Grain + Vine Craft Distillery sits on Highway 46 in Paso Robles, where California’s wine country meets the growing craft spirits movement. Founded by husband-and-wife team Chris and Melissa Taranto in 2018, this distillery emerged from their combined backgrounds in hospitality and winemaking. Chris brought restaurant industry experience while Melissa contributed her wine country expertise, and together they decided to pivot into distilling after recognizing the potential for craft spirits in a region already known for artisanal beverages. The couple spent nearly three years navigating permits and perfecting their recipes before opening their doors. They work with a custom-built 300-gallon copper still that allows them to control every aspect of production, focusing primarily on whiskey and bourbon alongside seasonal spirits. The distillery occupies a purpose-built facility that houses both production and tasting operations, designed with visitors in mind from the ground up. What you’ll find is a working distillery where production happens alongside tastings, so you can often see the distilling process in action. The space feels more like a working craft operation than a polished tourist attraction, which means you get an authentic look at small-batch distilling. The Tarantos have built something that reflects Paso Robles’ agricultural roots while adding their own chapter to the region’s beverage story.