If you love wine and beautiful nature, Edna Valley Wineries could be the best vacation destination, especially if you want to spend March in the USA. Here you will find different rooms to taste exquisite types of wine and even purchase some bottles to bring home with you.
Edna Valley is located in San Luis Obispo, California, in a beautiful rural area, boarded by Islay Hill to the North and Lake Lopez to the South. East and West of the Valley you will be able to admire the Santa Lucia Mountains. The fame of this region and its wines comes mostly from the Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and also Syrah.It also makes for a great day trip after enjoying some of the best things to do in Santa Barbara.
And one of many interesting facts about California is that the Spanish missionaries established the vines here in the early 1900s but the Edna Valley Wineries gained the most popularity in the 1970s.
Without further due, let’s discover the best wineries you can visit if you are looking for some unique wine tasting experiences!
1. Wolff Vineyards Edna Valley
Wolff is a winery that is specialized in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. But at this winery, you can also find Syrah, Petite Sirah, and Riesling wines that taste even better on the beautiful patio.
The view around this winery is of beautiful mountains, and there are many spots where you can enjoy a picnic with friends and family. The staff at the Wolff Vineyards makes efforts to sustain the nature around them as it is an important part of the magic that this place has.
2. Baileyana, Tangent & True Myth Tasting Room
This winery is one of those vineyards that passed from generation to generation, since its founder, Jack Niven in the 1970s. The world of wine is changing constantly and this family managed to keep up with the industry. This family grows not less than 11 types of grapes, and their variety of wines is just as impressive.
This winery offers a rural, authentic tasting room and a great shop where you will find local foods and interesting gifts to purchase for your loved ones. You can even bring your pet here as long as they stay on a leash and you keep them out of the tasting room.
3. Biddle Ranch Vineyard House & Tasting Room
The Biddle Ranch Vineyard is the perfect mix between the rural vibe of the area and the modern details that make this winery so pleasant to visit. There are many activities you can do here from outdoor games to picnics and enjoying the sunset with a glass of their wines.
You might like this winery so much that you will be tempted to stay overnight. And you can do that as Biddle Ranch has a vacation rental located in the Chardonnay vineyard , that you can book and enjoy for several days. You can also choose to host an event at this beautiful location as they organize weddings and other types of events upon request.
4. Edna Valley Vineyard
You can’t miss out on the main winery in the area, Edna Valley Vineyard. This winery will not only offer you original and delicious brands of wine but also a fascinating view over the Edna Valley’s hillside. You can admire the beautiful surroundings as you taste their wines at the bar.
The most popular wine here are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and you can taste them any day of the week. Besides the tasting room that is open for all guests, you can also book a private tasting room for a group tasting. All tasting sessions are paired with exquisite cheese bites that compliment the flavor of the wines perfectly.
5. Chamisal Vineyards
Chamisal winery is representative of the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines in the area. But besides these two popular wines, you can also taste impressive Grenache, Syrah, and Pinot Gris.
This winery is the first in Edna Valley, and they carry that regional accent until today. Among their wines, you will find some with interesting aromas from nutmeg to tangerine and orange zest. Their vineyards spread from Santa Barbara to Monterey, and you can admire their view as you taste your wine.
The tasting room by itself is impressive, as it is very spacious and comfortable. You can socialize here over a glass of great wine. If you want to book a private tasting session for your group only, you can do that as well.
6. Claiborne & Churchill Winery
Another winery that you shouldn’t miss when you are in this area is Clairborne & Churchill Winery. This winery added value to Edna Valley in the 1970s, and it keeps being one of the most visited places today. The best wines you will find here are Alsatian white wines such as Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Gewürztraminer. But since you are here you should feel free to try other types that are less popular and might surprise you.
You can choose to join a tasting that includes a winery and a vineyard tour or simply try their house tasting sessions or reserve the flights you want. An interesting challenge that this winery offers is a blind tasting session. For this type of session, the wine labels are covered so you will have to guess what brand you are tasting.
If you want to stay overnight or even a few days, you can rent the cottage that they have on the property. However, make sure to book it at least one month in advance because it is rarely available on short notice!
7. Piedra Creek Winery
Piedra Creek Winery was the smallest winery in Edna Valley in 1984 but that never made it less charming than others, on the contrary. The winery offers an impressive view over the area of Edna Valley.
The wines here are produced with the best grapes from the San Floriano vineyard, but they used to come from the Chardonnay vineyard as well. You will find Pinot Noir wines as well as Chardonnay and Lagrein. Producers believe that wine is mostly made on the field, so they offer a lot of attention to the vineyard, without ever compromising on quality.
You can taste the wine at their tasting room, buy some to bring home with you, and even order some online. You will most likely be charmed by the cozy and rural decorations of this winery and the fruity wines they have to offer!
8. Sextant Wines – Edna Valley
If you like red wines, you will for sure be impressed by the Sextant wines, at Edna Valley. The Sextant winery offers Zinfandel wines and Cabernet Sauvignon in a diversified range, and they all have a rich, fruity flavor.
