Central Coast

Central California is a long valley, with hills and ocean to the west, real mountains to the east. From Paso Robles south to Santa Maria, limestone and calcareous shale push up Rhône reds; the 101 corridor pulls coastal fog inland and cools the nights. Inland, the Sierra foothills bake zinfandel into mountain wine. The coast is memorable – Cambria bluffs, Avila’s dog-friendly pier, Morro’s black sand. Wineries pour on shaded patios where a leash hooks to a bench and a water bowl waits in the dirt. The drive is long, the crowds are thin, and most tasting rooms seem to know your dog’s name before yours.