There are 16 American Viticultural Areas in San Luis Obispo County. Each has various types of soils and different climates that make for an exceptional wine-growing region. Common factors making the central coast wine region the ideal place for growing wine include the coastal influence and an environment with cool-to-cold nights and warm-to-hot days. Three of the most notable areas where you will find many outstanding California Central Coast wineries include the Edna Valley, the Templeton GAP, and Paso Robles. Visiting this region makes for a perfect road trip around California’s Central Coast for wine lovers wanting to taste the various wines produced in these areas.
Wines Produced in These Regions
The Edna Valley has a cool coastal influence, making it the ideal region to produce Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The Paso Robles and Templeton GAP region has warm days and cool nights, making this the perfect region to produce Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. Together, these viticultural areas make San Luis Obispo County the perfect wine country in California’s Central Coast. It is the perfect place to explore the many California Central Coast wineries.
California Central Coast Wineries Near San Luis Obispo in the Edna Valley
Wolff Vineyards
Wolff Vineyards is located in the Edna Valley. Their wine tasting includes five selections for $20.00. Their wines include Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon. As an added treat, they produce two sparkling wines, a Sparkling Brut Rose’ and a Sparkling Brut Cuvee. They have a picnic facility on the grounds where you are welcome to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the gardens. They also have a gourmet deli where you can purchase items to compliment your picnic. Reservations are required for parties of 5 or more. Their tasting room is open daily from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Wolff Vineyards is located at 6238 Orcutt Road in San Luis Obispo.
Saucelito Canyon Vineyards
Saucelito Canyon Vineyards is located in the Edna Valley. Their wines include Rose’, Grenache, and a red blend. But it is their Zinfandel that steals the show and is worth a try. Their tasting room is located outdoors in a nice patio environment. If you would like to taste their wines, reservations are required. Saucelito Canyon vineyards are open daily from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. They are located at 3080 Biddle Ranch Road in San Luis Obispo.
Tolosa Winery
Tolosa Winery is located in the Edna Valley and has been producing wines for over 25 years. This unique winery is one of a few high-end California Central Coast wineries that offers several tasting experiences to its visitors. Each tasting experience is approximately 90 minutes long. Their wines include Pinot Noir, Syrah, Grenache, and Chardonnay. Their Pinot Noirs are especially delicious and worth a try. They are open Daily from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, with the last tasting at 4:30 pm. Reservations are required for their tasting experiences. They are located at 4910 Edna Road in San Luis Obispo.
If you are in the Paso Robles area and would like to taste wines from Tolosa Winery, they also have a tasting room in Paso Robles. Their tasting room in Paso Robles is known as the Alpha Omega Collective and is located at 739 12th Street in Paso Robles. At the Alpha Omega Collective tasting room, you will also be able to taste other wines from their collective.
Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards
Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards is a great winery to visit. They are located about 13 minutes from downtown San Luis Obispo, going towards Avila Beach. They have a wide variety of wines, such as Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Their white wines include Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. They also have a delicious sparkling Chardonnay and, as a treat, a nice selection of hard ciders. No reservations are required, and the last seating for tasting is 30 minutes before closing time. Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards is open from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. They are located at 1947 See Canyon Road in San Luis Obispo.
Edna Valley Vineyard
Edna Valley Vineyard is located in the Edna Valley and has been producing wines for over 30 years. They have a large collection of white wines, which include Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and Sauvignon Blanc. Their red wine selection includes Pinot Noir, Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Their tasting room is beautiful and has a great view of the surrounding vineyards. Reservations for the tasting room are recommended. If you decide to walk in you risk the chance of not being able to taste the wines if the tasting room is busy. Edna Valley Vineyard is located at 2585 Biddle Ranch Road in San Luis Obispo. They are open every day from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Autry Cellars
Autry Cellars has a large variety of wines, including Cabernet Franc – my personal favorite, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Merlot. Their white wines include Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viognier. They also have several types of brandy, which you can also taste. Autry Cellars is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, with the last seating at 4:00 pm, and Sunday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. The last seating on Sunday is at 3:00 pm. While they do take reservations for tasting, walk-ins are welcome. Autry Cellars is located at 5450 Edna Road in San Luis Obispo.
Baileyana
Baileyana is located in the Edna Valley and has been producing wines for over 30 years. Their tasting room is located in an old schoolhouse that was built in 1909 and has great views of the Santa Lucia mountains. Their wines include Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and a delicious Port. Baileyana is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and is located at 5828 Orcutt Road in San Luis Obispo. Reservations are required if you would like to visit and taste their wines.
