SLO LIFE Jun/Jul 2017

| WINE NOTES
THE LONG DAYS
OF SUMMER
BY JEANETTE TROMPETER
My favorite season
has arrived and
with a rainy
winter behind
us, I am eager to soak it up. And,
summer only gets better in our wine
country when it’s paired with music.
At least four days a week, you can
head out to a local vineyard, take in
spectacular scenery, then couple it
with a great bottle of wine and music
on a warm wine country afternoon or
evening. And, most of the time, the
tunes are free.
Music season is going strong now
and will continue on through Labor
Day, or the end of harvest season. Of
course, our vintners are offering free
entertainment in hopes that you will
stay awhile and purchase some wine
while you’re there; however, there
are no requirements that you do so.
You can even pack your own picnic
at some of them, but almost all offer
food options of some sort.
Here’s a short sampling: Still Waters
Vineyards in Paso Robles started the
fun early this year by kicking off its
“Picture Perfect Sundays” back in
April. There you will find a picnic
paradise even in the heat of the
summer under the canopy of shade
provided by the ancient olive grove.
There is no charge and you can bring
your own food, but Stein’s BBQ is
on-site to serve its always-delicious
grub. So unless you are a master
picnic packer, you may find yourself
with a little food envy. The winery
also offers some great wine discounts
for these events, which take place the
second Sunday of each month from
1:00 – 4:00 p.m. through October.
Tooth & Nail Winery, also in Paso Robles, jumped
into the music offerings a bit early this year as
well, featuring local musicians Dan Curcio and
The Damon Castillo Band during Wine Festival
Weekend, and will continue the fun every Friday
through summer starting at 6:00 p.m. The winery
does not allow outside food, but does offer some
amazing fare on-site.
Rounding out the Paso experience, Sculpterra
Winery hosts “Songwriters at Play” every
Saturday and Calcareous Vineyards offers
“Wine Down Wednesdays” all summer long.
Not to be outdone, Broken Earth Winery on
Highway 46 East provides yet another melodic
feast on most Saturdays.
And with summer’s arrival, you have some great
options all along the Central Coast, especially on
the weekends. Heading over to Templeton, Pomar
Junction’s “Train Wreck Fridays” are going full
steam ahead. It will set you back $15 to get in if
you are not a club member, but they do have a
great line-up of entertainment and put on a party
that is worth every bit of the entry fee.
Closer to San Luis Obispo, in the Edna Valley,
Claiborne and Churchill puts on its free “Sips
and Songs” series that takes place on Fridays
from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Joining in the mix, you
will find free music
at Kelsey Vineyard in
See Canyon, which
is nestled between
San Luis Obispo and
Avila Beach, on both
Saturday and Sunday
afternoons.
Whatever your plans
are this summer, don’t
forget to get out to our
Central Coast wineries
and enjoy. SLO LIFE
JEANETTE TROMPETER is
a San Luis Obispo native
and owner of Ruby Shoes
Wine Club.
94 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | JUN/JUL 2017