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🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷

In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam heads downtown, not just to taste wine, but to dig into the people helping shape the downtown Paso Robles tasting room experience.

Recorded at SLO CAL Studios, this episode brings together two winemakers and brand owners with very different stories and a beautifully shared hustle: Ray Smith of Indigené Cellars and Enrique Torres of Diablo Paso.

Enrique’s journey starts in Guerrero, Mexico, and continues in Paso Robles, where he arrived in 2001 and began working at the former Martin & Weyrich winery. He worked his way up from cellar rat to cellar master to assistant winemaker, eventually creating Diablo Paso, his personal love letter to Spanish varieties, old world style, hard work, and family balance.

In this conversation, Enrique also drops some big news: Diablo Paso was named Winery of the Year at the Central Coast Wine Competition, with his El Nico taking Best Red, Double Gold, Best of Class, and 97 points. Not bad for a brand that started as a dream, a little troublemaker energy, and two barrels.

Ray Smith of Indigené Cellars brings a different but equally Paso story. Born and raised in Oakland, Ray came to Paso in the late 1980s and spent years behind the scenes in production, including building and operating mobile bottling lines. After years of bottling other people’s dreams, he created Indigené Cellars, a brand built around origin, terroir, evolution, and wines that speak clearly of place.

Ray also shares the personal story behind the Indigené label, which started with his young daughter saying all Dad thinks about is grapes and wine. Somehow, that became one of the most memorable label stories in Paso.

Together, Ray and Enrique represent something special happening downtown: small rooms, big soul, and wines that don’t feel like copies of each other. Diablo Paso and Indigené Cellars are only about 50 feet apart, but each offers a completely different experience: Spanish varieties and devilish charm at Diablo Paso, terroir-driven wines and deep conversation at Indigené.

Later in the show, Adam spotlights Fourth of July in Paso Robles at Barney Schwartz Park, a free, family-friendly celebration with food, live entertainment, a FunZone for kids, and one of the region’s favorite fireworks shows.

Guest Links:

• Diablo Paso Wines: https://diablopasowines.com/
  • Diablo Paso Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diablopaso/
• Indigené Cellars: https://www.indigenecellars.com/
  • Indigené Cellars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indigenecellarsofficial/
• SLO CAL: https://www.slocal.com/

Travel Paso Spotlight:

Fourth of July in Paso Robles at Barney Schwartz Park

The City of Paso Robles and Travel Paso host this free, family-friendly celebration featuring food vendors, live entertainment, family activities, a FunZone, and fireworks over Paso.

• Travel Paso July 4th Info: https://www.travelpaso.com/events/annual-events-and-festivals/4th-of-july-in-paso/
  • City of Paso Robles July 4th Info: https://www.prcity.com/1168/July-4th-Paso
  • Plan your Paso getaway: https://www.travelpaso.com/

Paso Wine Wire:

Austin Hope Charity Golf Tournament Raises $167,000 for Must! Charities
The 2026 Austin Hope Charity Golf Tournament, hosted by Austin Hope and Hope Family Wines at Hunter Ranch Golf Course, raised $167,000 for Must! Charities. Since being reestablished in 2015, the event has raised $960,000 to support children, families, and nonprofit programs throughout San Luis Obispo County.
🔗 Read More: https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/golf-tournament-raises-167000-for-local-nonprofit/221466/
🔗 Must! Charities: https://www.mustcharities.org/

Paris Valley Road Launches “Sip & Sparkle”
Paris Valley Road Estate Winery has introduced Sip & Sparkle, a customizable sparkling spritz experience featuring three pours of sparkling wine and seasonal fruit and botanical mixers. The new summer experience invites guests to create their own sparkling combinations with flavors like strawberry, dragonfruit and key lime; orange, vanilla and rose; and pineapple, ube and yuzu.
🔗 Paris Valley Road: https://parisvalleyroad.com/

Pleasant Valley Wine Trail Presents Under the Estrella Sky Winemakers’ Dinner
The Pleasant Valley Wine Trail hosts its Under the Estrella Sky Winemakers’ Dinner on August 15, 2026 at Hartley Farms in San Miguel wine country. The evening includes wine tasting, dinner, music, dancing, auctions, and proceeds benefiting the Pleasant Valley Wine Trail Scholarship Fund.
🔗 Event Info: https://www.pleasantvalleywinetrail.com/pages/upcoming-events
🔗 Travel Paso Event Listing: https://www.travelpaso.com/event/under-the-estrella-sky-winemakers-dinner/5962/

🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com

🎙️ RECORDED AT SLO CAL STUDIOS

Recorded at SLO CAL Studios, San Luis Obispo County, California.

SLO CAL — where the wine is world-class, the people are real, and life is too beautiful to rush.

For turns well taken:
https://slocal.com

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🎙️ Credits
Executive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso Wine
Associate Producer: Krista Smith
Recorded, edited, hosted by Adam Montiel
Follow Adam: @AdamOnTheAir
Explore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.com
Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture)
Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect

🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
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🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine

🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com

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