SLO County Golf, Wine & Real EstateGolf, Wine & Real Estate News and Events Blog
Central Coast Golf Course Weather MapTuesday, February 28, 2006 Planning to hit the links on the Central Coast? The new weather.com golf guide allows you to view current weather conditions that may impact your game! Central Coast Golf Course Weather Map Just hold the arrow over a flag on the map to see the name of the course, then click on the golf flags to see how the elements are affecting your course right now. You can click and drag the map or use the navigation arrows to view other courses in our area. Click on the middle navigation button to re-center the map to your starting location. Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Week's SLO County Golf AcesMonday, February 27, 2006Three golfers made holes in one recently at area golf courses.Lynne Pritchard of San Luis Obispo completed a hole in one on the second pin at the Sea Pines Golf Resort on Tuesday. The shot was witnessed by Lola Blackwelder, Cathy Gardner and Diane Wyatt. Pete Foster aced the eighth hole Wednesday at Avila Beach Men's Club. Mike Keeling, Sam Mersai and Chuck Headington witnessed Foster's 145-yard shot, which was made using an 8-iron. George Nicoll made his third career hole in one Friday on the 17th hole at Paso Robles Golf Club. Brent Week, Kurt Glore and Ron Centry witnessed Nicoll's 190-yard shot, which was made using a 5-iron. Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Growing Paso Robles Wine ValueSunday, February 26, 2006Buy a bottle of California wine, and you may be savoring the terroir of Paso Robles.As much as 70 percent to 80 percent of the grapes grown in Paso Robles wine country leave the county and are purchased by some of the country's largest wine companies. The grapes are often blended into wines labeled only as coming from California. Despite rapid growth in the number of wineries in the North County in recent years, there just are not enough to process all of the grapes grown. While this is no longer an issue in the much smaller wine appellations of the South County, the exodus of North County grapes translates into lost economic value for San Luis Obispo County in terms of processing jobs and grape prices. By aggressively branding the region - through nationwide marketing campaigns highlighting local wineries and grape growers - the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance hopes to enhance the image and value of its wines and wine grapes. Karen Ross, president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers, said that many of the country's top wine companies, including E&J Gallo Winery, Constellation Brands, The Wine Group and Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines, are believed to be active buyers of Paso Robles grapes. However, no one knows for sure where the grapes go. The exodus of grapes translates into lost economic value for the county, which can't be fully calculated, said Bob Lilley, agricultural commissioner for San Luis Obispo County. Wine grapes are the No. 1 cash crop in the county, valued at $127.4 million in 2004. Too much added-value is currently leaving the county. Grapes are not only hauled out of the county, jobs are being exported. It would be beneficial if we could process the grapes locally. Vintners and growers echo that the county is supportive of this goal. It allows the building of destination processors, where different grape growers can bring their crops to be processed. That's far more lenient than in Santa Barbara County, which specifies that 50 percent of the grapes processed must be grown on site. "There is certainly room for expansion in this county for winery processors and county policies have tried to encourage this expansion," said Lilley. Increasing the recognition of Paso Robles wineries and wine grapes will also translate into raising the region's profile as a destination for wine travelers. An improved tourism infrastructure — which is already in the works with a number of new hotels under way for Paso Robles - could equal increases in transient occupancy taxes and sales taxes as well as many more jobs in tourism and industries that support tourism. In response to requests by local growers, the Wine Country Alliance is putting together its first growers' tour. It wants to connect local grape growers with major wine grape buyers outside the Paso Robles area to educate them on the region. The tour, which is being conducted in partnership with Joseph W. Ciatti Co., one of the leading wine brokerage firms, will travel to the Napa, Sonoma and Lodi wine regions on May 8 and 9. Jacob anticipates that about 30 growers will participate in the road