Looking for recommendations from wine-loving Edhatters: I'm planning a 2-3 day wine-tasting trip to SLO
County with my husband and daughter (I'm the designated driver). We're interested both in great wine and
picturesque settings, since I won't be drinking. What wineries are "must-sees?" Thanks in advance.
JOHN WILEY
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2012-06-16 12:55 PM |
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I'll suggest a detour on the way. We've enjoyed Alma Rosa with friends, and the short drive (gMaps directions) out to it from Buellton. Several other good stops nearby too.
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COMMENT 288568
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2012-06-16 01:00 PM |
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Don't drink and drive.
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COMMENT 288577
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2012-06-16 01:33 PM |
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Don't drink and drivel
Don't drive if you are on any psychotropics - Includes anti-anxiety and anti-depressants.
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COMMENT 288587P
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2012-06-16 02:10 PM |
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Folks, OP was very clear she's not drinking, that she is the DD. OP, have a great trip with your family - beautiful time to do it...
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COMMENT 288597
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2012-06-16 02:49 PM |
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Laetitia Winery has a pleasant tasting room, on top of a hill with views all around. Their wine is pretty good. It's located just south of Arroyo Grande on 101, on the way to SLO.
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COMMENT 288604
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2012-06-16 03:15 PM |
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Sunstone is a beautiful spot for wine. Bring a lunch too.
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COMMENT 288605
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2012-06-16 03:19 PM |
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She is claiming she is the DD. Be sure to let us know how that actually works out. And how will you know. Don't drink and drive. Sign up for a wine tour instead. They don't call Highway 154 Blood Alley for nothing. The life you save may be mine.
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COMMENT 288608
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2012-06-16 03:45 PM |
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I always taste and spit. Our favorite is right here in SY, Gainey and Evans Ranch. Many people go out to dinner, have a cocktail and drive home after dinner and are legal below the limit. We were stopped and went thru the DUI one Fiesta. Had two drinks over the coarse of 5 hours. Cleared with flying colors. Many people have a higher level of alcohol from over the counter meds.
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COMMENT 288609P
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2012-06-16 03:49 PM |
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OP here. There is no question that I will be the designated driver and will not be drinking. Although I was never much of a drinker anyway, I now have a medical condition that requires me to take medication that does not mix with alcohol. Please lay off the preaching and give me some constructive information (and thank you to those who already have).
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COMMENT 288616
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2012-06-16 04:02 PM |
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Demitria winery is sooooooo beautiful and amazing yum wines!
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COMMENT 288628
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2012-06-16 04:51 PM |
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Car folks like Arciero Brothers....Justin wines are great....
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COMMENT 288639
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2012-06-16 05:39 PM |
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Foley has the best chardonnays and pinots, exquisite! Firestone is a beautiful winery and getting better since Foley bought it several years ago. Fess Parker is very pretty too. Depends on if you want good wine or good looking wineries. Lincourt has some delicious wines and is an old vineyard, picturesque, good prices. So many good ones out there, have fun! Be safe!
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AQUAHOLIC
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2012-06-16 05:44 PM |
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http://www.wineclub-usa.com/californiawines/sanluisobispomap/
The above link is to a wonderful map of the area you will be visiting. Also, this months Sunset magazine had a piece on Paso Robles wine area, restaurants and wineries to visit. Hope this helps...disregard the malcontents who often inhabit Ed land...they might mean well ( giving the benefit of the doubt here) and they are harmless if you just learn to ignore them!
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AQUAHOLIC
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2012-06-16 05:46 PM |
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I believe the OP stated she is going to San Luis Obispo County, and the wine region of that area, not Santa Ynez :-)
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COMMENT 288649P
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2012-06-16 06:21 PM |
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Thank you to those who made recommendations. Great map, Aquaholic, and thanks for the info about Sunset, I'll see if I can pick one up. Yes, we are going to SLO County, but we will probably do a day trip to SYV, so it's also useful to hear what people like up there.
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COMMENT 288660
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2012-06-16 08:26 PM |
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Bridlewood winery in SYV is great! Horse drawn carriage will take you around the scenic grounds, which includes a small lake. Nice views, beautiful buildings.
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COMMENT 288695
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2012-06-17 07:09 AM |
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Bridlewood winery is beautiful and tasty wine too, nice folks. I always take guests there. Horses are fun to see too.
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COMMENT 288697
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2012-06-17 07:26 AM |
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Jack Creek Cellars off Hwy 46; and Justin Vineyards on Chimney Rock Rd. Both picturesque and excellent wines and you can have lunch or dinner at Justin.
