SteveO's

After spending five years in California, this was my first visit since I had headed back to New England. This trip started in Los Angeles with a weekend of gaming at the Gateway 2000 Convention. I got reacquainted with many friends from The Greater LA RPGA Council and other gamers in general.

That, of course, and eating my way through some of my favorite LA area restaurants. This trip I managed to visit Czech Point [Yahoo Map] in Redondo Beach [an excellent small restaurant with great food and pivo], Kyushu Ramen [Yahoo Map] in Studio City [the standard for Bistro in the Valley] and Tempura House [Yahoo Map] in Westlake Village [Great sushi!!!].

NOTE: You can click on any of the photos for a larger version. 

BBQ at the Bozmans. Grilled up a storm with Dave and Sue, had some wonderful wine including a yummy 94 Sanford Barrel Select Chardonnay. Hummingbirds are hungry little birds aren't they?

Santa Barabara

On to Santa Barbara. Spent a beautiful day wandering around the Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens [Yahoo Map]. The gardens are planted completely with California native plants and have areas set up for all the California climates. Each season presents a wide variety of blooms and foliage.

Sanford

On 7 September, I visited the first of many wineries on my three week trek on the west coast. The pictures show the Sanford tasting room on Santa Rosa Road in Buellton.

Highlights of the tasting were the 1998 Estate Chardonnay, 1998 Barrel Select Chardonnay and the just released 1998 Barrel Select Pinot Noir.

Mosby

Next it was down the road to Mosby. They specialize in Italian varietals and even produce a Grappa.

Los Olivos

From there it was off to Los Olivos. The first stop was the newly opened tasting room of Blackjack Ranch. Then to a cluster of quality tasting at the downtown Los Olivos tasting rooms. My first stop was for the wines of Richard Longoria. Two other wineries with a tasting room downtown are Daniel Gehrs and Andrew Murray. Of note for a variety of wine are the two independent tasting rooms. The original, Los Olivos Tasting Room, is right in the center of town and presents small wineries without tastings rooms. Always a great visit down Grand Avenue is the Los Olivos Wine & Spirits Emporium which also pours wine from a number of small wineries that don't have their own tasting rooms

An excellent recommendation for dinner was Grappolo [Yahoo Map] at 3687-C Sagunto Street in Santa Ynez [(805) 688-6899]. Italian influenced food with an excellent local wine list. I went in with my wine choice already made and had to pick my food. My choice, 1998 Di Bruno Sangiovese. For those that have not heard of this label this is made by Bruno the winemaker at Sanford.

For the widest variety of places to stay in the area, head to Solvang. My favorite is the friendly little Chimney Sweep Inn.

Foxen Caynyon Rd.

Another day time to head out of Solvang for a trip up Foxen Canyon Road. First stop this time was Zaca Mesa. They always make a wide variety of well produced wines. Beyond that and probably for the next month or so there is a construction delay leading to a wonderful tasting at Foxen. This is a must stop in this area and among other things produces the areas best Cabernet. Myself I'm hooked on their Pinot and Chards.

After that it's time to head up to another of the top wineries in the area Byron. This is another of the places I enjoy going for Pinot and Chard. To the left is a nice view of the new Byron winery in the heart of the Sierra Madre vineyard. My last stop was another new tasting room. Chimere has just opened up a small tasting room just off 101 in Los Alamos.

Continuing my trek north, I decided to set up my base at the Santa Maria Inn at 801 South Broadway, downtown. It's a well appointed very comfortable historic inn. Reservations are at (805) 928-7777

Dinner was another excellent tasting room recommendation. Newly open on the south end of Santa Maria (or maybe Orcutt) is Chef Rick's Ultimately Fine Foods at 4869 South Bradley Road [Yahoo Map], where Bradley intersects Clark Avenue in Santa Maria [(805) 937-9512]. The food was excellent and for those of you with a fear of vampires, Chef Rick makes a great Garlic Soup. What a wonderful garlic fix!

Edna Valley

From Santa Maria I headed north for a relaxed visit to Edna Valley. Started with a visit to Talley. Next it was on to another of my favorites, Claibourne and Churchill. They produce some real tasty Alsatian style Gewutztraminer and Riesling. I completed the day with a visit to Edna Valley Winery.

Next came a bit of chaos as little did I know I hit San Luis Obispo the weekend students were returning... Can you say hotels BOOKED with parents bringing back Cal Poly SLO students. Oy. No need to panic, time to head up to Paso Robles. Yeah right, two for two, I hit Paso just in time for a truck show at the fair grounds. Well after much searching I lucked out and found a place at the Paso Robles Inn.

Paso Robles

This was my first stay at the Paso Robles Inn and it was quite pleasant. Time for a change of pace and spice things up a bit. After wandering around a bit I found La Mexicana restaurant. Good food and a good burn. Just don't get good Mexican food in New England.

Next day winery visits started at Martin & Weyrich. Their newly remodeled tasting room gave an Italian villa feel to this winery which was one of the earliest Central Coast wineries specializing in Italian varietals. Down the road I headed to Meridian flush on being sold. Now for one of the best bars in the area. This is found at the Tobin James tasting room where they have a totally amazing antique wooden bar and barback that they brought in when they build the tasting room. Lots of wood and mirrors. Realy well built. Finished the day with visits to Laura's Vineyard and Eberle winery.

It's Sunday and I started with a visit to Wild Horse in Templeton. Unfortunately, I missed a chance to visit with winemaker Mat Garrettson but I guess he deserves an occasional day off during harvest ;-) More later on visits to Dover Canyon. Norman. Le Cuvier newly opened. Justin. Carmody McKnight. Adelaida Cellars. Hidden Mt. Ranch. Newly reopened JanKris.

Yet another good recommendation. Boy, have I done good this trip. Had dinner at Villa Creek 1144 Pine St., Paso Robles. They specialize in "Cuisine of Early California". I had a wonderful Salmon special and switched to Pilsner Urquell for a change from wine.

Monterey County

Visit Carmel Valley Wineries, Bernardus. Talbott. Heller/Durney. Joullian. Merlot Crush at Chateau Julien. Ventana. Stayed at San Carlos Inn. Just changed hands but still an excellent value in Monterey

Visit County Wineries Cloninger. Hahn/Smith and Hook. Jekel Of note at Paraiso Springs and a first for me was the late Harvest Pinot Noir. A nice wine!