SLO Wine Country Harvest on the Coast

November 6, 2015

On the road about 9:30 am today. Have a long drive to Avila Beach with a few stops. Decent traffic but still hit enough to be irritating. No way to get through downtown LA and the valley without slowing down somewhere.

Arrived in Buellton just after 1:00 and stopped in at Terravant for lunch.  The elevator is broken so I had to hike up the stairs.  My hip is in bad shape right now and it was not pleasant. Had  the best BLT's ever. Chibatta bread with lettuce, tomato and applewood smoked bacon. Selected a half glass of Ken Brown Sta. Rita Hills Pinot and a half glass of Dragonette 7 Syrah. Both good choices.

Then down the road to Huber Cellars. Needed to pick up wine an visit with Norman and Traudl for an hour. They were telling me they got 2,000 lbs of grapes an acre  this year and Clos Pepe on the other side of Hwy 246 from them only got 500 pounds per acre. Not a good start for Kathryn Hall who just took a 15 year lease on the Clos Pepe vineyards.

After an hour took off to get into Avila Beach at a decent time. Needed to stop at Trader Joes to get few things for breakfast every day while I am up here. Pulled into he San Luis Bay Resort about 5:30. A long day. Hip is in bad shape. Could barely walk. Unloaded the car onto a cart and checked in. Naturally since I am having problems walking this year my room is on the 4th floor and the very end of the building. At least it is quiet here. And so glad I did not opt for the winemaker dinner tonight.

Saturday  morning went to the golf course next to the resort for the wine festival. Had early admission so got to taste some library wines. Talked to a few new comers in the area. Too bad I am at the tail end of my wine buying days. Some really nice new wineries. Lots of good food and a lot of wine. Spent the rest of the day stretched out on the couch to get pressure off the hip.

Sunday got a late start which was OK with me. Headed to the Edna Valley to Wolff Vineyards. They make some of the best Petite Syrah around.  Tastings in SLO are free today if you have your wristband from the festival.. Then back to Avila. Stopped in at Sinor-Lavalle and tasted Mike's new white label and black label pinots. Black label is fruit and jammy. Cocktail wine. White label is only 13% alcohol and is a great food wine.  Came out of there with 9 bottles. Mike sent me down the street to a new tasting room. Clutoh. Good wines but pricey. Came away with 2 blends but at $55 each hope I like them when I get home as well as I do now.  Decided to eat out tonight and went into Shell Beach to Kanpai Sushi.   www.kanpaishellbeach.com  Had a Morimoto Imperial beer and the Nigri Omakase sushi plate which consisted of Tuna, Yellow Tail, Sea Breen, Albacore, Red Sea Bass, Shrimp, Scallops and I added Spanish Mackerel and Fresh Water Eel. I was surprised at the quality of the fish. They fly it in twice a week from Japan.. Their other menu items looked really good. Will have to come back to this place.

Monday I decided  to go  into Los Olivos to pick up wine and have lunch. Stopped at Stolpman and Tercero. By time I left Bacon and Brine was getting ready to close to no pig for me right now. Hit a lot of heavy rain on the way back to Avila. Stopped in at the Cracked Crab, www.crackedcrab.com for an early dinner. Had to have the cup of clam chowder along with  crab cakes and abalone. Had a glass of Verdad, Albarino. Tasted like 7-UP.

Tuesday, my last day. Cutting the trip short this time.  Did a little shopping, Target. Home Goods and Costco. Always like to see the local wines that the stores in the area carry. Then down to Pismo Beach and stopped in at the Taste of The Valley wine bar. Always make this stop. They carry a good variety of local wines. Tasted the 2012 Lucia Garys Pinot, 2012 Pianetta Paso Robles Sangiovese, 2013 Ricky Hill Tempranillo, 2012 Hoyt Paso Robles Cabernet, NV 08-09-10, Margerum Syrah, 2013 Opolo Mountain Zinfandel and a 2012 Clayhouse Petite Syrah. Wanted to go to Ember tonight for dinner. That is the new hot restaurant in Arroyo Grande. While  in the Taste of the Valley, the owner Lisa pointed out a man who turned out to be the the owner-chef of Ember. They are closed on Monday and Tuesdays. Out of luck tonite. So I left and walked across the street to Giuseppe's www.guisepperestaurant.com for dinner. Not to busy when I walked in by by time I left they were packed. Had a 2011 Damilano Barolo along with Osso Bucco (veal) for dinner. The plate came with Saffron Risotto and Zucchini that had  been spiraled cut like spaghetti.

Wednesday got on  the road about 8:00 am. 40 degrees. Winter is coming. Stopped in Buellton to gas up. 50 cents a gallon cheaper than Pismo. Got home about noon. Then of all  things the damm elevator in the building is down and I have to walk up the stairs.  Had to have my son carry  everything up and put the 5 cases of wine the garage. Glad it is cold now. Good trip but the hip issue has to be resolved.