Sleep In A Charming Vintage Camper At This Tranquil Coastal California Winery

In the mountainous Adelaida District of the Paso Robles American Viticultural Area (AVA), you'll find numerous outstanding wineries dotted throughout. Of course, it's not unusual to find wineries in Paso Robles, even if it is one of the more overlooked wine regions in California.

But what's unique about this area is that the climate is wet, the days are warm, the nights are cool, and the soil is rich with limestone. All of those ingredients add up to the perfect conditions to produce both Rhône blends and Bordeaux blends, which is truly a rarity outside of France.

And even among the area's superlative wineries, Alta Colina stands out as a distinctive place to tour, taste, and stay. This family-owned winery began in 2003 when the Tillmans bought the 130 acres that would become it. The first grapes were planted two years later, and the first bottle was sold four years after that. Today, Bob Tillman still grows the wine, while his daughter, Maggie, is in charge of sales and marketing. Maggie has seemingly done a fantastic job incorporating unique experiences for visitors to enjoy, but one of the most creative is The Trailer Pond.

This vision started when Maggie had a conversation with a vintage trailer rental company called Tinker Tin. Today, The Trailer Pond is made up of five vintage trailers from the 50s and 60s lined along the shore of a tranquil pond, and surrounded by the gentle rolling hills of the vineyard, is a truly elite glamping experience. 

The owners have taken great care to keep the trailers in their original condition, and want to give visitors the feeling of stepping back in time. The trailers don't have heat, air conditioning, or bathrooms. However, there is a two-stall bathroom with an enclosed outdoor shower, a sink, and a vanity nearby.

Each charming trailer offers a double bed that sleeps two adults, a small fridge, and a coffee maker starting at around $200 a night (two-night minimum). But you'll have to leave the pets and kids at home. Although you can't cook inside the vintage trailers, there's a communal cooking area outside complete with a gas grill, a cooktop, a sink, and cookware for everyone. Guests will have access to everything on the property from hiking to wine tastings.

Ready to sample some of that fabulous wine? The tasting room is open daily from 10AM to 4PM. One 60-minute visit includes 4 to 5 wines and costs $30 per person. If you have time, try a 90-minute Summit Vineyard Tasting. At $70 per person, this private tour experience includes incredible sweeping views of the vineyard, and information about the winery's organic farming methods and philosophical approach.

If you want to take a peek behind the cellar door, for $45 per person, you can take a 50-minute tour of the cellar complete with tastings. Keep an eye out for some of the special events the winery hosts throughout the year.

For example, the Golden Hour Tasting at The Trailer Pond offers an intimate wine tasting experience for ten at sunset hosted by Maggie Tillman. Or how about a guided one-hour hike through the vineyard with one of the tasting room educators followed by a wine tasting? It's easy to see why Alta Colina and The Trailer Pond won a Sunset Magazine Travel Award.