Chamisal Vineyards/Savor Central Coast Tours/Festival “Petit Soleil/Quality Suites Lodging” in San Luis Obisbo & getting there by Amtrak Train (10/11)
The San Luis Obispo area (SLO) is a great place to visit for wine tasting, special events and to get away. The best way there is to take the Amtrak Train (it leaves from many destinations all the way down in San Diego to LA and even up north where you may have to catch a bus as well. From San Diego and LA, there are direct trains to SLO. The views are incredible as you are right on the ocean most of the trip while you relax and enjoy space and freedom to move around. www.amtrak.com
We stayed at 2 totally different lodging places. The first being the quaint and beautiful Petit Soleil Bed and Breakfast (the breakfast was incredible while the staff was amazing and helpful. They had bikes to use and the location was great. Then we were at the Quality Suites, which offered a nice spacious suite room with breakfast included. They had a pool, fitness center and computers to use in the lobby. More below on their respective websites.
http://www.petitsoleilslo.com http://www.qualitysuitesslo.com
This wine/food trip started with a visit to Chamisal Vineyards in the Edna Valley, where we toured around and tasted many of their delicious wines including my favorites 2010 Rose, 2010 Stainless Pinot Noir and 2009 Califa Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The winemaker Fin was very insightful and enjoyable to meet. You can become a wine member or find out more info at http://www.chamisalvineyards.com
The Savor Central Coast event featured many different tours including a bluff hike overlooking the ocean and beach lunch at Monte de Oro State Park, a private party at the Hearst Castle, & The Wine Gala awards party on the Pismo Beach pier with all the great wines and about 12 fantastic restaurants. The Wine Gala was our favorite event on the pier with a beautiful sunset among the fine food and incredible wines.
The Saturday Margarita Ranch Food and Wine Exhibit was a very well attended and popular event. The ranch is on 13,900 acres and thousands of people attended wearing casual attire and enjoying the food and wine booths and all day demonstrations and exhibits. Over 100 top wineries were represented from the Central Coast area. The wine tasting and beer tasting booths kept the drinks flowing all day. The wine was paired with small plates from top chefs from the Central Coast and beyond. Everything from beef to abalone along with fresh fruits and vegetables were provided. You could have all you wanted to eat and drink, which was amazing for serving such a large group of people.
Sunset’s Backyard Farm had over 1,000 square feet of raised beds with vegetables and plants growing. There was a goat pen with 4 goats for milking and cheese making demonstrations. Sunset Kitchen Garden planted a very large garden with fruit trees, vegetables and flowers. There were demonstrations every hour, all day long, on growing vegetables, gardening and cooking.
Saturday and Sunday had food demonstrations on the Chef Central Seminar Stage from famous chefs. Celebrity Chef Cora Cat was one of the very dynamic chefs who presented a food demonstration and talked and answered questions from the audience all during her demonstration. Vons had a Music Stage and Tasting Garden with wood fired pizzas and grilled sausages. There were Pizza Making Demonstrations by award winning local chefs.
The Ranch Tour by Train from the 1950s, looped two miles around the ranch capturing the beautiful landscape. The train ride accommodated large groups of people and was very well supervised and organized.
Infiniti had an Inspirational Lounge and provided test drives for their luxury vehicles. Infinity also had a sweepstakes for a chance to win a two-night getaway to a culinary city.
This two-day event at the ranch provided so much to do, see, eat and drink, that you really needed two days to see it all and do it all. I am planning to come both days next year from the time of opening to the time of closing (10am- 5pm) and to bring my friends who love food and wine. Don’t miss this great event next year and you can see more at http://www.savorcentralcoast.com