Preview: Que Paso? at Perry's Steakhouse [Food & Wine Fest]

We’ve recently learned that California’s Paso Robles wine region is geographically a lot like the Texas Hill Country, in that in that both have rolling hills and arid soils. The key difference, though, is that the former is close to the Pacific Ocean, and serves as the backdrop for the upcoming reality show, The Winemakers, which begins broadcast this May on PBS.

Ross Outen, an Austin-area contestant on The Winemakers, will be moderating the Que Paso? panel, which will focus on the wines of the region. The panel will feature Paso Robles wine-experts Austin Hope, David Frick and Tommy Oldre.

"[With] the personalities that are on the panel, it will be a lively, fun panel," said Christopher Taranto, Communications Manager for the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. Taranto also told us the panel's winemakers will likely be taking a break from bottling for the event, as it is currently bottling season.

The specific wines that Clayhouse Vineyards, Four Vines Winery, Tablas Creek Vineyard and Treana Winery will be bringing to the event weren’t yet known, but we were told to expect a sampling of the scope of this wine region. "Not a vertical tasting, but a showcase of the wine style," said Taranto. Each vineyard will be bringing two wines to the Saturday morning sampling.

Que Paso? takes place on Saturday April 19th at Perry's Steakhouse.

Austinist is a proud media sponsor of the 2009 Texas Hill Country Food and Wine Festival, which runs April 16-19 at venues throughout Austin. [Homepage|Participants|Locations|Tickets]