Jane Garvey , who has written about wines around the world for more than 20 years and teaches several classes for the Atlanta Wine School, encourages her students to further their wine education through travel.  But after a quick look at Napa and Sonoma, she sends them south to California’s Central Coast. 

“I encourage them to venture south on Highway 101, not directly north, like everybody else,” Garvey said.

“Yes, everybody wants to see Napa; it’s an attraction, like Disney on your first trip to Florida.  But there’s so much more out there (on the Central Coast), without the crowds, traffic and high prices.  It’s just a better, slow-paced winery experience in many ways.  And I love the innovating wines coming from there.”

While everyone agrees there’s a lot to love about Napa Valley, it now comes with a big price tag.  From lodging and dining to long lines, waits and weekend congestion, visiting California’s premier wine region can be as frustrating and costly as visiting the Big Apple or any other major American city.  Like a movie star who seems to have forgotten his roots, Napa thinks highly of itself.  High on glitz, it is a far cry from what once made it famous some 40 years ago — that is, a few wine pioneers who made the rest of the wine world stand up and take notice of American wines.

Understanding California’s Central Coast

Sprawling for 250 miles, California’s Central Coast stretches from San Francisco Bay south to Santa Barbara and contains many sub-appellations along the way.  These geographic areas have proven to the government that they have unique characteristics beyond those of the larger, mother areas. 

These sub-appellations appear within Napa and Sonoma as well, and in other parts of the state.  For example, Stags Leap is a sub-appellation of Napa Valley, and Dry Creek Valley is a sub of Sonoma.

The San Francisco Bay area is planted in chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and merlot, but syrah and petite sirah show great promise as varieties of the future due to the extreme cooling effects of the night influx from both the bay and the Pacific Ocean.

The Santa Cruz Mountains AVA is one of California’s oldest.  It is not part of the Central Coast; rather, it lies next door.  This area produces award-winning pinot noir due to the rocky, stony, mountain soils and cool marine climate.

Monterey County is the home of sensational ocean scenery including the famous 19-mile drive, Pebble Beach, Carmel and rugged Big Sur.  But it has also become one of California’s boutique wine-growing areas, with almost cult status, along with Paso Robles.

At one time, the vast plantings were mostly fruit sold to other, sometimes bulk mega-wineries for inexpensive and undistinguished wines.  Now, estates like Chalone, Hahn Estate, Kendall-Jackson and Michaud are setting new standards for Monterey.  The climate and terrain are varied, giving a lot of individuality to the various sub-appellations.  Look for distinctive chardonnays, merlots and pinot noirs.

Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo.  If wine consumers know much about the Central Coast, it’s probably due to the cult followings of Paso and SLO wines, especially syrahs, zinfandels and pinot noirs.  All of the wines are affected by a limestone sub-soil component that adds a distinct minerality to the finished wines.  Both areas are influenced by the Pacific Ocean at night and by long warm summer days.  The Edna Valley area is especially well-suited to vibrant chardonnays.

Santa Barbara County.  From Los Angeles’ cousin in southern California comes Santa Barbara County, the southernmost stop on a Central Coast wine road tour.  The heat is up here, and it shows in the maturity and ripeness of the wines.  Still, the cool evenings and sea breezes keep things from heating up too much, even in August.  But the heat can be great for big reds, and Santa Barbara has them.  Check out the area’s syrahs and zins as well, and travel inland for some interesting pinots.

Vast as it is, California’s Central Coast offers variety, relaxed winery visits and new wines and producers around every curve of the back roads you must travel to see even a bit of it.  In any case, you’ll have a ball discovering California’s OTHER wine country. 

Selected Wine Discoveries from California’s Central Coast

Lucas & Lewellen, Santa Barbara County Chardonnay, Goodchild Vineyard

Clos La Chance Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains, Pinot Noir

Adelaida, Glenrose Vineyard, Syrah Reserve, Paso Robles

Vina Robles, Signature (red blend), Paso Robles

Pessagno Pinot Noir, San Benito County

Zaca Mesa Viognier, Santa Ynez Valley

Estancia Vineyards, Pinot Noir, Stonewall Vineyard, SLH

Belle Glos Pinot Noir, Las Alturas Vineyard, Santa Lucia

Mer Soleil, Silver Unoaked Chardonnay, Santa Lucia

Marilyn Remark, Roads End Petite Sirah

Bernardus Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, Monterey

Morgan Winery, Tierra Mat Syrah