Claiborne and Churchill Winery
Claiborne and Churchill Winery is located in the Edna Valley and has been producing wines for 40 years. The winery has beautiful views of the valley and rolling hills. Their wines include Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, and Pinot Blanc. If you have not tried Pinot Noir Blanc, I highly suggest trying this fabulous white wine. They also produce Pinot Noir, Grenache, Syrah, a Sparkling Brut Cuvee, and Port. The Port was excellent paired with chocolate. Claiborne and Churchill Winery is open daily from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm and reservations are recommended. You will find them at 2649 Carpenter Canyon Road in San Luis Obispo.
Chamisal Vineyards
Chamisal Vineyards is also located in the Edna Valley. They have beautiful grounds with picturesque views of the vineyard and local hills. If you decide to have a tasting experience at Chamisal Vineyards, you will have a fabulous view of the surrounding vineyards and hills from their outdoor patio tasting room. Tasting at Chamisal Vineyards really is an elevated experience, and their wines are perfectly paired with the ambiance. Chamisal Vineyards specializes in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. They also have a delicious sparkling wine. Chamisal Vineyards is open from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm Monday through Wednesday and 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Thursday through Sunday. You will need to make a reservation to visit their tasting room. You will find Chamisal Vineyards at 7525 Orcutt Road in San Luis Obispo.
Ancient Peaks Winery
Ancient Peaks Winery is located near the southern border of the Paso Robles AVA south of Atascadero, in Santa Margarita. They have the only vineyard in the Santa Margarita Ranch AVA, which is at the foot of the Santa Lucia mountain range. Ancient Peaks Winery has a cafe with a wide range of items to complement your wine tasting. They are also located across the street from Margarita Adventures, which offers zipline and nature adventure tours. After your zipline tour, you can relax with a glass of wine and have a bite to eat at Ancient Peaks. They are open daily from 11:00 am to 5:30 pm. Walk-ins are welcome, however, reservations are recommended Thursday through Sunday as those days can get busy. Ancient Peaks Winery is located at 22720 El Camino Real in Santa Margarita.
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California Central Coast Wineries in Paso Robles and the Templeton GAP
There are many wineries to visit in Paso Robles and Templeton GAP in San Louis Obispo County, especially along Highway 46 West. Whichever winery you decide to visit, you will not be disappointed, as this region produces some of the best wines in California.
Four Lanterns Vineyard & Winery
Four Lanterns Vineyard & Winery is located on the west side of Paso Robles on Highway 46. The winery is family and dog friendly and is a great place to go wine tasting. They have several award winning wines rated above 90. Their red wines include Merlot, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Mourvedre, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Grenache, and Syrah. Their white wines include Semillon, Viogneir, and Rose’. Several of the listed selections are their award-winning wines. They offer a wine tasting package that includes a tour of the estate and a behind the scenes look at their wine production. They also have snacks available for purchase to complement your tasting.
Four Lanterns is open from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm every day, and takes their last reservation at 4:00 pm. You will need to make a reservation to visit their tasting room. They are located at 2485 West Highway 46 in Paso Robles which is a short drive from downtown Paso Robles.
Windward Vineyard
Windward Vineyard specializes in Pinot Noir and has won several Double Gold awards. If you enjoy Pinot Noir, this winery should be on your itinerary for a visit. The Pinot Noir is excellent as noted by their Double Gold awards. Their wine selection also includes Eye of the Partridge, a pale rose’, which is on their tasting menu. Windward Vineyard is open seven days a week from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm, and walk-ins are welcome. Windward Vineyard is located at 1380 Live Oak Road in Paso Robles.
Eberle Winery
One of the unique aspects of Eberle Winery is its wine caves. Eberly has over 16,000 square feet of underground tunnels that were made for storing wine barrels, include a VIP wine tasting room, and another room for special events. The underground cave is perfect for long-term storage as the temperature hovers about 60 degrees, which is ideal for storing wine. Eberle Winery offers several wine-tasting experiences, including a vineyard deck tour and tasting and a tour of the cave and tasting in their cave grotto. Their wines include Chardonnay, Viognier, Muscat Caneli, Barbera, Sangiovese, and Zinfandel.
Eberle Winery is a dog-friendly winery. Your fur babies are welcome on the grounds of Eberle and can stay with you while you are wine-tasting. Their tasting room hours are April through October 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, and November through March, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. You will need to make a reservation to visit their tasting room. You will find Eberle Winery at 3810 Highway 46 East in Paso Robles.
Croad Vineyards
Croad Vineyards offers the perfect tasting experience. They have an outdoor tasting area with a picturesque view of vineyards and rolling hills. They have three different tasting experiences: regular tasting, private barrel sampling, and private barrel sampling with a tour of the production area. Their wines include Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Mourvedre, and Zinfandel. Croad Vineyards is open daily from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. You will need to make a reservation to visit their tasting room. Croad Vineyards is located at 3550 Vinedo Robles Lane in Paso Robles.
