Rose, 2012 Cab Sauv Broken Oak, 2015 Albarino, and 2014 Grenache Blanc. read more

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Such a gem of a winery. Good customer service (thanks Steve). Great wine. 10/10 recommend stopping by here.

Nightmare experience. Let the pictures speak for itself. Then the server goes "we are not going to charge you for the cheese plate" in my head couldn't believe it.. like I hope you won't charge me for a plate of mold which would kill me.. And the wine was sub par.. Avoid! read more

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We used to love going to this winery. We had a reservation to taste this last weekend. Our wine server gave us the feeling that we were intruding on his day. Sorry to have bothered you! We won't be back. read more

Beautiful grounds and tasting room but wines were sub par. The zin was awesome but everything else, not so much. We had a lady named Mary who knew NOTHING about the wines she was serving us. She was not personable at all, just short and seemed off. I was recommended this place and had high hopes but it wasn't what I was expected. The only reason I expected more was because my fiancé and I were the only two in the whole place. We just expected a little bit of a nicer experience. The restrooms also smelled really bad. read more

Shale Oak Winery - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

Stopped by this winery as our last visit on the way out of Paso Robles. The exterior looks like a modern museum, and the interior just gets better! Ultra hip space and friendly pourers greet you when you enter. Tastings were $7, waived with a wine purchase and you keep the sleek, stemless glass. Barbara was our pourer and she was so sweet, warm and helpful. The tasting flight included five wines. The sixth wine was a white but has sold out in the short three months that the winery has been open. I MUST try that white, the tasting notes sound amazing! Their two Cabernets were wonderful! Very affordable as well. Normally the husband and I seek out big jammy zins, but these cabs held their own ground. We bought a bottle of 2008 Cabernet ($17) and our friends who traveled with us are going to join their wine club. Our friend was going nuts over "Ku" (love the name). We will return to try their '09 white and their upcoming Rose (which is reportedly going to be for wine club members only). Can't wait to re-visit when the weather is warmer. Edited to add: Patti V's review reminded me of those chairs! Yes, the awesome wine-barrel chairs were SO unique and comfortable! So comfortable that I couldn't get up. LOVED THEM! read more

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One of my favorite wines in the area. This is the winery that first got me to join a membership over 4 years ago.

Billy was the best! Love their special series "element" wines, such as the SUI! Their Cab is also a great price and beats paying the tasting fee! If you stop by, make sure to say hi to the dogs (and don't feed them too much cheese) read more

Shale Oak Winery - From left to right: Unknown, Cooper, Gus - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

Great wines! I enjoyed the tour of the facility immensely and the pourer Steven had exceptional knowledge of the site and went above and beyond to ensure I had a wonderful time out wine tasting. I love the fact that this facility is so environmentally conscientious as well. read more

Had a wonderful time with some girlfriends at Shale Oak. Great wine, excellent service and wonderful atmosphere!

This winery is super dope. The facility itself is artsy and eclectic and they have a passion for being sustainable in the way they farm and having as little impact on the environment. My personal favorite wine from Shale Oak Winery is the Petite Sirah. This is definitely a winery we will be returning to again! read more

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Environmentally friendly and delicious wine to boot. This place is equally as beautiful as it is conscious. Come when the purple sage is blooming. Enjoy the ku and the ka. read more

Shale Oak Winery - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

We went there last weekend, but I am just now getting around to reviewing. I thought the winery itself was very nice. I took about a half dozen pictures, but after I reviewed them they are pretty much the same as the ones here on Yelp. The winery prides itself of being very green...I forgot if they said they are the most green winery, but I would say if not they probably would be close to being the most green. I really enjoyed the wine and the tasting room, the two ladies who poured that day were very friendly. Jennifer was one of them who was also the winery's marketing manager. Very sweet and knew her wines for sure. They have 5 wines on the tasting menu, all were very good and modestly priced. I went with a few other people and two of us left with a bottle of the Syrah which had excellent body, color and taste. I would recommend. read more

Great tasting with Katie... come by this great winery for some great wines to taste! Shale Oak will not disappoint! read more

Shale Oak Winery - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

We had such a great time here! I came for the first time with my boyfriend who had been once before and whose parents are wine club members. Because of our membership association, we were able to share a tasting for free and pick up his parents latest shipment. The wines we tasted were all fantastic (I particularly liked the rosé!) and we were able to revisit a couple at the end. I'm not particularly well versed in the wine industry, but we had been on multiple tastings already that day and this one still sticks out in my mind, so that must be worth something! My favorite part of visiting was the decor and the Shale Oak building. There are beautiful floor-to-VERY-tall-celing glass windows on the front of the building that make just driving up to the place exciting. When we walked in I was quite surprised and the blend of cozy and modern that they've achieved. Both my boyfriend and I were quite intrigued at the floating fire place they have coming down from the ceiling and after asking just a couple of questions about it, one of the employees offered to light it up so we could get the full experience. The demo was great, plus it gave us an excuse to hang out for a few more minutes and watch/warm up. I read and heard great things about the savory cookie pairings, but unfortunately they were out of the cookies when we came. read more

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I don't know whose idea it was to do a wine tasting paired with brownies but let me just say this about them. They're a genius. I mean, brownies? I've seen them paired with other things but those were mostly just basic brownies. To actually think that flavors in the assorted wines could be matched with and complimented by specialty brownies? Amazing. I'm thinking they were eating some "basic" ones first... I asked our server about it and she said that with 300 wineries in the area they needed to find some way to differentiate themselves. I think they succeeded even if it is $19 per tasting. I'd do it again. The wines? Yeah, they were awesome. I really enjoyed the Albariño, a delightful fruit forward start to the tasting. Paired with the limoncello goat cheese brownie brought new dimensions to the taste of both! My favorite was the zin paired with the ghost chili chocolate brownie. The zin wasn't too full bodied or heavy and the brownie did it justice! The space is gorgeous. You should stop by even if you aren't interested in tasting wine. The front side of the building is stained glass. The outdoor patio is remarkable. Totally worth checking it out. And the wine really is good, with or without the brownies. read more

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Loved everything about this place. I've never had a cookie and wine pairing and now I will be craving cookies every time I drink Shale Oak wine. Awesome hospitality in a truly green environment. First time on the west side of Paso Robles, as we normally stuck to the east, but will definitely make it a point to return. Love! read more

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