At the time I’m writing this, Debbie and I are planning a trip to Paso Robles. While Paso is the most prominent part of our plans, we will be spending the greater part of a day in other parts of San Luis Obispo AVA. Our primary focus will be on Santa Maria and Arroyo Grande, although we’ll probably be discovering more regions.
Both of us are Central Coast veterans. We’ve both been indoctrinated into Paso Robles and have expanded our appreciation to other areas. I’ve spent a lot of time in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Edna Valley, while Debbie has focused on the entire Paso Robles AVA (the single largest AVA in California, by the way), which includes Templeton, as well as Arroyo Grande.
About a dozen years ago—and it’s so hard to believe it’s been that long—a group of friends and I went to explore the entire southern portion of the Central Coast AVA. We began in Avila Beach which was our base of operations. We visited a different area every day and returned to Avila in the evenings. I remember one day tasting about 65 wines. Yes. Tasting. Not drinking. And my budget died. What can I say? The wines were spectacular, and I simply had to have them!
While I’d like to think I have a better grasp on my budget nowadays than I had then, we can only hope I don’t lose my mind. We’ll see.
But I digress.
Paso Robles will not only see us at our usual hangouts with our friends – Kiami, Vines on the Marycrest, Tobin James, etc. – but also discovering some of the many new wineries that have opened over the years. We’re both veterans of a combined 28-ish years of Paso Robles being our preferred “wine country,” and we finally decided to visit some of those that we’ve never seen. Naturally, we’re planning a day at Tin City. I have to restock some favorites that are only found there. And of course, there’s downtown. Which will be our first stop after arrival.
So many wineries. So little time.
We are currently working on our itinerary. The difficult part, of course, is that the current global situation with Covid means that tastings that were par for the course, may no longer be available. That sucks because that’s how our budgets have been destroyed in the past. Have a nice little tasting, leave with your credit card weeping. Isn’t that the way it works?
At any rate, I hope to post regularly when we’re out and about in the gorgeous Central Coast AVA.
By the way, I am emphasizing that southern region because the northern region of the Central Coast AVA—Monterey, Arroyo Seco, Livermore, San Francisco, just to name a few—has its own treasure chest of fabulous wines. I’ve been to a few of the wineries up there, and they are incredible. For instance, Calera Wine Company is the only winery in the Mt. Harlan AVA. It specializes in Pinot Noir, and their wines are, well, whatever word means more than spectacular. It’s a tough drive, though, from Paso Robles.
And, no, San Francisco isn’t northern. It’s part of the greater Central Coast AVA. North of the Central Coast is the North Coast AVA which includes Napa and Sonoma. San Francisco is just below the border of the Central Coast AVA and the North Coast AVA. Confused? Welcome!
I hope you stay tuned to the site because I hope to update often while we’re traveling. Probably on Instagram since it’s the easiest to keep current if you’re on the go. Unfortunately, because of his work schedule, The Wineaux Guy™ won’t be able to join in the wine adventures!
Thanks for stopping by!
