The Tribune

March 24, 2010

Wine lounge opens in Paso Robles

A new business called Meritage Wine Lounge is betting on Paso Robles as a draw for tourists who love wine. The idea is to create a place for wineries to showcase their wine in a comfortable but contemporary setting, said Stacy Mullins, who owns the firm with her husband, Ron Mullins, and Bill Ridino.

“Our business model is in a way like a barber shop,” Mullins said. “The wineries lease space, the glasses, the linens, from us and they provide the servers … They join in as a kind of co-op and share the expense.”

The space is about 4,000 square feet, which once housed the Classic American Theatre group.

Currently, eight Central Coast wineries, including Roxo Port Cellars, SummerWood, TKL Wines, Hope Family Wines and Brochelle Vineyards, are selling wine by the taste, glass or bottle. Four more are coming soon when they get their licensing, and Piazza Bistro, based in Templeton, is the lounge’s in-house caterer providing appetizers and desserts.

Construction of the tasting lounge cost about $500,000, Mullins said.

Meritage Wine Lounge is at 810 11th St. on the library and courthouse side of the square. Tasting hours are from 2 to 7 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 2 to 10 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.