The SOMM Journal

June / July 2015

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{ SOMMjournal.com }  71 o Ocean, acid, energy. While not exactly the vinous equivalent to "Turn on, tune in, drop out," it was close enough: These were the tangible sensations felt by our group of ten sommeliers during the entire course of two and a half days spent in California's San Luis Obispo Wine Country as part of the San Luis Obispo SOMM Camp this past April 7–9, sponsored by The SOMM Journal and the San Luis Obispo Wine Country Association. Our SOMM Campers Peter Palmer, Waterbar & Kuleto's, San Francisco Adrianna Camacho, Palm Restaurant, Las Vegas Fred Dame, MS, VP, Prestige Accounts, American Wine & Spirits Jamie Harding, Cavallo Point, Sausalito, CA Jeremy Meyer, Garber & Co., Topanga, CA Dan Oliver, Red O Restaurant, Los Angeles Robin Puricelli, Foremost Wine Company, San Luis Obispo, CA Joe Prang, Artisan Wine Depot, Mountain View, CA Christa Roelle, Andiron Steak & Sea, Las Vegas, NV Christine Tran, Artisan Wine Depot, Mountain View, CA Peter Palmer, Wine Director of San Francisco's Waterbar and other Pat Kuleto properties, described the experience of driving down the steep 1,522-foot- elevation Cuesta Grade (through the coastal Santa Lucia Range, separating Paso Robles from the San Luis Obispo wine region) as something "you never grow tired of . . . as you slide down the hill and suddenly see the ocean, you immediately feel the close connection between the water and the communities in San Luis Obispo." Still, Palmer admits, "I'd driven through the area before, but never under- stood it until now. My previous ideas of San Luis Obispo and its wines were completely outdated, and I was pleasantly surprised in every way to discover, throughout this trip, a certain vibrancy in established varietals like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, as well as in wonderful new alternative whites like Albariño, which seems to be a perfect fit for this coastal region." The San Luis Obispo Wine Country—or as the locals call it, SLO (pronounced "slow")—is thoroughly saturated in its maritime culture and environment. Heather Muran, Executive Director of the SLO Wine Country Association, addressed our group at our very first stop in Niven Family Wine Estates, on an Edna Valley hill overlooking the original plantings of Paragon Vineyards (including Sauvignon Blanc vines dating back to 1973). "From where we stand, it's just four miles to the coast," Muran told us. "Most of the region's vineyards are within five miles from the ocean, getting as close to the water as Avila Beach. This is as ocean-influenced as winemaking gets in California." Although Paso Robles is technically part of San Luis Obispo County, the 28 winery/grower members of SLO Wine Country Association identify themselves primarily by the American Viticultural Areas of Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande Valley—both transverse, east-westerly corridors funneling cool Pacific Ocean air through gaps in the coastal hills near the seaside communities of Morro Bay, Los Osos, Pismo Beach and Arroyo Grande. The Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande Valley AVAs are nestled on California's Central Coast. Peter Palmer, Sommelier at San Francisco's Water Bar and Kuleto's. "I was pleasantly surprised in every way to discover, throughout this trip, a certain vibrancy in established varietals like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, as well as in wonderful, new, alternative whites like Albariño, which seems to be a perfect fit for this coastal region." The coastline off the Pacific is just miles away from San Luis Obispo's wine country. The view here is from the Dolphin Bay Resort. PHOTO COURTESY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO VINTNERS AND GROWERS ASSOCIATION PHOTO: RANDY CAPAROSO PHOTO: RANDY CAPAROSO

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