Do things like small family-owned wineries, spectacular scenery, and a bit of history interest you? Then you want to come along on our road trip through the Edna Valley. And unless you own a real gas guzzler, this trip should take less than a tank of regular.
We start our trip at the junction of Tank Farm Road and Orcutt Road in San Luis Obispo. Go south on Orcutt, passing rows and rows of vines, and you will see a rise on the land in their midst. This is Islay Hill, one of the volcanic hills that dominate the San Luis Obispo area. Soon the view of the yellow Independence one-room schoolhouse comes into view.
The schoolhouse was built in 1909 by Karl Steiner, owner of the land at that time. He donated part of his ranch to the county for a school. It was about 850-square-feet with 18-foot ceilings, heavy-framed windows, and a bell tower. Blackboards lined the entire north wall, and a wood stove in the center of the room warmed the students on cold winter days. The school closed in 1956. Baileyana/Tangent Winery owners ultimately renovated it and made it their tasting room.
Try the Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, sit out on the terrace, and enjoy the expansive view of the vineyard and the hills. Or you can try your hand at a game of bocce ball or browse the assortment of wine related gifts in the gift shop section.
From this point on there are a variety of family-owned wineries for you to explore. You can turn right at Biddle Ranch Road and stop at Saucelito Canyon Vineyard's tasting room. Their specialty is Zinfandel from dry-farmed vines that were originally planted way back in the canyon above Lopez Lake in 1880.
On the same road is Edna Valley Vineyard and, if for nothing else, you have to go inside the tasting room to look out of their huge plate glass windows to see the view of miles and miles of vines with Islay Hill in the distance. Try their Chardonnay or Pinot Noir and shop in the gourmet gift shop.
Continue down Orcutt and enjoy the scenery. You will pass Varian Ranch and will probably see some of the horses that are kept there. At the end of the road turn left onto Lopez Drive. You will come to the entrance to Talley Vineyards. This is a family winery and the tasting room is surrounded by their Rincon Vineyard. You can take a half-hour tour of the vineyard, the winery, and the barrel room. Although not part of the winery any longer, the historic Rincon Adobe is also located on this property. It was originally Talley's tasting room and is featured on their label.
You can continue on to Lopez Lake or turn around and head back on the road to the Corbett Canyon turnoff. Traveling back towards San Luis Obispo you will encounter more of the Edna Valley wineries. Kynsi is one of these and you can enjoy their selections in their unique tasting room in the renovated 1940's dairy barn.
Corbett Canyon leads into Carpenter Canyon Road, which is Route 227. Claiborne and Churchill is a well known winery located along here. They do hand-crafted wines such as Dry Riesling, Dry Gewurtztraminer, and Pinot Noir. Claiborne and Churchill's tasting room is an eco-friendly straw bale constructed building.
To round out your road trip stop in the "Hub" in the old tin-sided building at the Townsite of Old Edna on Route 227 at Price Canyon Road. A gourmet deli is here as well as a bakery. You can get handcrafted sandwiches, gourmet coffees, and artisan cheeses and enjoy your repast at one of the outside tables in this quaint setting.
Wine tasting is available indoors also from Sextant Wines. Some of their vintages come from the Sextant MacGregor vineyard, one of the oldest in the Edna Valley, located next door.
You have to take a good look at Kienun's Treehouse, an incredible edifice up in a pepper tree built for the grandson of the property owner, but in reality it serves mostly as the hiding place and lookout for Coy Kitty, the resident feline. If Old Edna speaks to you, it might mean you should try to stay over at the Suite Edna Guest House, a charming three bedroom 1908 farmhouse, and enjoy breakfast in the private little breakfast cottage.
Our road trip is over and as you head back into the city of San Luis Obispo, you will pass the airport where the great Spirit of St. Louis restaurant is located. You can enjoy a dinner while watching flights take off and land. Hope you enjoy the tour!
Baileyana Patio
Old Edna Guest House
Old Edna Tasting Room
Varian Ranch Horses
