PasoPort is a ten-year-old family winery in Templeton focused on port-style wines, producing about 1500 cases annually. The bottles feature original artwork styled after the 1940s and 50s, which gives the whole tasting room a vintage feel you don’t see everywhere. What really sets them apart is their commitment to doing things in-house—in 2013 they invested in an alembic pot still specifically to produce their own brandy for fortifying their ports, so you’re tasting something they’ve genuinely built from the ground up.

The winery’s two residents, Daisy and Bo, are yellow lab siblings born in January 2014 who arrived as seven-week-old puppies in March that year. They’ve grown up alongside the winery and are genuinely friendly about meeting visitors. If you’re bringing your dog along, these two will give you a good sense of the welcoming atmosphere the owners have cultivated—it’s the kind of place where dogs are part of the family operation, not an afterthought.

The Templeton area itself sits in a quieter corner of San Luis Obispo County wine country, away from the heavier tourist traffic of some other regions. You’ll find the tasting room has that working-winery feel rather than a polished resort vibe. Since it’s a smaller operation, the experience tends to be more personal—you’re actually talking with people who know the production process intimately.

The port-style wines are the main draw here, and if you’re someone who appreciates fortified wines or brandy, there’s real quality to explore. It’s worth checking their website for current hours and days of operation before heading out, since smaller wineries sometimes adjust seasonally. The drive out to Templeton is scenic enough that it works well as a weekend trip if you’re already exploring that part of wine country.