You can enjoy your wine tasting experience at their public tasting house or book for a private group tasting. The bar area exposes their best types of wine, so you will be surrounded by temptation when you walk in. Private tastings take place at the Blacksmith Shop, and you could have the experience to remember along with your selected group of friends and family.
9. Stephen Ross
Stephen Ross wines are famous in many parts of the world. Among the wines you will find here, there is a limited selection of Pinot Noir that you can enjoy during your tasting and even bring some bottles with you home. The winery also ships their wines upon order so you can get your favorite bottles even when you can’t make it to Stephen Ross tasting room.
Tasting wine here is also an educative experience as the owners of the winery will share valuable information with you, regarding wine production and history. You will love its classic and friendly design and how welcoming everyone is from the moment you walk into the winery. Stephen Ross had a passion for winemaking since his young years, and when he met his wife Paula, they formed a team that created the Stephen Ross winery.
10. Tolosa Winery
Tolosa Winery got its name after the Tolosa mission of San Luis Obispo. Most wines you will find here come from Edna Valley. However, at Tolosa winery, you can also try out wines from Perinet, which is a similar winery in the Priorat region of Spain.
This winery also offers different types of tasting experiences. You can try a barrel tasting, public and private tasting as well as a signature flight tasting. If you are interested to find out more about the vineyard, you can book an excursion to discover the local history too.
11. AUTRY CELLARS
Autry Cellars winery is a small production one with exquisite wines such as Chardonnay, Viognier, or Sauvignon Blanc. You can find both red and white wines here, but red wines remain the local specialty. Among the best red wines at Autry Cellars, there are various types of Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel, and Malbec.
The tasting room is boutique-style but very welcoming and pleasant for all the guests. All the staff members are friendly and open to answering any questions you might have about the wines.
12. Orcutt Road Cellars
Orcutt Road Cellars is another small winery in Edna Valley that offers both wine tasting and vineyard excursions for its guests. The design of this winery is in an elegant style.
Wines come in all types, and you can count on finding the finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as well. With its generous tasting room, Orcutt Road Cellars is providing all the comfort you need for a relaxing tasting experience. There are four-barrel rooms on the property as well as more than 40 tanks. If you want a tour of the winery, don’t hesitate to book one as you will learn a lot of interesting information about their wines.
13. El Lugar Wines
El Lugar means The Place, in Spanish, and this winery is the place to visit if you are in Edna Valley. They specialize in Pinot Noir wines, and they also offer a wine club that you can join for exclusive benefits such as scheduled shipments and a 15 % discount for your orders as well as invitations to different events that take place at the winery.
Note that El Lugar winery doesn’t offer tastings all year round. You will have to check their website for updates in this regard. But it is still an amazing winery to visit and even purchase some bottles as they all come in superior quality. Owners have over 25 years of experience together in the wine industry, and their knowledge is noticeable in everything the winery produces!
14. Saucelito Canyon Vineyard
Saucelito Canyon Vineyard offers you delicious wines but also a very interesting story to go with them. The winery was first opened in the 1880s, but it was closed during the prohibition and reopened again in 1974. It is operated by Bill Greenough and it is well-known for its fine Zinfandel wine.
You will find this winery open for tasting events daily, the exceptions being the national holidays. The way this winery mixes modern wine-making with traditional wine-making techniques is, as the locals say, the “Saucelito way”.
15. ZOCKER (Niven Family Wineries)
Zocker stands for Gambler in German, and it is the type of winery that offers you wines of impressive quality and original taste. The wines coming from the Zocker winery became popular worldwide due to their high-quality and unconventional taste. The legacy of this winery comes from Jack and Catherine Niven, and it resisted the test of time successfully. Here you will find three major types of wines: Baileyana, Tangent, and True Myth. There are also signature Zocker wines that give personality to the winery and complement its unique style.
The tasting room is located in the Independence Schoolhouse, and you can admire the beautiful mountains of Santa Lucia as you experience some of the finest wines in the area. Note that you will have to make a reservation if you want to join a tasting event.
16. FILIPPONI RANCH CELLARS
Filipponi Ranch Cellars is one of those complex wineries that offer a wide variety of wines from red to white and rose. Here, you can taste and purchase different types of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah but also Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The flavors are extremely aromatic and fruity, so you might find your new favorite wine here.
The tasting room is open for the public but keep in mind that if you want to go in a group with more than eight people you will need to make a reservation. Tasting takes place in the old ranch that has a history of over a century. So, you will enjoy a unique experience when you are here!
17. DEOVLET WINES
Ryan Deovlet runs the Deovlet winery with a young and passionate spirit that translates into all his work. This winery takes pride in producing wines that only get better as years go by. While Chardonnay is the most popular type of wine here, you can also enjoy Pinot Grigio ‘Ramato’, Pinot Blanc wines, and Pinot Noir varieties.
Wine tasting events require a reservation, but you can visit the winery any time you want. If you want to join their wine club, you can benefit from a 20 % discount per order, and you can reserve bottles from special editions as well.
If you take a trip to Edna Valley, we recommend spending more days here to take in the beauty and the history of the area. Each winery has something unique to offer, and they all bring you into the fascinating world of wine-making! However, if you’re short on time that you can always visit as part of a day trip from Santa Barbara.