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GRACE
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2012-06-17 08:18 AM |
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Go to Paso Robles and taste at Tablas Creek. Eat at Thomas HIll Organics in Paso.
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COMMENT 288707
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2012-06-17 08:28 AM |
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If you want something different and like big reds, check out Caparone and look in general for "big jammy zins," which are a SLO specialty. Also I recommend hanging out in downtown Paso for at least lunch, it's a nice area. Chin-chin!
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COMMENT 288710
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2012-06-17 08:32 AM |
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Some great spots in Paso Robles: Tablas Creek for Rhones, Windward for Pinots, Ecluse, Volk, Lone Madrone, and many. many more.
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COMMENT 288719
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2012-06-17 08:59 AM |
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beautiful, friendly and welcoming Austin Ridge
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RHS
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2012-06-17 09:32 AM |
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Adelaide area of SLO is a joy and a surprise. Justin is a bit over the top in some ways but a nice destination. Calcareous is worth a visit if you like big reds and a nice view. Tablas Creek is probably the best quality of wine overall in SLO (except for Windward pinot noirs). They produce outstanding red and white Rhone blends.
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COMMENT 288760
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2012-06-17 09:52 AM |
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Halter Ranch at 8910 Adelaida Road in Paso Robles. This is the only winery whose wine club my husband and I have ever joined because it is the only winery where we loved every wine they poured in their tasting room. And they run a sustainable, eco-friendly operation in a beautiful location.
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COMMENT 288770P
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2012-06-17 10:01 AM |
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The area around Paso Robles has become a hotbed in the last 25 years. It's been a long time since I visited there, but I remember one especially charming winery (who knows which one?) along the road to Morro Bay from Paso, that specialized in big zins. (I liked the winery more than the wine though.) I always go to AAA and ask for wine maps. They have great ones. I also check on Google, as most of the wineries have banded together and put out pretty good wine tour maps, guides or recommendations on the web. (That's not as good as real recommendations, but it's a great place to start.)
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COMMENT 288800
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2012-06-17 11:31 AM |
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Take the 101 north to 46W. There are lots of winerys on the 46, go north on Vineyard and a good stop is Opolo, nice wines, particularly reds like sangiovese. Going north turn on
chimney rock and go to Justin. A beautiful setting, unfortunately just so-so wines.
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COMMENT 288809
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2012-06-17 12:22 PM |
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The best stops in SLO County for a great setting and very good tasting wines are as follows:
Tolosa Winery, Edna Valley
Laetitia Winery just off 101
Windward Winery, 15 acres of just Pinot Noir, 46West just before Paso
Tablas Creek, Halter Ranch, Vina Robles, Grey Wolf, Roger Nicholas - all on the west side of Paso. Don't bother going on 46 East. If you take a drive out, you will see that the terroir on the west side is much superior for grape growing than the east side.
They will all probably be very happy to hear that we sent you up to see them.
Have a great time!
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COMMENT 288896
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2012-06-17 06:13 PM |
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Check out the website for Far Out Wineries and drive out Peachy Canyon Road, heading west for some gorgeous country and award winning establishments.
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KIDS
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2012-06-17 07:07 PM |
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My favorite wineries in SLO County are Tolosa and Kynsi. We stop there everytime we are in the area. Hope it is a great trip!
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SEEDLADY
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2012-06-17 09:03 PM |
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there is a Paso Robles radio station dedicated to the winery industry out of Paso called The Krush--it has lots of spots and interviews and to hear them tell it, it is a vertiable Disneyland of Wine. It's '92. something' FM. Maybe they live stream and you could get an idea. The first place I visit when planning a trip re: food and beverages is CHOWHOUND. There are boards covering most of the world.Try starting here on the California board, it's a new thread about Paso wineries. (Some of the PR winery threads are way out of date). It is a huge area--250 wineries on both the dry and open East Side and the hilly and more bucholic West Side. This thread is new so follow it for several days and you will glean much info from people actually visiting the tasting rooms recently
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/854248 good luck, have fun and as we say on Chowhound: "Please report back!"
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COMMENT 288940P
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2012-06-17 09:40 PM |
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Thank you to everyone who has provided such good info. It seems like our trip will need to be longer to get in all the interesting wineries! @Seedlady, thanks for the radio recommendation, I'll see what I can find. And you're right, I've already discovered that some of the online maps and info I've found are out of date.
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