Central Coast Wines of California- Pismo Beach.qxp_Layout 1 9/1/20 4:02 PM Page 1
C E N T R A L C OA S T W I N E S O F CA L I F O R N I A :
Pismo Beach
Beginning along the historic Highway 101 in Santa Barbara and continuing for 300 km. north to the San Francisco Bay Area is California’s Central Coast. Known for its fertile valleys and awe-inspiring views of the Pacific Ocean, the Highway 101 winds around mountains and sheer cliffs to the beaches below. One of the lesser known attractions of the Central Coast are its diverse wines and wineries. The region claims some of the oldest grapes in California. In the late 1700s, Franciscan monks introduced their mission grapes to California as they travelled north along El Camino Real (“The Royal Road”), now known as the Highway 101. Mission grapes were planted at the site of each of the Catholic missions built by the Franciscan
monks. The grapes naturally adopted this moniker as their origin was unknown. While mission grapes were the original variety introduced to California, and specifically the Central Coast, today the region is primarily known for its Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah wines. This is due to a cooler climate and reduced sun exposure than is typically experienced to the south. These conditions combine for frequently foggy, cool days that are prime for growing grape varietals such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. In the fall of 2016, while working in California between San Diego and San Francisco, I stopped in Pismo Beach after seeing a billboard along the Highway 101 imploring motorists to “Discover California’s Southern Wine Country”. I had four days to kill between my work event in Palm Springs and the next in San Francisco. After a seafood lunch in Santa Barbara, sampling some wine by the beach would be a great cap to the afternoon.
