Helping People Live the Paso Style,  Events, Wine, Food, Living                                                        January 2007

Upcoming Events:
This past month has seen an event which we all shall look back upon.  The Mastagni Building, commonly referred to as the Acorn Building had become an icon for Paso Robles until it was destroyed by the San Simenon earthquake of 2003.   This past month we celebrated the 3rd anniversary that faithful event as well as the adornment of the new Mastagni building with a new copper clad Acorn.  

It will be a grateful day when the new Mastagni building is complete and we can put San Simenon earthquake of 2003 behind us all. 

Quick Real Estate Facts: (Calif)
Median home price - 
    $555,290
Highest median home price
    Santa Barbara So. Coast $1,083,000
Lowest median home price 
     High Desert $322,340
Mortgage rates - week ending 12/21:
  -30-yr. fixed: 6.13%; Fees/points: 0.4%
  -15-yr. fixed: 5.89%; Fees/points: 0.4%
  -1-yr. adj: 5.44%; Fees/points: 0.6%
Wine Corner:  (A Brief review of local Paso Wines)
In 2006 the San Francisco Chronicle wine staff tasted 1000's of wines to recommend 100's in print.   Then they took on the daunting task of determining out of those 1000's of wines the top 100 of all those wines.  The 2006 edition contains great representation from the Paso area.

Syrah:
-2003 Austin Hope Hope Family Vineyard      Paso Robles Syrah ($42)
-2004 Edward Sellers Paso Robles Syrah ($30)
-2004 Linne Calodo Nemesis Paso Robles Red Wine ($60)
-2004 Linne Calodo Rising Tides Paso Robles Red Wine ($48)
-2004 Saxum James Berry Vineyard Paso Robles Red Wine ($45)
-2004 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel Paso Robles ($45)

Zinfandel:
-2004 Grey Wolf Cellars Barton Family Reserve Paso Robles Zinfandel ($32)
-2004 Peachy Canyon Especial Paso Robles Zinfandel ($36)

Chardonnay:
-2004 Five Rivers Monterey County Chardonnay ($10)
(Five Rivers is located in the Paso Area,

On a personal note, I'm a big fan of Santa Rita Hills in Santa Barbara County.  A quick glance at the Pinot Noir and Santa Hills dominated that list.

Featured Property:
  North Atascadero Location!
Obispo Homes
 $519,000!
http://www.pasostyleliving.com
Cooking Corner:  (Personal recipes and views on Cooking Paso Style)

One of the number one foods to celebrate New Year's is Black eye Peas.  The belief that eating this staple of Southern Cooking will bring good luck if eaten at New Years has a long history.  No one really seems to know where the tradition started,  but if you enjoy black eye Peas, this is my own  recipe.  This is a variation on what is known in the south as Texas Caviar. 
 
  1 cup cooked Black-eyed Peas
  1 cup Whole Kernel Corn
  1 small can sliced olives
  1 small red bell pepper, chopped
  1 small onion, chopped
  2 Jalapeņo Peppers, chopped
  2 tbsp Lime or Lemon Juice
Combine all ingredients.  Salt to taste.  Serve chilled..

Wine Trivia: (A little local or wine trivia)
Paso Robles produces some excellent Zinfandel.  Now the question I'm sure all have been wanting to know.  What is the origin of the Zinfandel grape?
    a) Italy
     b) Croatia
     c) Spain
     d) Crete

(Please visit http://www.pasostyleliving.com/trivia.htm for the answer)

Paso Style Living Real Estate: (Real Estate market conditions in Paso Wine Country)
Although anecdotal, there is a growing feeling that the market is making a turnaround locally.  There is plenty of reason that would support a quick recovery:  the economy is good; San Luis Obispo and the Paso area continue to get good press; and there are some excellent deals available for the discerning buyer.  As I've continued to state,  sellers are able to sell if priced for the market, but anyone is trying to use chase the market pricing they will definitely be stuck.  (Single Family Homes, SFRSB)

Area  (11/1/2006-11/30/2006)

Avg Price

Homes Available

Sold/Pending

Atascadero

$512,619

195

37

Paso Robles

$496,438

407

60

Templeton

$591,770

84

13

All Paso Wine Country

$519,748

806

118

Paso Wine Country contains the following real estate areas (Paso Robles, Atascadero, Templeton, San Miguel, Creston, Shandon, Santa Margarita, Bradley, and Chalome)
Ron Johnson
 Broker Associate, RealtorŪ
 (805) 423-1902
 www.pasostyleliving.com