Central California Wine Country ~ Santa Barbara, Paso Robles & Santa Ynez

 Visiting California wine country is one of the most beautiful & enjoyable trips this state has to offer. However, it can be a bit overwhelming. There are so many wineries to choose from. My best advice is visit one or two of your favorite well known vineyards & then get on the back roads and have fun exploring!!

That's what I did for an entire week straight. The Central coast & valley have a lot to offer. These were a few of my favorite stops. I'll begin with Santa Barbara and Jaffurs. The tasting room at Jaffurs is unique. It's basically in a garage where they also do all of their wine making, mostly Rhone varietals. Of the 10 or so wineries I visited in downtown Santa Barbara, this one had the best wines. I especially love their Mistress Pinot Noir & Verna's Vineyard Syrah.

As you travel further inland, the ocean disappears and the vineyards roll upon the hills for endless miles. Just past the unique village of Solvang lies my favorite Chardonnay of all time at Gainey Vineyards. There are so many things to love about Gainey. The tasting room is in the barrel room which is so much more fun than standing at a bar. The people here are fabulous! Both knowledgeable & entertaining. But the wine, especially, yes, you guessed it, the Chardonnay is out of this world delicious.

On the other side of the freeway lies the Santa Rita Hills, a distinct part of the greater Santa Ynez Valley AVA. Wineries here are a little more spaced out but worth the extra effort to get there. My favorite, Lafond. I litereally came upon this winery by chance and thank goodness I did. The vineyards were close enough to walk through and what they produce is simply amazing wine. I gotta say the Chardonnay was lovely here as well, a perfect balance of citrus & oak. Not surprised it's won 2 gold medals and received 90 points from wine spectator. Absolutely delightful!

Venture north an hour & a half and you will find yourself in the ever popular Paso Robles. There's only one place to start your wine adventure here and that's at Tobin James. Nobody does Zin like this place and their wine club has an incredible 24,000 members. The energy of this tasting room is vibrant & loud, but you can always chill on the lovely patio. The staff is amazing. Your only difficult task is choosing which of their 8 zinfandel options you want to take home with you, or just do what I did and bring them all!

Ok, remember when I mentioned back roads? Steinbeck is a very good example of why we, wine lovers, explore back roads. I absolutely love the rustic charm of this place, but even more so, I love the story of the vineyards told here. Now I have a tendency to roam perhaps where I shouldn't because I'm curious and well, the best photo opportunities do not usually present themselves, you have to search for them. When I got "caught" here doing just that, I was welcomed with a smile and was told to enjoy myself. Now that's my kind of people! I love a wine maker who loves to share his craft. But just to clarify, I always wander with respect. Now on to what those vines produce. The meritage wines are phenomenal. They have one known as "The Crash" It's a blend of Cabernet, Petit Sirah, Viognier, and Zinfandel. Whoa! The name says it all, which, by the way, is known as Steinbeck in a glass. I also enjoyed The Voice which was described to us as a "stunning expression" of the Steinbeck story. Stunning, it was, indeed. Being the literary nut I am, you know I'm closing this one with a quote from John Steinbeck ... "Two gallons is a great deal of wine, even for two paisanos"  I'll take two gallons of Steinbeck wine anytime.

After reading bit of Steinbeck, I enjoyed coming upon this beautiful place known as Halter Ranch. Imagine my excitement when I found out they have CAVE TOURS! by appt only on Sat & Sun. What?!?? And Land Rover excursion tours. There's a lot to explore here. But first, try their flagship wine, a Bordeaux blend known as Ancestor. And I think my favorite food pairing wine goes to their Synthesis, a rich blend of Cabernet & Syrah. Both are quite lovely.

I think my wine brain was active enough now for some serious education and the place to get that is at Tablas Creek. A partnership between Chateau de Beaucastel in France & the Haas family of Vineyard Brands, the vineyard is organically farmed and uses biodynamic practices. The grapes are hand harvested and fermented using only native yeast. I was so impressed with this process, the staff, & the wines. I especially loved the Dianthus Rose'.

