The Wineries

The resemblance is only fleeting: The tasting rooms here are spread further apart, they’re harder to find and most charge for sampling wine. But San Luis Obispo County’s budding wine community still has the feel of the Napa Valley circa 1972. The folks who pour the wines are just as enthusiastic as were the pourers of two decades ago, before Napa gained international fame--and crowds. And like Napa of old, it’s possible to find great wine you’ve never heard of before, but probably will in the future.

Here is a look at wineries you can visit, from Los Angeles north. They are arranged by region, and then alphabetically. Most tasting rooms are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, but check for individual times and specific directions. Some have formal tours, others only self-guided. More than half now charge for tasting, but you may keep the glass--a custom also adopted recently in Napa. Many wineries will let you taste one or two wines without charge.

Arroyo Grande

Corbett Canyon Vineyard

Owned by The Wine Group of San Francisco, this two-story Spanish-style winery (formerly Lawrence Winery) is off the beaten path, but worth seeking out. In its large, spacious tasting room are excellent values, notably Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and reserve wines. There is no tasting charge and tasting room specials bring wine prices down considerably; (805) 544-5800.

Maison Deutz

A joint venture between Beringer Vineyards of the Napa Valley and Champagne Deutz of France, this modern-looking building is located on U.S. 101, about a 30-minute drive south of San Luis Obispo. Winemaker Christian Roguenant blends new and old winemaking techniques to craft splendid sparkling wines. Visitors pay $3.75 to $5 for a glass of wine, which comes with complimentary hors d’oeuvres such as home-made blue cheese spread with nuts, pistachios, crackers and fruit. Gifts are sold in the tasting room. Guided tours by appointment only are worth taking; (805) 481-1763.

Talley Vineyards

A winery with a big future. Owners Don and Rosemary Talley farm hundreds of acres of various crops; son Brian runs the winery located near Lopez Lake. Winemaker Steve Rasmussen, who also consults for Hope Farms, makes stunning Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. A restored 100-year-old adobe farmhouse is the tasting room, where the wines of nearby Sausalito Canyon also are offered; (805) 489-0446.

Edna Valley

Edna Valley Vineyards

Part of the Chalone Group, Jack Niven’s Edna Valley specializes in Burgundian varieties of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and the latter is excellent. Tasting is done off a counter set up inside the working winery, which is being expanded; (805) 544-9594.

San Luis Obispo

Chamisal Vineyards

Owner Norman Goss specializes in Chardonnay from Edna Valley grapes. The wines are made in a rich, buttery style; (805) 544-3576.

Claiborne & Churchill

Former college professors Clay Thompson and Fredericka Churchill moved to San Luis Obispo in 1982 to make wine, specializing in Riesling and Gewurztraminer, both of which are superb. They now make their wines in an unimposing single-story building in a San Luis Obispo industrial park. Visits are by appointment. Thompson is also consultant to Chamisal; (805) 544-4066.

South of

Paso Robles

Creston Vineyards

After a shaky start as Creston Manor, Los Angeles residents Larry and Stephanie Rosenbloom’s winery in Creston has leaped forward. Winemaker Victor Hugo Roberts now makes a string of top-rate wines including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Separate from the winery, the tasting room is at U.S. 101 at Vineyard Drive in Templeton; tasting room (805) 434-1399 and winery (805) 238-7398.

Paso Robles,

California 46 West

Adelaida Cellars

John Munch’s richly flavored Chardonnays and Cabernets and potent Zinfandels are being poured at Sycamore Farms, an herb ranch that is open to the public. This oasis is loaded with gifts, including herbs grown there and a variety of cooking products from the region. Picnic tables sit under a huge oak tree in the yard near a huge old-fashioned-style barn and restored 1930 Ford pickup truck; (805) 238-5288.

Hope Farms

Estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel are the specialties here, but the white wines are also very good. This new winery shows great promise. The attractive tasting room/gift shop is worth a stop; (805) 238-6979.

Mastantuono Vineyards

Zinfandel is the star at this spacious and popular tasting room/gift shop. But the white wines have improved, and Muscat is popular with tourists visiting this whitewashed building; (805) 238-0676.

Templeton

Castoro Cellars

Inside this charming country tasting room you’ll find some of the best wines in the state, including award-winning Chardonnays, Cabernets and Zinfandels. Owner/winemaker Niels Udsen has made great strides in the last few years, yet prices are modest. A few gifts are sold here such as button covers in the shape of grape clusters and some locally produced items; (805) 238-0725.

JanKris Vineyards

This new producer has a number of delicate white wines and a rich Cabernet Sauvignon. The small tasting room on Bethel Road off California 46 West sits above the valley; (805) 434-0319.

Pesenti Winery

This family-owned winery, established a few months after Prohibition ended, still makes red wines in the Italian manner from gnarly old vines. The Zinfandel has won plaudits recently. These rustic wines can be found as the house wine at some local restaurants; (805) 434-1030.

Wild Horse Winery

Owner Ken Volk makes great Pinot Noirs from fruit grown in Santa Barbara County. His Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot also are top-rate. Tasting and tours are by appointment only but, due to construction, tours are limited until after Jan. 1. The winery suggests at least a day’s notice; (805) 434-2541. Wild Horse wines are being tasted now at Sycamore Farms.

