THE STORY
I love it when an out-of-area winery comes to the Monterey Peninsula and that was the case when Lopai Cellars from Paso Robles recently showcased their wines to the American Wine Society Monterey Chapter. Paul Lopez and his wife Michelle brought their exquisite lineup for us to taste in lovely Pacific Grove. At this event, we tasted 6 of their wines, complemented by appetizers provided by our members.
This is my first post all about Lopai Cellars wines.
THE WINERY
Their story begins with Paul and his son Brian’s ancestors who settled in the San Luis Obispo area in the 1860’s, farming the land before there was the plethora of vineyards we see today. Fast forward to modern times. Paul brings a wealth of winemaking experience, having worked over the past 10 years with some of the most esteemed labels in Paso Robles. Now he’s channeling that expertise into his own craft at Lopai Cellars, nestled on the picturesque west side of the Willow Creek District in the Paso Robles AVA, just a short 10.5 miles from the stunning coastline. They purchased their vineyard in 2019 and produced their first wines in 2023.
I encourage you to read more about the winery here: https://lopaicellars.com/story/.
THE WINES
Today I am presenting 6 Lopai Cellars wines. Winery notes come from their website or the tasting sheet. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.
2023 Lopai Cellars Rose, Willow Creek District, Paso Robles, 13.5% ABV, $35 (#1735) 100% Grenache
My Review: Rosy peach, apricot in color. Watermelon, peach, Meyer lemon on the nose. Light palate. April 2026
2023 Lopai Cellars Albariño, Edna Valley, San Luis Obispo County, 12.5% ABV, $50 (#1736)
Winery Notes: “Nose- honeysuckle, vanilla, peach, pear. Palate – Nectarine, tangerine zest, lychee, Nilla wafer, granite. crisp and clean.”
My Review: Light golden in color. Some viscosity in the glass. Grilled pineapple. Lots of minerality on the palate with bright acidity and a touch of grilled pineapple. A very rich palate. April 2026
2021 Lopai Cellars Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Willow Creek District, Paso Robles, 13.8% ABV, $80 (#1737)
Winery Notes: “Nose – cherry cola, slight eucalyptus, dried petals, cranberry, mixed berry pie Palate – Tart cherry, cocoa, raspberry, tomato leaf, hint of basil, woodiness, chalky tannins, structured, red berries, complex.”
My Review: Beautiful dark garnet with a purple rim. Plum, juicy blackberry and blueberry on the nose. Rich, smooth palate with some cherry cola notes. Very tasty. April 2026
2021 Lopai Cellars Estate Syrah, Willow Creek District, Paso Robles, 14.9% ABV, $80 (#1738)
Winery Notes: “Nose – cassis, cracked peppercorns, violet, ripe blackberries Palate – Tart under ripe raspberries, savory notes of peppered duck breast, and a touch of fennel seed.”
My Review: A dark beauty in the glass with a dark purple rim. Alcohol on the nose is compensated by a lovely texture on the palate. Deep fruit comes off a bit over extracted. This was the group’s favorite wine of the event! April 2026
2021 Lopai Cellars Estate Petite Sirah, Willow Creek District, Paso Robles, 13.2% ABV, $80 (#1739)
Winery Notes: “Nose – sage, allspice, blueberry, clove Palate – Cranberry sauce, chocolate covered coffee bean, roasted herbs, sweet tobacco, luxardo cherry, lavender. Smooth, round, supple finish.”
My Review: Inky in the glass – so dark, not a rim to be seen! There is a smokey darkness of black fruit on the nose. Smooth palate of dark blackberry and blueberry. Some tannins on the finish. We liked this wine and it sold out quickly! April 2026
2021 Lopai Cellars Nocturnes, Willow Creek District, Paso Robles, 14.1% ABV, $80 (#1740) 58% Petit Verdot/38% Petite Sirah/4% Syrah Blend
Winery Notes: “Nose – floral, blueberry, mint, and spice Palate – Concentrated dark fruit is layered with savory spice and floral.”
My Review: Darkest possible purple in the glass. Pretty legs decorate the glass. Intense palate of juicy dark fruit. Nothing over extracted here just delicious. This wine gets a “wow” from me! I took some home. April 2026
THE TASTING ROOM
Find where Lopai landed.
“Our tasting room is located at 1380 Live Oak Road in Paso Robles, where we share the space with The Royal Nonesuch Farm – another small producer we respect, and a good sign of what you’ll find when you arrive.”
HOURS: Wednesday–Saturday: 10:30 am – 4:00 pm. Visit their website to make a reservation!
© Decanting Monterey 2026
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