Pinot & Paella Festival sells out in Templeton

Hayley Thomas/Paso Robles Press • Hundreds line up for hot portions of paella Saturday. The event raised more than $30,000 for local youth programs.

TEMPLETON — The summer sun wasn’t the only thing sizzling on Sunday as a record 700 visitors flocked to Templeton Community Park for the ninth annual Paso Robles Pinot & Paella Festival.

Twenty pinot noir producers and nearly just as many chefs gathered for the culinary celebration, which featured live music by Incendio and plenty of fresh ingredients to nosh on. Each paella featured a lively twist, from coconut curry flavors to traditional Spanish flair. Savory pork, chicken and seafood combinations simmered in large, flat pans in the afternoon sun. Tasters were encouraged to vote on each dish, although choosing a favorite proved nearly impossible for many.

A refreshing breeze kept tasters cool and ready for seconds, thirds and fourth helpings. The first Pinot & Paella Festival began nearly a decade ago at Windward Vineyard, which produces pinot noir exclusively.

The event now boasts the best pinot noir from a range of local wineries including Le Vigne, Sculpterra and Adelaida Cellars, among others. Windward Vineyard Tasting Room Manager and Pinot & Paella Festival organizer Anna Tognazzini was encouraged by this year’s support.

“We sold out far in advance. The people have been coming from all over the state,” Tognazzini said. “All the chefs were sure to prepare extra paella in preparation of a sold-out event.”

The festival raised more than $30,000 that will be given back to the community and nonprofits such as the Paso Robles youth arts programs, according to Tognazzini.

“We’re also giving an award to the first person to plant pinot noir in the Templeton Gap back in the late ‘60s,” she said.

The 94-year-old Paso pinot pioneer, Dr. Stanley Hoffman, was honored for his contributions to the area’s rich wine heritage.

“This year’s festival has been really spectacular,” Tognazzini said.



About the festival

The inaugural Pinot & Paella event was held at Windward Vineyard in 2004. Owners Marc Goldberg & Maggie D’Ambrosia were searching to create a wine and food pairing event that was different from the usual winemaker sit-down dinner format.

The event needed to be a unique way of showcasing the diversity of pinot noir with a wide range of food and flavors. Most of all, it needed to be fun for all the participants — the winemakers, chefs and guests, and benefit a worthy cause.

With a little help from Tom Fundaro from Villa Creek and Lynn Diehl of Wine Region News, the first Pinot & Paella event attracted 125 guests at Windward Vineyard with all proceeds benefiting the local food bank.

Paella was selected since there are about 450 different types of paella: from seafood, to duck, lamb, vegetarian, basically incorporating any locally available ingredient with short grain rice and cooking on an open fire. Paella lends itself to holding up well at room temperature for a few hours.

Following the success of the first event in 2004, Windward Vineyard realized the event was too big for just one winery and thereafter invited all of the Paso Robles pinot noir producers to participate as an opportunity to showcase and feature Paso Robles’ best kept secret: Paso pinot noir.