show. Educating buyers about the quality of the grapes may allow growers to place their harvest with producers that are selling higher priced wines. Another recognition of increased value, say industry experts, is the identification of a region on a wine label. When wineries specify the region, such as Napa or Sonoma County, it is because the buyer will recognize the quality of the region even if it doesn't know a particular winery. For this reason, the Wine Country Alliance is also aggressively marketing the Paso Robles wine region. It kicked off its second Grand Tasting Tour in early February, taking approximately 30 Paso Robles wineries on the road to meet with trade and media professionals in Atlanta. Read More: The Tribune, Ermina Karim Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Wine Wine Adventure Magazine features California's Central CoastSaturday, February 25, 2006 Beginning in May, a new wine magazine for women will be available at newsstands throughout the U.S.This week editor-in-chief Michele Ostrove meets with like-minded men and women on the Women Wine Critics Board website to discuss the launch of Wine Adventure magazine. Readers are encouraged to leave questions and comments for Ostrove on the Women Wine Critics Board blogsite. The site is managed by Mary Baker, who is a managing partner of Dover Canyon Winery in Paso Robles, California. Wine Adventure, the first wine magazine for women, merges food, travel and style through the universal connection of wine. Each issue features wine country travel destinations, both far-flung and close to home; entertaining and lifestyle ideas; food and wine pairings; wine trends and know-how; interviews with personalities connected to wine; wine picks from an array of experts and much more - delivered in a fun, highly readable format. The Premiere issue featured the California Central Coast, including a guide to tasting wine on the Central Coast and an article about Paso Robles wines. Website: www.wamagazine Blogsite: Women Wine Critics Board Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Wine Apr 29 - SLO Tour Golf TournamentFriday, February 24, 2006The Third Annual SLO Tour Golf Tournament is being held Saturday, April 29th, 2006 at Avila Beach Golf Resort. This 4-Person Scramble begins at 8:30am, Shotgun Start. Fees are $125 single, $225 double, $425 foursome or $45 per student. Tournament benefits the Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo.For tournament information and registration, contact Will Hills - (805) 441-0681, whills@calpoly.edu. Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Mar 22 - Cal Poly College-Am Golf DayThursday, February 23, 2006The Cal Poly College-Am Golf Day, sponsored by Cuesta Title, takes place Wednesday, March 22nd, 2006 at Cypress Ridge Golf Course. This College-Am Golf Tournament is a Shotgun Start at 12:30pm with 2-Best Balls of 4 format (1 Gross & 1 Net).Here is a chance to join some of the best college golfers in the nation for a fund day of golf and food! Cal Poly along with Cuesta Title will be hosting a College-Am Golf Day during the practice round for the Cuesta Title Intercollegiate. A foursome of amatuers will be paired with college players to form a team. A dinner will be served in the Pavilion at Cypress Ridge following play where the team will sit together for a great dinner! For tournament information and registration, contact Scott Cartwright, PGA - (805) 756-5156 or 748-7048. Tournament Cost is $150 single or $500 per team. Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Central Coast Wines at CostcoWednesday, February 22, 2006Shoppers perusing the wine selection at Costco see lots of familiar labels. But what about this modestly priced Cameron Hughes wine?Taking advantage of a wine and grape surplus in California, Hughes started his San Francisco-based business in 2001. His first wines were good-value blends he called Synergy. As he made more contacts, Hughes refined his business model. He wanted to scour the landscape for good-quality wine that was left over or didn't fit into a particular winery's blend -- wines that weren't rejects, but that the winery didn't have a good use for. And he wanted to align himself with a big retailer that would sell most of the wine. Costco was the first one to bite on the concept. Hughes has a mailing list to notify customers when the wines hit Costco; sign up at his Web site, www.chwine.com. The Cameron Hughes wines are also sold by the case or half-case through the Web site. Prices are higher online -- the Lot 8 pinot, for example, is $13 -- but the wines usually are available for longer. (Enter the word ''oscar'' in the coupon code box for a 20 percent