CleverRoot

6 2 | t h e c l e v e r r o o t We were recently given an insightful tour (dubbed "SLO Coasting") courtesy of the people at SLO Wine Country and came away impressed with the region's welcoming vibe, the diversity of its food scene, and the sophistication of its wines. Coastal is the key word when discussing SLO Wine Country. Here, vineyards can be found just five miles from the Pacific on average, making this world-class cool-climate terroir: Think stun- ningly crisp Chardonnays, stately Pinot Noirs, and some daring Rhône varietals and blends. Marine-derived soils give winegrowers a broad palette of viticultural possibilities; the presence of fog and large diurnal temperature differences, meanwhile, make for a long growing season, which fosters ripeness and balance in the wines. The region's two official AVAs (American Vi- ticultural Areas)—Edna Valley to the north and Arroyo Grande Valley to the south—play host to venerable names like Edna Valley Vineyard, Talley Vineyards, Chamisal Vineyards, and the pioneering Niven family's Baileyana. However, a crop of new labels, including Center of Effort, El Lugar Wines, and Timbre Winery, demonstrate the continued excitement and challenge wine- makers find in SLO Wine Country. A new SLO Coast AVA has also been proposed. For more information, visit slowine.com. PHOTOS: DAVID GADD PHOTO: DAN HOLMES Fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean, a constant presence in SLO Wine Country, plays an essential role in the quality of the area's cool- climate wines. At the new Qupé and Verdad tasting room in the Village of Arroyo Grande, a stunning tasting demonstrated the unifying qualities of SLO Wine Country's ultra-coastal Pinot Noirs. Two standouts were the beautifully restrained and poised Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard Pinot Noir and the powerfully ripe yet well-delineated Center of Effort Pinot Noir, both from Edna Valley. Other Pinots tasted included Tolosa Winery, Stephen Ross Wine Cellars, Niner Wine Estates, and Cutruzzola Vineyards. Wines from Stephen Ross Wine Cellars and El Lugar Wines were served at a winemaker dinner hosted by the Granada Hotel & Bistro in downtown San Luis Obispo. Proprietor Steve Dooley of Stephen Ross made wine in Napa, Australia, and South Africa before coming to SLO Wine Country. El Lugar's Coby Parker-Garcia is a local who graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and produced his first vintage in 2013. A signpost outside the Phantom Rivers Wine tasting room in the Village of Arroyo Grande points the way to several other SLO Wine Country producers. The very walkable town hosts additional tasting venues as well as a flock of wandering roosters. ■cr

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