Page 58 - 2017 Travel Guide to California

WINE COUNTRY
happy, BubblyFest by the Sea in Pismo
Beach is one of the only festivals in the
country dedicated to sparkling wines.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
& CENTRAL VALLEY
Santa Barbara, Santa Rita Hills, Santa
Ynez Valley, Los Olivos, Temecula, Lodi,
Madera, Clarksburg
The Southern California coastal region
vineyards in Santa Barbara, Santa Rita Hills
and Santa Ynez Valley produce primarily
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah. Santa
Ynez Valley became the poster child for
wine tourism when the 2004 film Sideways
confirmed its status as a Pinot Noir hot spot
(or cool spot, as Pinot grapes don’t like too
much heat). But the ghosts of Sideways’
Miles and Jack are long gone and it’s safe to
drink Merlot again. Fall brings the annual
Celebration of Harvest with Santa Barbara
Vintners offering free wine tasting over
Columbus Day Weekend along the local
wine trails.
56 2017 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A
TESTAROSSA WINERY, Los Gatos, right;
Paso Robles red and white, bottom.
Zinfandel grows well in the Central Valley,
and Lodi Zin Fest is the most famous and
longest running festival for Zinfandel lovers.
Lodi’s star is on the rise, and it’s now recog-
nized as one of the top wine regions in the new
world, a hotbed of production growing over
100 varieties in addition to it’s legendary Zin.
Vineyards inland in Southern Cali-
fornia’s mostly hot and arid region are
gaining notice, and Temecula in particular
is generating an ardent following for its
wines and sheer determination to grow
grapes in a challenging location.
San Diego usually means sun and sand,
but just an hour north you’ll find there’s
wine too. Animal lovers will enjoy the
annual San Diego Zoo Wine and Food Fes-
tival where you can stroll the grounds and
sip wine in the midst of the wild kingdom.
California wine festivals and events fill
the calendar all year long, like a roulette
wheel of juicy prospects. Whether you plan
ahead, or spin the big wine wheel and see
where it lands, the odds are delicious.
» WINE
FESTIVALS
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
NAPA
Flavor! Napa Valley—March 22-26
flavornapavalley.com
SONOMA
Winter WINEland—January 14-15
wineroad.com/events/winter_wineland
MENDOCINO
The International Alsace Varietals
Festival—Feb. 25-26
avwines.com/alsace-festival
Anderson Valley Pinot Fest
May 19-21
avwines.com/anderson-valley-pinot-
noir-festival
CENTRAL COAST
Pebble Beach Food & Wine Classic
April 20-23
pbfw.com
BUBBLYFest by the Sea
(Pismo Beach) Oct. 7-8
bubblyfest.com
Garagiste Festival (Paso Robles)
Nov. 10-12
garagistefestival.com
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
& CENTRAL VALLEY
Zin Fest (Lodi Lake)—May 12-14
zinfest.com
San Diego Zoo Wine
and Food—Sept. 23
sandiegozoo.org/zoo/celebration
Santa Barbara Celebration
of Harvest Oct. 6-9
celebrationofharvest.com
ROBERT HOLMES PHOTOGRAPHY; JAYME BURROWS/PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY ALLIANCE