SLO LIFE Magazine June July 2019 Proof 1

Tablas Creek Vineyards
9339 Adelaida Road, Paso Robles
This winery, also in the Adelaida area, is way out there. It’s a hidden
gem. This winery especially excites the farmer inside me. Sitting
on the patio I can hear sheep in the distance. A bee is pollinating a
flower on the ground near the rows of vines. Out in the distance is
an old shed that looks as if it were taken from an old farm in Italy.
This is not just a vineyard, it farms using biodynamic practices. They
produce outstanding grapes and give back to the land, feeding it,
in a sense. It takes a lot of work. The support system includes their
sheep and alpaca herd that till the ground with their feet and eat
the nutrient sucking weeds, their active bees and owl boxes that
pollinate and exterminate, as well as their integrated fruit trees in
the vineyards and composting practices.
It sounds very Kumbaya, like a throwback from the 60’s but the
proof is in the pudding. The wines are flavorful yet have subtle layers
that just keep giving back to the consumer. I sip on a glass of 2017
Picpoul Blanc ($30/bottle), an uncommon varietal. The flavors
remind me of the tropics with a pineapple flavor that would pair
well with coconut shrimp. Being here is like a mini vacation, yet
only about 30 minutes from San Luis Obispo.
Filipponi Ranch
1850 Calle Joaquin, San Luis Obispo
Have you seen a sweet little yellow house from the 101 freeway as
you drive south from San Luis Obispo? This was the childhood
home of Herb and his siblings. It was used by their family as
a dairy farm, to raise cattle, and now is the tasting room for
their winery. On the hillside is an image of a bell with a cross
inside made of rocks showcasing their brand that was used in
Switzerland by their ancestors.
I pulled up to this little gem of a place to meet Diane Filipponi
tidying up the tasting room. Her husband Herb was out mowing
the high grass. A special and rare winery to visit that takes every
family member to make it work. You feel welcomed and home as
a result.
It feels like a little oasis.The garden is full of native plants with a
view of some old oaks chasing up the hill. Shakespeare and Treasure
Island play on summer nights in the open air. Try The Filipponi
Rosé ($24/bottle) and drink in the fantastic strawberry flavor. What
a great little getaway to enjoy with friends, with a view that we are
so lucky to have in this lovely part of the world. SLO LIFE
90 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | JUN/JUL 2019