California’s Highway 46 is a beautiful drive through cattle ranches, farms and vineyards, which serve as a beacon guiding visitors to one of the state’s hottest destinations. Paso Robles is fast becoming a premier tourist destination for oenophiles and culinary aficionados alike, and now it has the world-class Allegretto by Ayers Resorts.
Allegretto is perfectly located on 20 acres of vineyards and olive and fruit trees. When you arrive on property, the Mediterranean vibe takes ahold of you and you forget you are in California. While walking the property, take some time and lounge with a lovely glass of wine in the Tuscan-style courtyard. After a fun day of wine tasting in the area, sit back and relax in your own private poolside cabana or visit the spa and experience the Chära wellness program.
@Allegretto Resort
Accommodations at Allegretto rival any resort for miles. Old-world luxury at its finest, the 171 guest rooms and suites provide respite from the day, featuring 14-foot vaulted ceilings and a private patio that opens out to a lovely, lush green garden. The Allegretto Dream Sleeper pillow-top mattresses with high-thread-count linens, plush bamboo towels, robes and slippers offer unparalleled pampering. When you feel rejuvenated, enjoy the property’s global art and antiques and the French-inspired Abbey.
Paso Robles now has a plethora of fantastic dining venues to explore, but when staying at Allegretto, you won’t have to go too far. Cello Ristorante and Bar is right up there with the region’s best. Start at Cello’s bar and enjoy a selection of handcrafted cocktails created by mixologist Andrew Brune. The Rye Gold & Raw is a soothing combination of Re:Fine Rye, raw sugar cubes, bitters, grapefruit peel and edible gold. If you are in a wine mood, sample Allegretto’s private label Viognier, Zinfandel, Tannat and Cabernet Sauvignon or one of the many fine wines on its impressive list. There are also artisanal craft beers that should not be left unexplored.
After partaking in a libation or two, take your seat in Cello’s beautiful restaurant for a true farm-to-table experience. The Mediterranean-inspired menu fits right in with the resort’s ambiance, where every dish is carefully created using fresh local ingredients sourced from regional farmers, ranchers and purveyors. Warm up your palate with the bigeye tuna carpaccio with red onion and capers, followed by a salad with locally sourced kale, Edna’s Bakery rye croutons, aged jack cheese and cracked pepper. And the three pizzas on the menu — Margherita, prosciutto and mushroom — are all on point.
A must-order dish is the crab spaghetti, which marries snow crab claws, sliced jalapeno, minced scallion, lemon and Allegretto Viognier butter. Locally foraged mushrooms with eggplant, shallots, leeks, garlic, Italian parsley and shaved truffle cheese combine in one of the best risottos you’ll likely find anywhere. Ask about the daily seafood special — more than likely, your dish was swimming that very morning. For the carnivores, try the oak-grilled sirloin or the all-natural beef filet with creamy garlic mashed potatoes. There are burgers and pasta as well.
After dinner, take a quiet moment under the stars on the patio and reflect on this rare experience. One day is certainly not enough to enjoy the region and all that Allegretto has to offer, so why not indulge yourself and book a whole weekend? It’s an experience you won’t soon forget.
