On Mar 12, 9:56 pm, sf wrote:
> Remember that movie?
>
> Instead of going North to what we usually think of as wine country, I
> want to go South and do a mid-coast wine tour..... any
> recommendations? I want to say close to the coast (not too far off
> Hwy 1). Destination: Santa Barbara. California. I know Sea Smoke is
> in that area. What else should I look for?

Are you asking for food or wine recommendations?

You're going to have to go inland to hit the good wineries. Hwy 1
isn't really wine country.

Try the diner/feed store in Templeton for great breakfast including
biscuits, enchiladas, chicken fried steak, oh gosh, you will not be
disappointed. Paso Robles Inn has a good brunch, I've heard. But, I do
not recommend them for dinner. The lamb was precooked and overpriced.
Villa Creek in Paso Robles was an ultimate dining experience a year
ago, now it's blah. I have heard the restaurant at the airport is
quite deelish.

You're in Zin country for reds, and white wine country. You can still
find great cabs and merlots, though. I would rather hit the Paso
Robles area for wine tasting any ol' day over Napa/Sonoma now. It's
just not so crowded. My favorite wineries are Blackstone, Peachy
Canyon, JanKris, Smith and Hook, Eberle, (go east on this road for
some more good ones), I think it's 46.

The wine clubs are really fun to join. If you join, you get a high
discount on the day you join, and they send wine to your home a few
times a year. Many of wineries have special events for their members
throughout the year. Most of these wineries in the Paso Robles area do
not have waiting lists at this time. This is the time to board.

Have fun, post a trip report. Central California is so beautiful. It
is like stepping back in time a little bit. The wineries are taking
over the agribusiness!

Karen