SLO CAL 2019

ake a tour through SLO CAL® by experiencing
its bounty and by meeting the makers. Whether
you self-select, book a tasting tour or sample at
Tone of the many restaurants, tap houses, tasting
rooms and cocktail bars, getting a sip of SLO CAL crafted is
effortless and delicious.
SLO CAL may be home to California’s third-largest wine
region, but true to the slower pace of life, it has a more laidback
approach to the otherwise stuffy and crowded wine
tasting experiences. Many of the vintners have joined this
trend, bucking tradition and breaking the rules to create
more experimental blends and unique flavors. And like
their wine, their tasting rooms also offer a more modest
vibe and authentic atmosphere for guests. You’re sure to
unearth the best kept secret in viticulture with over 250
wineries speckled throughout the county.
SLO CAL is replete with wine tasting options, but on a hot
day nothing beats a frosty pint of IPA, a crisp cider or a
refreshing sour. Here, brewers and cider makers are known
for their use of local ingredients, including wild yeasts,
fruit, barley, hops [BB1] and, in some cases, even seawater,
taking flavors to a whole new level.
The granddaddy of the SLO CAL brew scene is found in
Paso Robles, where Firestone Walker Brewing offers dining,
shopping, tours and tastings at their recently expanded
campus. Although large, they manage to stay true to their
roots, most notably in their label 805 (SLO CAL’s area
code), a refreshing blonde ale and local favorite.
MIX IT UP
Like the distillers themselves, SLO CAL
mixologists have reinvented the craft
cocktail game and the community
proudly offers its myriad of local spirits to
those that sidle up to the bar. Whether
a speakeasy, local pub or fine dining
restaurant, SLO CAL is your place to
sample the latest concoctions and
discover your new favorite maker.
2019 SLO CAL® VISITORS MAGAZINE | 33