To visit our northernmost wineries, start in the scenic beach town of Morro Bay, then go north to charming Cambria. Then head over the hills to Templeton to taste a variety of estate wines from Northern SLO County.
Explore estate Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and aromatic white wines grown on the SLO Coast as well as warmer climate Bordeaux and Rhône wines. Expect to spend about 55 minutes driving on picturesque back country roads between Morroy Bay, Cambria and Templeton on this wine trail.
The stretch of Highway 1 from Morro Bay to Cambria is arguably one of the most beautiful spots in the state of California. The joy of this part of the SLO Coast Wine region is that it is relatively under-discovered with small craft wineries, coastal vineyards, and a bevvy of food options showcasing the bounty of the area.
Wine in Cambria
Cutruzzola Winery
Located in the historic town of Cambria, Cutruzzola Vineyards showcases some of the area’s cool climate grapes grown just down the road at their nearby vineyard. Lisa Miller, proprietor, describes the tastings at their downtown cambray location as, “Very personal and educational. We conduct seated by appointment tastings and really spend time with our guests talking about our winegrowing region and the types of wines we produce.”
There is an option to pair the tasting flight with cheeses for an additional $8 and Miller adds her favorite part about hosting tasters, “Educating them about the wines we are producing. There are just a few of us that grow wine grapes in Cambria and have tasting rooms, so it’s a really unique experience.” Keep an eye out for Cutruzzola’s vertical tastings of Rieslings and Pinot Noirs. They host those special events throughout the year.
East to Paso Robles’ Eastside (46 West)
Niner Wine Estates
This family-owned estate winery is location just west of Paso Robles. At Niner Wine Estates, they farm distinct and extraordinary vineyard sites across the Central Coast of California, and 40% of its wines are made from grapes grown at Jesperson Ranch in the SLO Coast wine region. The goal is to produce delicious, intentionally crafted wines, with each bottle representing the site and vintage.
They offer seated tasting flights that explore their portfolio of estate grown wines, as well as a seasonal lunch menu full of fresh, creative dishes designed to complement the wines. Wine flights and lunch menus are also tailored to the seasons.
Downtown & Tin City, Paso Robles
Derby Wine Estates
Derby Wine Estates is a boutique, family-owned winery with three Estate vineyards across the Central Coast and a Tasting Room & production facility on the outskirts of downtown Paso Robles. They have a passion for good wine and good company, and strive to share both with everyone who walks through the door.
As vintners specializing in the custom farming of grapes for numerous California wineries, Ray and Pam Derby are acutely aware that the quality of any wine starts in the vineyard. Their three vineyards, totaling over 440 acres under cultivation, are located in three unique viticultural areas within San Luis Obispo County. Each of the 28 different varieties of wine grapes they grow are ideally suited to the climate and soil conditions of the vineyard in which they are grown. Thanks to the hard work of vineyard manager, Steve Vierra, and his team, Derby Wine Estates produces some of the finest Bordeaux, Rhone, Burgundy and Spanish varieties grown on California’s Central Coast.
They make cool-climate Pinot Noir, crisp Sparkling Wine, Chardonnay, cool-climate Syrah and cool-climate whites like Pinot Gris from the coastal Derbyshire Vineyard.