When you're ready to relax and enjoy one of the best views Paso Robles has to offer, head to Daou Vineyards. Probably one of the priciest tastings but definitely worth it. The wines here, especially the Estate Soul of a Lion rival any Napa Cabernet. It's not on the flight list but these folks were willing to share all of their wines and that's a pride I admire. The Reserve Seventeen Forty, a blend of 70% Cabernet Franc & 30% Merlot was also exquisite. We actually showed up near closing as they were getting ready for a private event but they were more than kind enough to let us stay and enjoy whatever we like. I got the instinct feeling that these two brothers, George & Daniel, are very passionate about what they do. Yes, the scenery is beyond breathtaking and well worth the curvy roads to the top, but the wine here is top notch. I was actually reminded of something my grandmother used to say to me while visiting here. "Beauty is not in what you see, it's in what you do." The Daou brothers make beautiful wine.

Central California has a lot to offer wine lovers. If you are thinking about spending just a day or two here, plan it out carefully. I had trouble with only a week! Enjoy whatever time you have, and as always, Cheers!

An apple a day ... brought to you by Julian, California

 The road to Julian is a scenic one. Approximately 2 1/2 hours southeast of Orange County, nestled in the beautiful Cuyamaca Mountains, this historical little town has made a big name for itself. Although it is part of San Diego county, Julian feels miles away from city life. It's apple picking events, Sept-Nov, have made it an annual escape for many families. What brings me here from time to time is the pure beauty of nature & a tranquility that is rare to find in southern California. Although it is a small town with a population of approx 1,500, there is plenty to do here during the day. I'll admit, the nightlife is a bit sleepy but if you make the most of your day, relaxing at night by the fire with a good glass of wine is all you'll need.

There are many quaint B&B's and lodges here. I love the ambiance at Orchard Hill Country Inn. This cozy Inn is up in the hills allowing for amazing views, especially from their dining room, which has exceptional food by the way.

Celebrating a special occasion? There is an abundance of romance to be had here. From little notes with poems, to chocolates & fresh baked cookies at your bedside, the staff here go the extra mile to make their guests feel special. As they say, the proof is in the pudding (in this case, maybe pie), their motto ~ "Where San Diego goes to say, I Love You."

Just 9 miles south of Julian, adventure awaits at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. From hiking trails & hidden waterfalls to fishing & relaxing on the lake, Cuyamaca offers day trips for every kind of traveler. Fair warning, you will not be alone floating on this lake, especially if you have food aboard. The geese around here are ultra friendly! We absolutely loved their antics and we all became fast friends.
A trip around this lake offers stunning views of nearby hills & countryside. Looking for a little quieter moment? Dock on the other side of the lake and take a hike on Fletcher Island. A fantastically fun environment with sandy shores & bridges, sure to entertain the child in all of us. Believe it or not, there are vineyards sprawled out nearby in Warner Springs and tasting rooms to prove it. After a morning in the great outdoors, pop in for a glass of vino by a fireplace to warm you up.

Another great memory is a ride in one of these carriages through the back roads of Julian. You can find them up on Main Street. We took the sunset ride and enjoyed every minute of it. Be sure to bundle up though, it gets mighty chilly in this neck of the woods!

You know you are not going to escape your lovely visit of Julian without one the baked beauties you smelled every morning while walking down Main Street. There are many choices of where you can buy your pie but you'll only find one kind ... you guessed it!

    *APPLE*

 I like Mom's because the atmosphere is just downright adorable. And what better logo to bring home to my boys?! Bet you don't leave with just one!!



One last thing, there are many boutique shops to visit during your stay here. My favorite? The Old Julian Book House. As an avid book junkie, there are rare finds here as well as many antique books. I left with six Shakespeare books from the 1800's. This little house is fascinating & a must see for any book lover.

Need a break from the city? Love apple anything?! The Historical Landmark town of Julian is the perfect getaway. Any town that boasts signs like this one gets my vote.