Modesto wine columnist on enjoying San Luis Obispo County wine country
We enjoy the Central Coast wine region so much we bought a timeshare at Avila Beach (even though I said I never would). We love it. Here are a few highlights from our last visit.
Peacock Cellars is a family owned boutique winery a few miles south of Arroyo Grande on Los Berros Road. Logan and Jessica Nichols are the owners and specialize in small quantities of award-winning wines. In 2017 they opened their classically designed tasting room, winery and farmstead all under one roof. The produce market sells freshly harvested peaches, nectarines, tomatoes, garlic, nuts and gift items.
Winemaker Logan makes fruit forward, balanced wines with alcohol levels under 14.5 percent. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are planted locally while the Tempranillo, Sangiovese and Barbera are farmed in warmer climes near San Miguel. Logan is skilled at making red blends that age very well. Peacock Cellars is a beautiful winery and open seven days a week, no reservations required. Wine tastings are $20.
Serious note taking
I don’t know why we haven’t done this before. We’ve been on the wine trail for more than 50 years and now just discovered it. We decided to check out a local wine bar that serves regional wines and get an update on changes that occurred during the pandemic. Our host knew the region inside and out. He shared his expertise on what’s new, the best restaurants, best happy hours, best breakfasts, best tasting experiences, best winemakers, the best bargain oysters, the best picnic spots and even best tasting fees.
If you are new to a wine region or haven’t been back in years, check out an independent wine bar, ask questions and take notes. They’ll give you the inside local edition, saving you time and money. Duh, why didn’t we think of that in ’72 or ’82?
If you’re a fan of the Central Coast wineries, check out the Tastes of the Valleys Wine Bar in Pismo Beach. They have been there for many years and now have a wine bar in Paso Robles, Taste in the Alley, and in San Luis Obispo, WineSneak.
The best of SLO County
The New Times publication recently released its 37th annual Reader’s Poll for 2023. The Best Winery for Sparkling Wine was Laetitia Vineyard & Winery. The Best Winery for Red Wine was Opolo Vineyards. The Best Winery for White Wine was Edna Valley Vineyard and the Best Tasting Room was Edna Valley Vineyard, for the 17th time!
What’s on our table
The steal this week is a 2020 Uruguayan Merlot. It’s from the Central Montevideo wine growing region. Two solid deals are the 2021 Fortant Grenache Rose from France and the 2019 Lisbonita, a medium dry red wine from Portugal. All three are priced under $6 at the Grocery Outlet. Cheers!