discount.) The chardonnays and pinot noirs of Talley Vineyards in Arroyo Grande are undeniably delicious but, at $26 and up, they're not exactly everyday wines for most people. But the winery also has a brand of well-made, more affordably priced wines called Bishop's Peak. The name comes from the tallest of the peaks known as the Seven Sisters that dominate the landscape around San Luis Obispo. The wines are made from mostly purchased fruit from various parts of San Luis Obispo County. The 2004 Bishop's Peak Chardonnay ($14) is an Edna Valley wine that's bright and a little tropical, with some creamy and toasty notes. It's nicely balanced and easy to drink. The tasty 2003 Central Coast pinot noir ($16) has flavors of cherry and raspberry, a hint of tomato and supple texture. The 2003 Rock Solid Red ($12), a blend of mostly cabernet and syrah from Paso Robles, is a tremendous value, with ripe black cherry and just enough tannin for structure. A great pizza wine. One of my favorite Bishop's Peak wines is the 2003 Edna Valley syrah ($16), a savory rather than jammy syrah, with notes of white pepper and roasted meat and a smooth finish. The 2003 Paso Robles cabernet sauvignon ($16) displays bright cherry flavors, a note of black olive and medium tannins. Source: Laurie Daniel, The Mercury News Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Wine Integra Golf WholesaleTuesday, February 21, 2006 Visit Integra Golf Wholesale, located right here in Arroyo Grande, to purchase Integra driver, fairway, iron and wedge heads. Shafts, grips and head covers are also available. All heads can be bought as "head only" or can be built as a complete clubs. Complete custom club building and repair services are provided. A wide selection of used clubs are offered for sale too.Website: www.integragolfwholesale.com Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Loren Roberts makes history at ACE ClassicMonday, February 20, 2006ACE Classic triumph marks 3 wins to start year, a first for senior tour!When he was still an assistant golf professional in his native San Luis Obispo, Calif., a young Loren Roberts used to open a window in the pro shop so he could hear the phone ring when he was outside working on his putting. "After about two in the afternoon, we didn't have a whole lot of play," Roberts said of San Luis Country Club. "The putting green was literally 15 steps outside the pro shop door. I would ... go out there and putt all afternoon." His last job as a club professional was at California's Morro Bay Municipal Golf Course, where he rented carts, gave lessons and made pimento-cheese sandwiches. "We did 310 rounds a day, 365 days a year," said Roberts, eventually an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour and participant in the Ryder Cup. "They took all the bunkers out of the golf course to speed up play. It was one of those kinds of jobs where you did everything." Given such humble beginnings, it was no wonder then that Roberts' bid for a piece of golf history had him "double-clutching," as he put it, more than once in Sunday's final round of The ACE Group Classic in North Naples. Despite not making a birdie over the final 12 holes, Roberts earned his third consecutive victory to start the Champions Tour season when senior golf icon Hale Irwin inexplicably dumped a 7-iron approach shot into the water on the final hole at TwinEagles. Irwin's miscue enabled Roberts, winner of the season-opening MasterCard and Turtle Bay championships last month in Hawaii, to coast home with one last par to complete an unprecedented victory run on the Champions Tour. "I was very surprised," said Roberts, who learned of Irwin's double-bogey before he teed off on the par-4 18th hole. "Hale doesn't make mistakes like that. It did make my tee shot and my second shot a little easier." Finishing at 14-under 202 after a clunky, 3-under-par 69 in the final round, Roberts was relieved to have surpassed Don January and Larry Nelson for wins to start a season on the Champions Tour. January, in 1981, and Nelson, in 2001, won twice to start those years but fell short in their third starts. "Three wins this year and they've all come in different ways. This one was definitely done with an ugly stick," said Roberts, 50, who earned $240,000 to give him $755,000 in winnings already this season. "I wanted to put a little mark somewhere in the record books, and I did think about that a little bit on the back nine." Read More: news-press.com, Seth Soffian Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Paso Robles Wine Person of the YearSunday, February 19, 2006The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance has honored Dennis