York Mountain Winery

Max Goldman, former champagne maker at Gold Seal Vineyards in New York, bought the 100-year-old York Mountain property a decade ago and refurbished it to allow wine to be made. Yet it still retains the visual flavor of the past: The barn-like tasting room has a number of York Mountain’s rustic red wines and memorabilia, such as an old hand-corking machine. Located on semi-circular, tree-shaded York Mountain Road off California 46 West; (805) 238-3925.

Paso Robles,

California 46 East

Arciero Winery

This large winery was built by Southern California developers Frank and Phil Arciero a decade ago. The winemaking has been spotty, but some good white wines have emerged recently. The tasting room is huge and houses some of the high-performance Grand Prix and Indy race cars the Arcieros have, in the past, sponsored. The tour is self-guided and there are picnic tables; (805) 239-2562.

Baron Vineyards

Former Torrance fireman Tom Baron and his wife, Sharon, moved to this remote ranch in the hills above Paso Robles a decade ago and began making small amounts of wine. Everything produced here is sold locally, much of it out of the small tasting room reached by driving across a one-lane bridge. Their inexpensive blended wines, Firehouse White and Firehouse Red, are good values; (805) 239-3313.

Eberle Winery

Former Penn State football tackle Gary Eberle (the first winemaker at Estrella River Winery) makes superb, long-lived Cabernet Sauvignon, wonderful Muscat and Zinfandel, as well as Chardonnay. The tasting room/gift shop, which is fireplace-warmed in winter, is the site for periodic multi-course, multi-wine dinners; (805) 238-9607.

Martin Brothers

Tom and Nick Martin built a cozy tasting room at Buena Vista Road, a mile south of their winery, to showcase a creative line of wines from Italian varieties. The Nebbiolo is a lighter yet flavorful wine, and there are wonderful wines from Muscat, Aleatico, Sangiovese, Zinfandel and even ports and grappas, all bottled in unique-shaped bottles; (805) 238-2520.

Meridian Vineyards

This is the hottest winery in the area, with a wide range of excellent wines. Winemaker Chuck Ortman’s marvelous Chardonnays are from Meridian ranches in Santa Barbara County, the red wines from Paso Robles. The Syrah is one of the best in the state. The attractive rock-faced tasting facility is on California 46 East and offers gifts, posters and good information from a well-trained staff. Another of the successful Beringer (Nestle) properties that includes Maison Deutz just down the road and Chateau Souverain in Sonoma County; (805) 237-6000.

Outside Paso Robles

Caparone Winery

Dave Caparone began making wine in 1980, specializing in deeply flavored Merlots, Zinfandels, Cabernet Sauvignons and small amounts of Nebbiolo and Brunello. The tasting room adjacent to the Caparone home is at 2280 San Marcos Road, 4 miles northwest of Paso Robles; (805) 467-3827.

Harmony Cellars

This tasting room and gift shop in the small town of Harmony is oriented toward tourists. Winemaker Chuck Mulligan has improved the line of wines considerably in the last two years; (805) 927-1625.

Justin Vineyards

The specialties at this elaborate property, with sculpted gardens, are deeply flavored Cabernets and Merlots. Owner Justin Baldwin, a Los Angeles resident, recently opened a two-room bed-and-breakfast called Just Inn. Dinner concerts are also offered. The winery is 16 miles northwest of Paso Robles on Nacimiento Lake Drive, nine miles east of Hearst Castle; (805) 238-6932.

Mission View Estate

The handsome Spanish-style tasting room in the mission town of San Miguel offers Chardonnays, Sauvignon Blancs, Cabernet Sauvignons and Zinfandels; (805) 467-3104.

Twin Hills Ranch Winery

San Franciscans Caroline Scott and Glen Reid are dedicated wine lovers who recently bought this winery, brand and its Western-style ranch house tasting room; (805) 238-9148 or (805) 239-3060.

Wineries that don’t have formal tasting rooms (such as Peachy Canyon, J. Lohr-Seven Oaks, and Fratelli Perata) offer their wines at Linn’s at the Granary, a Cambria-based operation that has a tasting counter at its new pie and gift shop at 1111 Riverside Ave. in the Granary Building in Paso Robles; (805) 237-4001.

San Luis Obispo County Wineries 1. Chamisal Vineyards 2. Claiborne & Churchill Vintners 3. Edna Valley Vineyards 4. Corbett Canyon Vineyards 5. Maison Deutz Sparkling Winery 6. Talley Vineyards 7. Creston Vineyards 8. Adelaida Cellars 9. Hope Farms 10. Mastantuono Vineyards 11. Castoro Cellars 12. JanKris Vineyards 13. Pesenti Winery 14. Wild Horse Winery 15. York Mountain Winery 16. Arciero Winery 17. Baron Vineyards 18. Eberie Winery 19. Martin Brothers 20. Meridian Vineyards 21. Justin Vineyards 22. Twin Hills Ranch Winery 23. Harmony Cellars 24. Mission View Estate