Wine tasting and serving fine wines is a favorite past time for the tourist and residents to the Central Coast. Our wines rival those found anywhere in the World. 

The Central Coast is located between Los Angeles and San Francisco. It includes the well known towns of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, and is an area sought out by many to visit or to live. It is ideal for short or longer vacations.

Most wineries are open daily for wine tasting. To get a briefing on the tours and maps, visit the Chambers of Commerce in Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo.

Vineyards and wine making are a major industry on California's Central Coast. The vineyards were first concentrated in the North County of San Luis Obispo County in the Paso Robles and Templeton area, but are now also in the South County. Wine tasting is often free, and many wineries have regularly scheduled tours.

As you drive east from Arroyo Grande to the Lopez Lake you will see the vineyards in the distance. The tasting room on this vineyard is an adobe building. The abode stands behind the trees, and to the left are vegetable fields. The barn is visible to the far left. Another building to the rear of the adobe is the winery where the wine is made.

The adobe itself is situated on a knoll surrounded partially by trees. This building is on the 17,000 acre Santa Manuela Rancho granted to F. A. Branch in 1837. One of Branch's sons, Ramon, built this ranch house. (1) Today this serves as the wine tasting room for Talley Vineyards and Saucelito Canyon.

Currently there are a total of eight wine tasting rooms to be found in the Edna Valley and in Arroyo Grande Valley.

(1) Historical facts are from Sharon Lewis Dickerson. Making the Most of San Luis Obispo County. San Luis Obispo, CA: EZ Nature Books, 1989.