Collins, owner of Big Red Vineyard and General Manager of Treana Winery, as the 2005 Wine Industry Person of the Year. Collins was hailed for his more than 35 years experience in the wine business."Dennis is passionate about the wine business. His experience from a local, state, national and global perspective has helped shape the Paso Robles wine industry," said Don Brady, chairman of the Wine Country Alliance and winemaker at Robert Hall Winery. "Dennis understands all aspects of the business from the economics of grape growing and wine production to branding and marketing, which has strengthened and moved our industry forward." Collins is involved in many aspects of the Wine Alliance's promotional efforts and served on the Board of Directors for five years. He helped establish and shape the Paso Robles Wine University, an educational series designed to create missionaries who experience the quality and diversity of Paso Robles wines. From working on educational programs through the Quality Alliance to serving on committees of the Wine Festival and Paso Robles Wine University to hosting trade and media through the Paso Robles AVA, Collins remains a dynamic participant within the industry. Collins began his wine career with E&J Gallo winery in the early 1970s. Source: Janis Switzer, The Tribune Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Paso Robles Wine San Luis Obispo Golf & Wine represented at Nissan OpenSaturday, February 18, 2006A number of San Luis Obispo County wineries, hotels and golf courses are being represented this week at the PGA Tour's Nissan Open at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles.Hoping to attract corporate clients to conduct conferences in the county, the San Luis Obispo County Visitors and Conference Bureau set up a tent on the ninth fairway Thursday. "We decided to do something different," explained Jonni Biaggini, executive director of the VCB. "We invited 60 corporate clients in the Los Angeles area to our tent to entice them to hold their meetings in San Luis Obispo County. "We're doing wine tasting. We have food and we have a television screen showing pictures of San Luis Obispo." Participating with the VCB in the hospitality tent were the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, San Luis Obispo Vintners Association, the Embassy Suites Hotel, Moonstone Hotel Properties, the Inn at Morro Bay, Cypress Ridge Golf Course, the Cliffs Resort, Martin Resorts, Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort, Dolphin Bay Resort, the Days Inn and the Avila Beach and Blacklake Golf Resorts. Source: Biz Buzz, The Tribune Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Wine Avila Beach Golf Academy ClinicsFriday, February 17, 2006Avila Beach Golf Academy presents weekly Short Game and Swing Clinics for only $15.00, hosted by PGA Professional Jay Farrior.The Short Game Clinic Chipping - Pitching - Putting Tuesdays 1:00-2:00 p.m. 68% of all your shots are from within 75 yards of the hole! * A COMPLETE and COMPREHENSIVE short game clinic. * Learn the Distance Control, "Feel & Touch" you need to become a great putter. * Learn how to get the ball "Up and in" from all around the green. * Learn how to make CHIPPING simple & easy. * Lower your Handicap & Score. The Swing Clinic Thursdays 1:00-2:00 p.m. * Learn the importantance of Tempo and Timing and how to apply them to your swing. * Learn how to Think less and Swing Better. * Learn how to virtually Eliminate poor shots. * Learn how to develop a Proper practice routine. * Learn to hit Wedges high and soft, and Woods long and straight. Sign Up Today Sign Up Today by calling (805) 595-4000 ext. 512. $15.00 cost for each clinic includes clinic with PGA Professional, Lesson Plans, Range Balls and Equipment.  Jay Farrior, the head professional at The Avila Beach Golf Resort and a former nationally ranked tri-athlete, uses enjoyable drills and competitions to make the learning of sound fundamentals both rewarding and fun. He sees fitness, flexibility and focus as the essential "3Fs" to the improvement of all facets of the golf game.
