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The Santa Ynez wine area of the Central Coast has become famous since the movie Sideways has come out. But drive up Highway 101 to Paso Robles and you'll see mile after mile of vineyards. You can find wineries along the highway or turn left or right at Hwy 46 and you'll find small tasting rooms of all sizes waiting your arrival.

Wine in this area started with the Spanish priests that brough wine with them to Mission San Miguel Arcangel in 1797. But it was later abandoned and left as a small business.

The Paso Robles AVA area, or appellation, which runs from Santa Margarita to San Miguel, was later made famous for its Zinfandel wines by Andrew York when he started planting in 1882.. His legacy can still be seen as York Mountain Winery.The mighty Zin is still celebrated at the Zinfandel Festival  -  this year on March 16-18 2007.

As the industry has grown there are award winning Pinots, Chardonnays and other traditional wines coming from this area.

Cabernet Sauvignon has become the leading varietal for the Paso Robles appellation making up 30% of the areas wine crop.

Wine is big business here. Wine producer J. Lohr owns over 1,900 acres of vineyards and produces 400,000 cases annually. But the 100 local wineries range from small family owned boutique wineries producing a few hundred cases a year to the humongous.

Wine in this area is more than a consumer product though. It's an integral part of an entire industry that includes tours, tastings, weddings, concerts and large festivals. Any weekend through the summer summer you'll find all kinds of special events to add to your itinerary. Castoro Cellars seems to constantly have an art show, food event, or concert going on.

So whether you're planning a wedding for a few hundred special friends, a weekend getaway, or just a stopover on the way to the cool winds of the coast, you'll find much to enjoy as you pass through this special wine area.

Thurs- Sun 11 to 5

Daily from 10am to 5pm
Tours daily by appt at 10:30 and 2:30pm

Thurs - Sun 11:00 - 4:00

Available to members only

11am to 5pm Fri - Sun

Mon-Sat 9 a.m.-7p.m.
Sun 10 a.m.-5 p.m.