The SLO Coast AVA is the coolest-climate wine-growing region in California.

Two days of seminars and wine tasting from April 6-7 in Pismo Beach

—The San Luis Obispo Coast AVA (American Viticultural Area) is celebrating the second anniversary of its official designation as a unique wine region at the SLO Coast Wine Classic. the AVA runs along a 60-mile strip from Nipomo to San Simeon and between the Santa Lucia Mountains to the Pacific Ocean in San Luis Obispo County, halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

“The SLO Coast AVA is the coolest climate AVA in California,” said Mike Sinor, president of the SLO Coast Wine Collective. Our vineyards are all within a few miles of the Pacific Ocean and our cold weather lengthens our growing season. The grapes ripen more slowly than in other regions, resulting in more complexity and balance in the wines we release. Seeing the San Luis Obispo Coast AVA designation on a bottle tells consumers that they’re buying a well-made, food-friendly wine that’s unique to the region.”

The SLO Coast AVA is the coolest-climate wine-growing region in California and has long been the source of some of the state’s most respected chardonnay and pinot noir grapes. It has recently been renowned for its production of aromatic grape varieties such as albariño, grüner veltliner, and grenache.

By way of celebrating the second anniversary of the AVA designation, the collective is hosting its Third Annual Central Coast Wine Classic on April 6-7, 2024 in Pismo Beach. The weekend is filled with wine pairings, seminars, food, and opportunities to mingle with winemakers and fellow wine lovers.

Saturday’s SLO Coast Wine Seminars & Tasting takes place indoors at the beautiful Thousand Hills Ranch off Price Canyon Road in Pismo Beach. Matt Kettmann, contributing editor of Wine Enthusiast, moderates two panel discussions featuring a lineup of the AVA’s finest winemakers.

• “Fifty Shades of Pinot” investigates some of the ways our winemakers rethink what can be done with this versatile grape variety.
• For “Romantics and Fanatics, White Wine Aromatics on the SLO Coast,” Kettmann leads the discussion on alternative grape varieties ranging from Albariño to Viognier that are planted in the region and that are rising to prominence in these days of “let’s try something different.”

The seminars are followed by a no-host winemaker lunch offered by the area’s finest food trucks. Dine and drink with winemakers before moving on to the walk-around to enjoy wines from a variety of SLO Coast wine producers.

Sunday’s activities are held at the SeaCrest Oceanfront Hotel to “wine down” the weekend with a casual sparkling wine tasting. There’ll be effervescence galore from a variety of SLO Coast producers accompanied by bubble-friendly food pairings, including local oysters and fried chicken.

Guests who book stays in Pismo Beach while attending the SLO Coast Wine Classic receive a complimentary bottle of SLO Coast Wine and a tasting map upon check-in. Please include the location of your accommodations when you purchase your tickets.

The Thousand Hills Ranch is located at 550 Thousand Hills Rd. SeaCrest Oceanfront  Hotel is located at 2241 Price St. Both locations are in Pismo Beach. Tickets are on sale now on the SLO Coast Wine Classic website.