Central Coast wineries offer plenty of wine — and a lack of snobbery

 EDNA VALLEY — Visitors driving from Tulare County will see several wineries dotting the Central Coast landscape, all beckoning the thirsty traveler.

 With hundreds of wineries to choose from, wine-tasters won't go home thirsty. For the uninitiated, the wine experience on the Central Coast promises to be a positive one, those in the industry say.

Tim Parker, manager of Central Coast Wines, a wine boutique and tasting room in San Luis Obispo, fell in love with wine while a philosophy and history student at California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo. He attributes his passion for wine to the accessibility of Central Coast tasting rooms.

"Living in this region, it's very easy to get into tasting rooms," Parker said. "The atmosphere is not snobbish."

For those who are new to wine tasting, Parker says there's no reason to be intimidated.

"There's a culture in wine criticism that promotes expensive wines and high points," Parker said. "But what it's really about is what you enjoy and trying to see what you like."

And, Parker notes, people might be surprised to see their tastes change over time.

Would-be wine tasters have hundreds of Central Coast wineries from which to choose. Vineyards and wineries begin appearing on the landscape as visitors reach the Paso Robles region on Highway 46.

Edna Valley
Farther down Highway 101, though, lies Edna Valley.

Tucked away just south of San Luis Obispo, Edna Valley also is a recognized American Viticultural Area. The valley is home to 2,500 acres of vineyards and about a couple of dozen wineries, and it sits about six miles from the ocean, says Harry Hansen, director of winemaking at Edna Valley Vineyard.

This geographic placement makes Edna Valley an easy stop for travelers vacationing in Pismo Beach. The geography also means great wine grape-growing weather. Moderate temperatures year-round, frost-free winters and cool nights result in a long growing season, Hansen said.

The Edna Valley region is best known for pinot noir, chardonnay and syrah wines, Parker says, though the wines coming out of the region aren't limited to those.

Claiborne & Churchill Vintners, a small, family-owned winery in Edna Valley, specializes in fruity white wines such as Riesling and Gewürztraminer in a dry style, says Clay Thompson, who co-owns the winery with his wife.

And Claiborne & Churchill also makes a pinot noir, which is a favorite of Parker.

"The Twin Creeks pinot noir is really wonderful and consistent over the vintages," Parker said. "And it's very affordable for high-quality pinot."

To get the most out of an Edna Valley wine tasting, Hansen recommends visiting three or four wineries in a day and venturing beyond familiar tastes.

"Half the fun is trying [new tastes]," Hansen said. "Tasting things I've never had before adds to the adventure."

The appeal of Edna Valley
Those new to tasting might also appreciate the low-key atmosphere and wide-ranging options of Edna Valley, Thompson says.

"The main thing about wine-tasting in the Edna Valley is that it is still relatively unspoiled," Thompson said. "It's not as crowded and overpriced as Napa. The other thing is that it does offer a wide variety of wine-tasting experiences, from the most modest, rustic and charming, 'down-home' tasting rooms to the most modern glass-and-chrome modern high-tech places."

This time of year is also a great time to visit Edna Valley, Hansen said. The weather is great, and with fewer visitors there's no waiting at the tasting rooms. Not only that, but it's harvest time, which generally begins toward the end of August and concludes in the last week of October.

Edna Valley Vineyard offers visitors a chance to explore the vines in its demonstration vineyard just outside the tasting room.

Rows of different varietals and vine-training systems are there for exploration. Tasters can pluck the grapes and taste them, which can help wine lovers understand the translation of the grape's taste to wine.

Though Hansen steers the wine into completion during the months or years it matures in barrels, it's the sharing of wine that ultimately makes the job satisfying.

"I'm very proud it's what I do," he said. "There are few industries left you get to see something from the start to finish and see people enjoy it."