Wine created in Edna Valley enjoys California’s longest growing season along with cool ocean breezes, morning fog, and acres of black humus and clay-rich soils.
They’re remarkable wines. It’s a well kept secret you should explore.
| ‘The entire valley is a look at California winemaking 20-years-ago. It’s quiet, cool, beautiful and close to both Arroyo Grande & San Luis Obispo.’ |
Located immediately south of San Luis Obispo you’ll find Chamisal Vineyards, part of Crimson Wine Group’s eight wineries stretching from SLO, Napa, Healdsburg, Dayton, Oregon and Walla Walla, Washington.
We visited Chamisal six years ago, enjoying their wines, hospitality and view of their 82 acre vineyard. We decided to revisit and gauge their current wine.
Norman & Carolyn Goss, restaurateurs from Pasadena, CA, planted 30,000 Chardonay vines in 1973 well before the Edna Valley sub-appellation was defined in 1981. It’s part of the Central Coast AVA.
Chamisal now grows four grapes, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah & Grenache and they pride themselves in SIP Certified Sustainable Practices. The winery was nominated by Wine Enthusiast magazine for their Wine Star Awards in 2023.
Here’s what Charlotte, our host, served up:
2022 SLO Coast Chardonnay $38 ✰+
2021 Califa Chardonnay $50 ✰+
2021 SLO Coast Pinot Noir $45 ✰/✰++ (93pts)
2020 Sanford & Benedict Pinot Noir $65 ✰++/✰+ (90pts)
2021 Estate Grenache $45 ✰++ (91pts)
2020 Califa Syrah $65 ✰+
While their indoor tasting room is small, their outdoor patio is the place to be wined and entertained. Wine barrel walls block the southwesterly winds rolling through Edna Valley when the coast is cool and the Central Valley is warm. Sunshades keep the patio comfortable from the days powerful sunrays.
The entire valley is a look at California winemaking 20-years-ago. It’s quiet, cool, beautiful and close to both Arroyo Grande & San Luis Obispo. There are 15+ wine tasting facilities and you should take some time to visit, sip & enjoy this side of California wine.
Some notes on our wine ranking system.
Bill & Erin Hodge write about California Wine, the estates & winemakers producing them and educational information about Vino. Living in California Wine Country provides a front row seat to the places you want to visit the most here in the Golden State.
– -✰ means -What’s next on your list of wines
-✰ means -Not liking it too much
✰ means -We’ll drink this wine, especially if it’s hosted!
✰+ means -You’ve got our attention and we might buy this wine.
✰+ + means -We’re hooked and we’re going to buy this wine.
When you see -✰/✰+ with a slash, it means we disagree.
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