Opolo Vineyards
Opolo Vineyards is located in the westside Willow Creek area of Paso Robles. They offer indoor and outdoor tasting experiences and a full menu of bites to pair with your wine. Their outdoor seating area offers a picturesque view of the surrounding vineyards. Besides their wine-tasting experiences, Croad Vineyards also offers a Willow Creek Distillery Tasting experience. Their wines include Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Viognier, and Sauvignon Blanc. Their distillery options include different types of brandy, whiskey, and other liqueurs. Croad Vineyards is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. They are located at 7110 Vineyard Drive in Paso Robles.
Tobin James Cellars
Tobin James Cellars is one of the larger California Central Coast wineries located in Paso Robles. They have great wines, which include Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and a Tempranillo Rose’. Their red wine selection includes Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel. There is an outdoor patio that is pet-friendly, and they have assorted charcuterie plates, artisan cheese and meats, and crackers available for purchase. This is a great compliment to their wine. Their Tasting room is open daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. They welcome walk-ins; however, reservations are highly encouraged as they can get very busy. Tobin James Cellars is located at 8950 Union Road in Paso Robles.
ZinAlley Winery
ZinAlley Winery is one of several small California Central Coast wineries located in the Templeton Gap. They dry-farm their vineyards, intensifying the fruit’s taste, leading to fantastic-tasting wine. ZinAlley Winery specializes in Zinfandel wine and produces some of the best-tasting Zinfandel in the area. Their wine offerings include Zinfandel and Zinfandel Port. ZinAlley is located at 3730 West Hwy 46 in Templeton.
Bella Luna Estate Winery
Bella Luna Estate Winery is a small family-run winery. Their vineyards are dry farmed which enhances the flavor of their wines. Their wines include Chardonnay, Barbera, Sangiovese, and Nebbiolo. The Sangiovese at Bella Luna is one of the best I have tried in this region. You will need to make a reservation if you would like to visit their tasting room. You can make a reservation on their website. They are open daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Bella Luna Estate Winery is located at 1850 Templeton Road in Templeton.
Peachy Canyon Winery
Peachy Canyon Winery was awarded the 2023 Winery of the Year award from the Central Coast Wine Competition. Their tasting room is in an old schoolhouse that was built in the late 1800s. You will also see a rather large chair on their grounds which is visible from the highway. The large chair makes for the perfect Instagramable moment. Peachy Canyon has several wines rated above 90. Their wines include Malbec, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, and several red blends. Peachy Canyon Winery is located at 1480 N. Bethel Road off Highway 46 West. Their tasting room is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Making reservations is suggested, although they do take walk-ins.
Hansen Vineyard
Hansen Vineyard has about 30 acres of vineyards and has been producing wine for over 25 years. They specialize in Cabernet Sauvignon and also produce Cabernet Franc, which is another one of my favorite wines. Their tasting room, known as the Cab House, is open Friday through Sunday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. You should make reservations if you would like to visit the Cab House for wine tasting. They are located at 5575 El Pomar Drive in Templeton.
Venteux Vineyards
Venteux Vineyards is a family-owned winery with 22 acres of vineyards. They also dry-farm their vineyards, which enhances the flavor of the fruit and in turn, enhances the flavor of the wine. They specialize in Rhone-style wines such as Syrah, Mourvedre, and Grenache. Venteux Vineyards is a great winery to visit as they have special events for their customers. During summer, Venteux has a Friday concert series. There is a small charge for attending the Friday concert series. Venteux Winery also has a Sunday Funday concert series, which is free of charge. You can check the dates and the artist that will be performing on their website.
Venteux Winery also offers accommodations if you would like to extend your stay at the winery. They offer three types of accommodations on-site: the Guest House, the Winemaker’s Loft, and the Cellar studio. The accommodations require a minimum of a two-night stay. All three accommodations are available for wine club members. However, their Guest House is the only accommodation available for non-wine club members.
If you want to visit Venteux to taste their wines, their tasting room is open daily from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. They take walk-ins, but making a reservation is a good idea as it can get busy. Also, the winery sometimes hosts private events, so it is a good idea to call and verify that the tasting room is available if you decide to walk in. Venteux Winery is located at 1795 Las Tablas Road in Templeton.
Enjoy a Wine Tasting Experience in Central California
There are many wineries to visit in Central California. These 21 California Central Coast wineries stand out from the many that are found in California’s Central Coast wine country. You will enjoy driving along the many scenic routes of this beautiful wine country. While exploring this area, you should also explore the California coast. You can visit a few California coastal towns such as San Simeon, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, and Avila Beach, as well as Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Atascadero, and Templeton.
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Tobin James and Peachy Canyon are 2 of my favorite wineries. I’ll have to check out the rest of your list.