Page 32 - SLO Visitors Guide Summer 2024

32 SUMMER 2024 slovisitorsguide.com
San Luis Obispo & South County Wine Tasting
453 Laetitia Vineyard Drive | Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
805.481.1772 | www.laetitiawine.com
Estate Wines • Luxurious Bubbles • Bocce
Picnic Area • Walking Trail • ATV Tours
Sip great wine just minutes from
downtown SLO
A casual picturesque drive head-
ing out of San Luis Obispo
towards Arroyo Grande takes you
into the heart of two of California’s
leading AVAs and to the doorsteps
of top wineries.
The Edna Valley was the first
AVA granted in San Luis Obispo
County in 1982 and has been pro-
ducing wine since 1968. The Arroyo
Grande Valley AVA merges into the
Edna Valley AVA at the north end
Wine, apple
brandy, and bocce
ball in the heart of
leading AVAs
of the valley. The valley attracted
attention in the early 1980s when
the California branch of the Cham-
pagne house Deutz, acquired land
in the area. Sparkling wine is still
made in the AVA.
The gentle sunshine and moder-
ate Pacific Ocean maritime climate
combine with the fertile soil come
together to produce incredible
wines. Bring a camera and plan on
a day of adventure sipping great
wine, sampling some apple brandy,
having lunch and playing some
bocce ball.
Stephen Ross Cellars, 29
years on the Central Coast
Stephen Ross Dooley’s curiosity
about wine started as a teen mak-
ing rhubarb and apple wine in his
family’s Minnesota basement, and
after a degree at UC Davis and 17
years of making wine for others, he
launched Stephen Ross Wine Cel-
lars with his wife, Paula, in 1994.
In the years leading up to his own
winery, Stephen worked as a wine-
maker in Napa Valley, Edna Valley,
South Africa, and Australia.
Stephen Ross Cellars produces
five or six single vineyard pinot
noirs plus other varietals that
flourish in the coastal climate
such as chardonnay, grenache,
and albariño, and a Blanc de Noir
sparkling.
“The energy that our wines
derive from our proximity to the
Pacific Ocean is unique and un-
equaled,” said Paula Dooley.
The couple owns the 10-acre
Stone Corral Vineyard in Edna Val-
ley, which they planted exclusively
with pinot noir clones and root-
stocks in 2001. The Stone Corral Pi-
not Noir is their top seller. Another
favorite is the winery’s 2021 Pinot
Noir Arête. The Dooleys promote
sustainable vineyard management
and winemaking practices, only
sourcing grapes from SIP-certified
vineyards.
Enjoy a visit to the tasting room
located in the winery and experi-
ence these amazing wines with
guidance from knowledgeable staff.
Winery tours are also available for
tasting room guests.
Stephen Ross Wine Cellars is
located at 178 Suburban Rd., San Luis
Obispo. Tasting room hours are Fri-
Sun 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Reservations are
recommended. For more information
visit stephenrosswine.com or call
(805) 594-1318.