When it comes to choosing a winery to experience of the hundreds from which to choose in Paso Robles, there are some places you visit for what they offer. And then there are places you visit for how they make you feel. LXV Wine in downtown Paso Robles is firmly in the second category. 

 

I first learned about LXV through good friend, Cherif Guirguis, who took me wine tasting in Paso and to new wineries I had yet encountered. During our visit, I learned the story of its owners, Neeta and Kunal Mittal, and before I ever tasted a drop of their wine, I was already intrigued. Their journey into winemaking didn’t start with generations of vineyard tradition or a long family line in the wine business. It started with a shared love for travel, culture, and the way food and wine can bring people together around a table – even when they come from completely different corners of the world.   

 

Originally from India, Neeta and Kunal discovered Paso Robles almost by accident. During an unplanned stop at the Paso Robles airport in their private plane, they grabbed an Uber into town to relax over lunch while repairs were made.  And like many of us who stumble onto a special place, they felt something there that was hard to explain but impossible to ignore. The rolling hills, the rugged beauty of the land, and the character of the region spoke to them.  

 

Before long, they found themselves planting roots in the Willow Creek District and beginning the very personal process of creating wines that reflected both the land they fell in love with and the global perspective they brought with them. 

 

LXV quickly became known for its focus on Bordeaux-style wines – elegant, structured, and deeply expressive. These are wines meant to be savored, not rushed. Cabernet Franc holds a special place in their lineup, along with thoughtfully crafted blends that balance Old World inspiration with the bold personality of Paso Robles fruit. Everything they do is small-lot, hands-on, and intentionally personal – more like a conversation than a production line. 

 

But what truly sets LXV apart isn’t just what’s in the glass. It’s what happens around it. 

Step into their downtown tasting room, and you don’t feel like you’ve walked into a bar or a retail space. You feel like you’ve been welcomed into someone’s living room. Warm hues, comfy seating, and an atmosphere designed for lingering – for talking, laughing, and staying longer than you planned. 

 

And then comes the part that surprises just about everyone. The personal wine tasting experience that makes you feel as nothing else matters than giving you a memory worth telling others about.  That’s exactly how it was the day I stopped in to pick up some wine for Christmas gifts and ended up trying several wines I had yet tasted. Quiet, informative, and oh-so-very different than any other winery in the area. 

 

Each wine is paired with cheese bites coated in different custom spice blends, designed to highlight different notes in the glass. A sip, a nibble of spiced cheese, another sip – and suddenly flavors you didn’t notice before come alive. It turns wine tasting into something playful, curious, and genuinely memorable. You don’t just taste the wine. You experience it. 

 

What I love most about LXV is that Neeta and Kunal don’t just talk about hospitality – they practice it. Whether you visit them in Paso Robles or invite them to bring their passion and experience to you, their tastings feel personal, warm, and tailored to the people in the room. 

And that’s where the opportunity gets exciting for us here at home. 

 

Imagine gathering a group of friends, neighbors, or colleagues in Bakersfield for a private LXV tasting experience — wines, spices, stories, and conversation flowing together in a way that feels more like a dinner party than a formal event. It’s the kind of evening people talk about long after the last glass is poured. 

 

Of course, a visit to their downtown Paso Robles tasting room is a perfect weekend adventure.  

You can find their tasting room located at the corner of Pine & 13th Streets.  If you decide to turn your visit into a true weekend escape, The Ava Hotel Paso Robles is just down the street from LXV and the heart of downtown. This modern, boutique-style hotel pairs wine-country charm with elevated comfort, offering stylish rooms, a rooftop lounge, and an outdoor patio – complete with a fireplace – perfect for taking a bottle of LXV wine to enjoy later. It’s the kind of place that makes lingering in Paso Robles feel effortless – and entirely worth it. 

 

Sometimes the best stories aren’t just the ones we read – they’re the ones we get to step into. And LXV is one of those stories worth experiencing for yourself. Knowing they can also bring that same passion and sensory experience right to our community makes LXV feel less like a distant winery and more like a neighbor we just haven’t met yet. 

 

Learn more and make create your wine tasting experience at home, or in Paso, by visiting lxvwine.com.