I am sitting at dinner with a half-dozen winemakers from Paso Robles, in town for a whistle-stop wine tasting, debating the pronunciation of the up-and-coming central California wine region. We all agree on how to say the first part (pass-oh), but it’s the second word that’s the subject of profound amusement. One of the winemakers is insisting that the “Robles” part is pronounced rrrow-blayss, rolling the r several times for good measure and carrying the “s” on the end for an extra second. Definitely a trendy interpretation.

Another good-natured vintner is insisting that it’s pronounced row-bless. Period. Not open for debate. A third is siding with my interpretation of row-bulls. It isn’t until I point out that I actually grew up in the central valley of California that heads start nodding in unison when I say that those in the know simply call it “Paso.”