Wines And Wineries Of California S Central Coast

"The winemaking region encompassed by Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties is hot among those in the know -- and with good reason. A huge variety of the finest wines are only a pour away, and the setting is as dazzling as what's in the glass. Yet, despite its recent surge in popular appeal, the coast retains the down-home feel and roll-up-your-sleeves attitude that made it famous. The wineries of the Central Coast offer the perfect mix of elegant hospitality and warm accessibility -- as often as not, the people who pour your wine in the tasting rooms are not only the winemakers, but the winery owners as well, and they are happy to spend time chatting about their passion. Mira Advani Honeycutt's affectionately detailed text is a perfect introduction to this exciting expanse of vineyards. She reveals how the many microclimates of the Santa Ynez, Santa Maria, Arroyo Grande, and Edna Valleys, as well as the area around Paso Robles, have led to the production of an amazing diversity of varietals by an equally varied collection of wineries. Whether you're looking for a lush picnic spot and a glass of bubbly or panoramic views accompanied by a tasting flight of robust Rhône blends, her helpful tips lead the way. In addition, she reveals the distinctive art and architecture that abound in the wineries, while fine cuisine, fresh produce, and eclectic historical sites are never far away."--

In comparative tastings, wines from California's Central Coast rival those from such renowned regions as Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Napa, yet they also offer superb value. This is the first comprehensive guide to one of the world's most dynamic and beautiful wine regions-and the setting for the award-winning movie Sideways. An excellent, one-stop resource for touring and tasting at convenient wineries located from Monterey to Santa Barbara, the guide is organized into county-by-county alphabetical listings for this up-and-coming region. Wines and Wineries of California's Central Coast includes: * Profiles of nearly 300 wineries personally visited by the author * Profiles of individual vintners * 5 maps * Winery ratings, plus author and winemaker recommendations * Visitors' and contact information for each winery * Discussions of regional wine history and terroir * Descriptions of designated American Viticultural Areas and grape varietals

California's South Central Coast region, from San Miguel down to Santa Barbara, now boasts well over 200 wineries and vineywards, plus a variety of inns, hotels and restaurants. The new Quick Access® California South Central Coast Wine Country soft-cover book is filled with lush color photography highlighting the vineyards, wineries, tasting rooms, picturesque towns and attractions in this up and coming area. The book includes regional wine maps, wine-making information, and sections about nearby attractions like Hearst Castle, Santa Barbara and Solvang, and off-the-beaten-track recreational areas.

"Covering boutique tasting rooms, working ranches, warehouse wineries, and intimate, family-owned vineyards, this fully updated, second edition of The California Directory of Fine Wineries is an essential guide to destinations of charm and character. [Includes] profiles of 51 California Central Coast wineries, describing their signature wines, beautiful settings, and picturesque rural architecture, as well as telling the fascinating story of each winery owner; highlights of the wineries' distinctive offerings, from theater performances and concerts, to food-and-wine pairings and outdoor barbecues, to inviting gardens, bocce ball courts, and picnic areas; more than 170 color images by renowned photographer Robert Holmes"--Page 4 of cover.

Exploring Wine Regions - California Central Coast is the third book in the series, now exploring a lesser-known area of the wine regions in California. Most everyone knows of Napa Valley and Sonoma County; however, the Central Coast Wine Regions are producing top-level, high-quality wines, and the tourism is extraordinary. This book is the perfect companion for any wine lover or travel enthusiast. Twenty million years ago, the Pacific Plate arose from the ocean hitting the North American Plate (Canada, United States, and Mexico) leaving a sliver of land above the water along California's coast south of San Francisco. This sliver of land has its own very special terroir highly conducive to making high-quality wines. This book takes you on a journey to discover these amazing wines; combining wine education, insiders travel guide, and spectacular photography. Higgins again dazzles his audience with another informative and beautiful book. Also, tourism along the central coast of California is unmatched. The beaches, mountains and valleys are ever so enchanting. The wineries are engaging, have lots of tourism activities available, and are especially inviting and friendly, unlike other wine regions. It's not uncommon to find the vintner or winemaker at the tasting room wanting to share their stories and their love of wine with you. Both connoisseurs and novices turn to this book series for insider information and inspiration. It is a must-have book for expanding your knowledge of California and its wines.

"Consistently rated the best guides to the regions covered."—National Geographic Traveler From the region’s laid-back beach towns to the jumble of Monterey’s Cannery Row, California’s Central Coast offers the most spectacular triptych of landscapes—surf, forests, and picturesque small towns—in the West. Includes coverage of the region’s vineyards, culinary gems, and coastal hideaways.

From high-end, cult wineries--whose interiors have rarely been seen--to smaller, more accessible vineyards, this series surveys the legends and lore of various locales. Large-scale photographic essays are complemented by a narrative chronicling various aspects of the wineries including their architecture, art, cuisine, gardens, and history of the sites and what makes each of them unique. Terrific keepsakes for wine aficionados, these guides are also useful in trip planning and as a reference for those who want to become knowledgeable about wine making particular regions. Presenting a taste of California's future, this guide features the hottest new wineries of California, which are sure to capture the world's attention soon. Still young, these vintners are brimming with ambition and possibilities. Brilliant photographs and descriptions bring Paso Robles in San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara wine regions, Edna Valley, and Santa Maria to life. Perpetually tempting, robust cabernets, smooth sauvignon blancs and spicy merlots fill the pages--exhibiting the voyage from vineyard to glass.

“This is an incredible and beautiful collection of recipes, stories about Central Coast vineyards, and photos.” —Susan Feniger, chef and author of Susan Feniger’s Street Food California’s Central Coast wine country is on everyone’s lips. Running roughly from Monterey to Santa Barbara, the Central Coast is the fastest-growing American Viticultural Area (AVA) in the state. Here, great minds conceive and create great wines—many of them blends of Rhône grape varieties. Complement these wines with the lush resources of unspoiled land, sea, and barnyard and you have the recipe for a fresh and alluring wine country lifestyle. In this lushly photographed tome, bestselling cookbook author Brigit Binns writes a vivid, delicious love letter to her home state. One hundred and twenty wine-friendly and wine-inclusive dishes showcase California’s glorious bounty, such as Shaved Artichoke and Pancetta Salad with Lavender; Fennel- and Garlic-Crusted Roast Chicken; Petrale Sole with Pinot Noir Butter Sauce; and Fresh Fig Tart with Honey, Goat Cheese, and Pistachios. Each recipe has a wine pairing suggestion from the region as well as from afar. Plus, 25 get-to-know-them profiles bring the reader inside the hearts and minds of the region’s passionate winemakers and food artisans. We all dream of the wine country lifestyle. With The New Wine Country Cookbook, you can now savor the romance, bold honest flavors, and rustic outdoor sensibility of California’s sublimely unpretentious new wine country in your own home. “Provides an evocative view of the dynamic food and wine culture of California’s fastest growing wine region.” —Rajat Parr, author of the James Beard Award–winning Secrets of the Sommeliers