When our San Luis Obispo (SLO) wine country travels took us to Wolff Vineyards, in the heart of Edna Valley, we were in for a real treat. Wolff Winery's125 acres of ecologically friendly and certified sustainable vineyard has been farmed since 1976. The winery was established in 1999 by owners, Jean-Pierre and Elke Wolff. They renamed and expanded the original vineyard, and added an artisan winery. Wolff Vineyards has perfect outdoor seating for wine tasting and picnics. We had come enjoy both.
San Luis Obispo County, California's Central Coast
Over the years I have enjoyed exploring wine country on California's Central Coast. It is home to spectacular coastline, rolling hills, and a rich diversity of wineries. San Luis Obispo (SLO) County, one of the six counties on the Central Coast, was our wine country destination last June. This is a county where you will find four American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), namely Arroyo Grande, Edna Valley, Paso Robles and York Mountain.
San Luis Obispo (SLO) Wine Country
It is always delightful discovering some of San Luis Obispo Wine Country's hidden gems. My wine travels last June took us back to Edna Valley.
SLO's Edna Valley is perfect for growing cool-climate grapes, and produces award-winning chardonnay and pinot noir. Besides these wines there are dozens of other locally grown varietals. It is home to more than 27 tasting rooms, with Wolff Vineyards topping the list.
I am always happy to return to Edna Valley.
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| Exploring Edna Valley, September 2017 © Spaswinefood |
Edna Valley
The Edna Valley AVA is located in the southwest corner of San Luis Obispo County. Edna Valley, south of the city of San Luis Obispo and north of Arroyo Grande, runs northwest to southeast for 10 mile (16 km). Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Burgundy varietals thrive here.
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Pinot Noir Waiting Harvest, Edna Valley © Spaswinefood
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In addition the Rhone varietals Syrah and Viognier also do well.
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| Talley Vineyards, Edna Valley © Spaswinefood |
Last June we began our Edna Valley explorations at Wolff Vineyards. Just minutes from downtown San Luis Obispo, and less than five miles from the Pacific Ocean scenic beaches and major tourist attractions.
Welcome to Wolff Vineyards
It was June, and as we made our way to the winery at Wolff Vineyards, the grape vines were already green. I so enjoyed taking in the beautiful sweeping views of the valley.
Taking in Wolff Vineyard Views © SpaswinefoodWhen the vineyard was established in 1976, 55 acres of Chardonnay grapes were planted. Today the vineyard includes 53 acres of Chardonnay, 34 acres of Pinot Noir, 14 acres of planted Teroldego, Syrah, Petite Sirah and Riesling. Their winemaking philosophy is wine is made in the vineyard utilizing minimal intervention. Edna Valley's cool coastal climate influences the characteristic of their wines. The wines are produced in small lots, which allows for close control of the vinification process. Their very-limited production is hand-crafted, using traditional Burgundian wine-making methods. Most of their grapes are sold to Ultra-Premium wineries who have received wide acclaim for their wines.
During our wine tasting we tasted Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Teroldego, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Riesling from their tasting list, and a Cabernet Sauvignon ( a wine not typically produced in this area). We enjoyed the wines and particularly liked their Petite Sirah, the first planted in the Edna Valley. This unusual cool climate Petite Sirah has quickly gained national review and recognition, and is popularity with customers. They also produce sparkling wines and; after the wine tasting, we ordered a bottle of Wolff Vineyards Sparkling wine to go with our picnic lunch.
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