Paso Robles, California - California Wine Country

The California Central Coast features some of California's finest wine regions, as well as beautiful scenery along the California coastline. Though far less famous than Napa Valley which is north of San Francisco, the Central Coast wineries and vineyards produce equally good wines. The region also offers beautiful scenery to go with the wines, often in rural country settings with smaller crowds and a less hectic pace than in Napa.

• Santa Barbara County is one of California's premier wine producing regions. Renowned for its distinguished vintages, quaint settings, friendly vintners, and welcoming locals, the region is home to more than 90 wineries. The microclimates of the Santa Ynez and Santa Maria Valleys are uniquely suited to growing a wide variety of grapes, including Chardonnay, Syrah, and especially Pinot Noir. The area has become very popular due to the 2004 film, "Sideways", which showcased many Santa Barbara wine-related locales.
  
  
• San Luis Obispo County. The southern San Luis Obispo County Wine Country features about 20 wineries south of San Luis Obispo, in the Edna Valley, Avila Valley, and Arroyo Grande. The coastal climate and soils provide an excellent environment for producing grapes that result in ultra premium quality wines with intense and complex flavors, such as Chardonnay. In recent years other outstanding varietals have been successfully produced, including Pinot Noir, Syrah, Grenache, and other white Rhone varieties. The Arroyo Grande vineyards are farther inland with less maritime influence and feature outstanding Zinfandels.
  
  Paso Robles Wine Country surrounds the city of Paso Robles in northern San Luis Obispo County. The north county region lies inland, east of the coastal mountains which substantially limit the maritime influence: cool air works into the valleys only during the evenings. The environment is therefore quite different than the south county, resulting in varietals that are quite different. The number of vineyards/wineries has grown in recent years from 50 to about 100. Newcomers range from family and boutique wineries to international winemakers. Many have come because of the growing reputation of Westside Paso Robles. By far, the most common planted variety is Cabernet Sauvignon. Other widely planted varietals include Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Sauvignon Blanc. Like the south county, Rhone varietals have become quite popular - and successfully grown - in recent years, including Syrah, Viognier and Rousanne.
  
  
• Monterey County. With more that 38,000 planted acres, Monterey County has established itself as one of California's premier wine regions. It is home to more than 80 wineries and vineyards and is renowned for its high-quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, but also produces excellent Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc and other varietals. The two major growing regions are the Carmel Valley readily reached from Carmel or Monterey and the Salinas Valley which focuses along the River Road which parallels US-101 south of Salinas. The amazing Chalone Vineyards east of Soledad rewards the visitor with unforgetable beauty and excellent wines.