Monterey Wine Country
Until the release of "Sideways," which showcased the beauty of Santa Barbara wine country, other California wine regions such as Monterey were overlooked due to what many in the Central Coast consider to be the marketing dominance of Napa Valley (but the initial market interest in Cab and Merlot had something to do with that too!). But in fact, nearly half of the crush from Monterey makes its way to Napa and other regions. In recent years, the region has received very deserved acclaim for its exceptional cooler-climate varietals like Chard and Pinot Noir.

As with other parts of California, the cultivation of wine grapes in the Monterey area was introduced in the 18th century by Franciscan friars, who established a series of missions throughout the state, such as the one at Soledad located about 50 minutes from Carmel. Wine at that time was used for sacramental purposes. Commercial production actually began in the Los Angeles area in the early 20th century, and in Monterey County in 1960, after the region was officially classified as being well suited to wine production based on a comparison with established appellations such as Bordeaux and Burgundy. At this time, producers such as Chalone, J. Lohr and Wente established operations in the region. Today, more than 45,000 acres are under cultivation, making Monterey one of the largest appellations in California. Within the region, 8 sub-appellations (such as the Santa Lucia Highlands and Carmel Valley) have been classified based on unique microclimates and other growing conditions that contribute to a unique terroir. Some of the vineyards in the highlands, such as Sleepy Hollow and Gary's Vineyard, are particularly well known for their outstanding Chard and Pinot.

The dominant geographic feature of the region is Monterey Bay, which has a cooling influence over the entire region. In June and July much of the region is shrouded in fog during morning hours. Due to this and other factors such as an early bud break, the growing season is particularly long in Monterey County. This longer "hang time" results in the more concentrated and intense flavor that is characteristic of Monterey wines, as well as a very attractive sugar-acid balance. While these are ideal conditions for Chard and Pinot, the southern portion of the wine growing region is less affected by the Monterey Bay and generally is warmer. As a result, one will find Cab, Merlot and Zin planted here, although the results are less spectacular than in other regions in the state.

From a touring perspective, we like the River Road area of Santa Lucia Highlands, which features a cluster a fine, limited production wineries such as Marilyn Remark, Pessagno and Hahn Estates. This area has a very strong agricultural and undiscovered feel and you might see one of the owners driving a dump truck down bumpy River Road. The wineries sit along a ridge of the Santa Lucia range and are really quite simple compared to the opulence of Napa Valley.

Paso Robles Wine Country
Located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco in the heart of the Central Coast, Paso Robles (Pass of the Oaks in Spanish) is one of our favorite wine regions anywhere. "Paso," which has just come into its own in the last 20 years, is literally booming. Today there are more than 170 wineries in the region, up from just 50 in 2000. Visitors quickly get a sense that the Paso region is on the move. Many California wine industry veterans say the region is what Napa was like in the 1970s. The appellation, which was formally established in 1983, is characterized by diverse microclimates and extreme temperature variations. As a result, nearly 40 varietals flourish here. Cabernet dominates in terms of crush volume, but we strongly believe that it is the Rhone varietals and Zinfandel that are the real stars of the Paso wine scene. The bottom line is that the focus here is on the land and the wine, which is the way it should be. As is the case throughout the Central Coast, most of the wineries are quite simple and unpretentious.

Rhone varietals include Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre (the principal reds) as well as Viognier, Roussanne and Marsanne (the principal whites). In 1989, the Perrin family (of the Rhône Valley's Chateau de Beaucastel, a revered producer of Chateauneuf-du-Pape) and the American importer Robert Haas established their international joint venture, Tablas Creek Vineyard, in the calcareous hills of the Adelaida region northwest of town. With 80 acres planted to the traditional varieties of Chateauneuf-du-Pape (Grenache and Syrah), Tablas Creek imported exclusive clonal material from the Rhône Valley, and made those clones available to other interested growers around the state. Today the region features more than 2,200 acres planted in Rhone varietals, making Paso the epicenter of Rhone wine production in the U.S. As host of Hospice du Rhône, the world's largest Rhône wine celebration, Paso Robles now plays host each year to more than 3,000 Rhône wine enthusiasts, international media and an A-list of Rhône producers from all over the world. Our favorite Paso wineries include Tablas Creek, of course (we love how completely unpretentious this winery is and general manager Jason Haas could not be more accommodating), Garretson Winery, Adelaida Cellars, Linne Calodo Cellars and L'Aventure. For great Zins, we like Turley Wine Cellars and Tobin James Wine Cellars. Eberle Vineyards, a Paso pioneer and producers of
numerous varietals, is also a favorite.

Santa Barbara Wine Country
Those familiar with the Napa Valley will find Santa Barbara wine country to be more casual and relaxed. The region, which includes the Santa Ynez Valley, the Santa Maria Valley and the Santa Rita Hills, is located approximately 45 minutes northwest of Santa Barbara and produces some of the finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the U.S. It is considered the southernmost portion of the larger Central Coast wine viticultural area that also includes Monterey County and Paso Robles to the north. We particularly like the rural feel of the area and the contrast between the lush vineyards and the oak-studded hills of the region. You will find a number of quaint small towns in the county (Los Olivos and Santa Ynez are our favorites). It's quite easy to go off the beaten path here and your private tour will incorporate some of the finest scenic drives the region has to offer. The terroir here is characterized by wide temperature variations during summer months - long, hot and dry summer days and relatively cool evenings. The east-west orientation of the mountain range brings cool air, fog and breezes directly off the Pacific - a perfect combination for cool weather varietals such as Pinot and Chard.

While Fess Parker and Firestone are the most popular vineyards, we prefer to focus clients on some of the exceptional boutique producers in the acclaimed Santa Rita Hills, which is located closer to the Pacific, resulting in a longer growing season. Winery favorites include Foley Estates, Melville Vineyards and Winery, Babcock Winery and Vineyards and Fiddlehead Cellars, located in the nearby Lompoc "wine ghetto." While the area is best known for Pinots and Chards, you'll find great Syrah here and we love Fiddlehead's Sauvingon Blanc.