About this episode

This episode features live coverage from Paso Wine Fest 2026, highlighting food pairings, the evolution of the festival, and personal stories from local winemakers.

🍇 WHERE WINE TAKES YOU – EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS 🍷 This episode of Where Wine Takes You comes to you LIVE from Paso Wine Fest 2026 , the biggest celebration of Paso Robles wine country and one of the fastest-growing food and wine events in America. Adam hangs out inside the madness of Wine Fest with a lineup that perfectly captures the spirit of Paso: collaboration, creativity, hospitality, and a little beautiful chaos. First up, Chef Rachel Ponce of Pair With Chef Rachel talks food pairings, palate balance, and why the wrong bite can completely wreck a great wine. She also shares details on her upcoming restaurant project, The Staviary , opening this summer with chef’s counter dinners, beer pairings, and immersive culinary experiences. Adam also catches up with Joel Peterson , CEO of Paso Wine , about the continued evolution of Paso Wine Fest, now drawing visitors from across the country for a world-class wine, food, and lifestyle experience. Then there’s the story of Chris Lamoreaux and Creekcut Winery , a dream decades in the making. Chris shares how she and her husband found their Willow Creek District property on their 30th wedding anniversary and built a Rhône-focused winery…

People in this episode

Host: Adam Montiel

Guests: Rachel Ponce, Joel Peterson, Chris Lamoreaux, Tobin James

Topics covered

• Paso Wine Fest
• food pairings
• wine culture
• hospitality
• community

Keywords

• Paso Wine Fest
• food pairings
• Paso Robles
• wine country
• culinary experiences

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Pair With Chef Rachel, Paso Wine, Creekcut Winery

More episodes of Where Wine Takes You - A Paso Wine Podcast

• Ep 172 Tin City Then & Now: The Builder, The Makers, & The Future · June 12, 2026 · 1h 12m
• Ep 170 Listening to the Land: The Soul of the Soil – Featuring Avanales Ranch | HMR Vineyard · May 15, 2026 · 1h 9m
• Ep 169: New Tasting Rooms in Paso – Featuring V1NO JUAN | Hawks Hill Ranch Winery | Boutz Cellars · May 9, 2026 · 1h 31m

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Where Wine Takes You - A Paso Wine Podcast podcast page.