SLO's Roberts making a record run in Champions TourWednesday, February 15, 2006Larry Mauter shared an article this week at The Tribune about San Luis Obispo native Loren Roberts joining an elite group of golfers in his first full year on Champions Tour.San Luis Obispo native Loren Roberts is off to one of the fastest starts ever on the golf circuit for players at least 50 years old. He has won three of his first eight tournaments on the tour dating back to last summer, putting him on the top shelf along with golf icons Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer Gary Player and Lee Trevino. Next weekend in Florida, he will attempt to become the first golfer on the tour to win the first three events of the year. A win at the ACE Group Classic at Twineagles Golf & Country Club in Naples, Fla., would also move him near the top of the all-time fast starts on the tour, now in its 27th year. Nicklaus won five of his first nine events, Player won four of his first eight and Palmer won four of his first nine. Roberts, a member of Cal Poly’s Athletic Hall of Fame, turned 50 in June. He split his time last season on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. Article: Roberts is making record run in Champions Tour Larry Mauter, The Tribune Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Apr 28 - Cal Poly Wine Festival Golf ClassicTuesday, February 14, 2006 Come enjoy the Cal Poly Wine Festival Golf Classic on Friday, April 28th, 2006 at Cypress Ridge Golf Course in Arroyo Grande. 9:30AM Shotgun Start, Silent Auction and BBQ after Tournament, $135 Per Entry or Weekend Package with Wine Festival Tickets. More information and online registration available at: www.calpolywinefestival.com Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Wine San Luis Obispo's Oberholser wins at Pebble BeachMonday, February 13, 2006 18 Originally uploaded by Touchdown_Jesus. Winning the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am met all of Arron Oberholser's expectations. Quality Wine Grape Harvest for SLO County in 2005Sunday, February 12, 2006Ideal growing conditions along the Central Coast helped propel the state's wine grape production in 2005 to record highs.The weather cooperated with vintners during the crucial growing season last year, said Bob Lilley, county agricultural commissioner. In the springtime, there were no late frosts which affect the flowering of the vines and reduce the quality of the grapes. The summer saw temperatures gradually tapering off into fall. Abrupt temperature changes can affect production. "We didn't have any rain in the early fall, which can create problems for the harvest because it creates rot in the bunches," Lilley said. The 2005 crop was the first good yield after several years of poor crops because of drought conditions. However, those lean years had the effect of ending a grape glut that had plagued the industry, said Mark Battany, a farm adviser with the UC Cooperative Extension in San Luis Obispo. "We are on the road to recovery from the glut years," he said. "It will be interesting to see how this year's crop affects that." Growers were encouraged by the fact that the weather produced a uniformly good crop, said Nathan Carlson, a winemaker with Courtside Cellars and Tolosa Winery in San Luis Obispo. "It looks like quality is going to be good overall, which is not always the case when you have a large crop," he said. Wine is the leading cash crop in San Luis Obispo County and other regions of the state. In 2004, California wineries sold 428 million gallons of wine with a retail value of $15.2 billion in U.S. markets, plus an additional 94 million gallons abroad, according to the Wine Institute. The county's 2004 grape harvest was worth $127.4 million — nearly one-quarter of all crops put together, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Source: The Tribune, Julie Lynem Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Wine Cypress Ridge course and home expansion deniedSaturday, February 11, 2006The proposed 147-home Cypress Ridge expansion, which includes a 9-hole golf course, was derailed by the Board of Supervisors.The board denied an application for a zoning change on 147 acres of land next to the current Cypress Ridge on Nipomo Mesa. Current zoning allows about 29 homes - one for every five acres - and developer Denis Sullivan wanted zoning changed to allow for one home per acre. Water supplies and traffic problems won't allow more homes, supervisors said, adding sprawl and loss of agricultural land were also concerns. "At this time, it's too premature," Supervisor Jim Patterson said Tuesday. "There are too many issues that need to be addressed. I couldn't vote for approval of this, so I can't say, 'Go ahead and start the process.'" The land proposed for the expansion is now a strawberry field. Cypress Ridge currently has about 150 homes and an 18-hole golf course. Sullivan will continue with subdividing the property into 5-acre parcels. Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Recent San Luis Obispo County AcesFriday, February 10, 2006Six holes in one have been made at area golf courses the past few weeks. Not only haven't I had one, I've never even seen one! Here's the lucky aces:On Jan. 16, Arroyo Grande's Les Luby aced hole No. 7 at The Links at Vista Del Hombre in Paso Robles using a 4-rescue club. Paul Henlin and Ernie Brigham, both of Arroyo Grande, witnessed the shot. On Jan. 25, Dale Kiker hit his third hole in one on the 147-yard No. 8 at San Luis Obispo Country Club using an 8-iron. Darrell Clendenen was the witness. On Jan. 31, Morro Bay's Larry Rentler hit his second hole in one on the 175-yard No. 10 at Morro Bay Golf Course using a 4-iron. Debritz Downing was the witness. Also on Jan. 31, Morro Bay's Kathy Fitzsimmons hit her first hole in one on the 98-yard No. 1 at Sea Pines Golf Resort using an 8-iron. Michael Fitzsimmons was the witness. On Feb. 3, Ernie Webb of Palmdale aced the par 3, 148-yard No. 8 at the new Monarch Dunes Golf Course in Nipomo using an 8-iron. Dwayne Head, Robert Urmy and Gary Melland were witnesses. On Feb. 5, Morro Bay resident Ralph Wilson used a 3-wood on No. 17 to record his first career hole in one at the Morro Bay Golf Course. Don and Susan Parker were witnesses. Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Pebble Beach AT&T National Pro-AmThursday, February 09, 2006 Pebble Beach, CA Originally uploaded by Mike Menelli. This week, just north of San Luis Obispo County, the AT&T National Pro-Am golf tournament is being held at Pebble Beach. This PGA Tour tournament is typically held during the month of February on three different Central Coast courses, Pebble Beach Golf Links, Poppy Hills Golf Course and Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Paso Robles Wine Tasting GalaWednesday, February 08, 2006Linwood Slayton shares his experience tasting Paso Robles wines at a gala tasting event in Atlanta, sponsored by the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. There were 25 wineries present and pouring their wares for the 200 or so trade types invited for the press/media tasting. Below is an exceprt about the experience."Paso Robles is a Central Coast California region in northern San Luis Obispo County, about halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The Pacific Ocean is a mere six miles to the west. Admittedly, I was not too familiar with many of the wineries other than J Lohr which has had a presence here in the Atlanta area for some time. The area is characterized as enjoying hot days and cool nights which facilitates a diversity of wines depending upon their location and soil within the region." "The red wines from this area are known for the following qualities: soft tannins, deep and intense color, a scent and taste of dark chocolate, smooth velvety feel in the mouth and rich fruitiness." "Armed with the essential information provided, I waded into the tasting area and did my thing. Experience has taight me to limit myself to a small selection of wines and I opted to taste only one wine from each presenter. Given my decision last year to taste only the "best" wines at this stage of my wine journey, I found these five wines to be my 'favorites' of all that I tasted:" J. Lohr 2000 Cuvee POM, Bordeaux Blend ( retail $59.99) Jack Creek Cellars 2003 Pinot Noir Reserve (retail $42) Midnight Cellars 2004 Estate Zinfandel (retail $28) Nadeau Family Vintners 2003 Critical Mass Zinfandel (retail $28) Opolo Vineyards 2004 Reserve Zinfandel (retail $38) "Each of then had a distinct uniqueness that I enjoyed. I especially enjoyed the rich and smooth texture and feel of the J. Lohr Bordeaux blend which was one of the finest Pinot Noirs I have had in a good while. The Nadeau Family Critical Mass Zinfandel was my next favorite selection as the fruit and color were powerful. I daresay that others found different favorites as each of the tasting stations were crowded and the folks in attendance were having a great time. I stayed within my predetermined parameters this time and did not overdo myself and limited my choices significantly." Source: Linwood Slayton, wineloverspage.com Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Paso Robles Wine Mar 17 - St. Patrick's Day Clover Classic at Cypress RidgeTuesday, February 07, 2006Arnold Palmer Wines presents The St. Patrick's Day Clover Classic. Join us for a competitive day of golf on March 17th at Cypress Ridge - 12:00 noon Shotgun Start. Each golfer is entitled to 18 holes of golf, on-course competitions, wine tasting and Firestone ' green beers' served all day. The Three available flights are: Championship (5.5 or less), A (6-12), and B (12.5+). Cost is $70, open to the first 44 players.Contact Joe Kolina, jkolina@cypressridge.com or 805-489-2781 for more details. Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Find Central Coast Wines at Lund'sMonday, February 06, 2006 Located in the Historic Village of Arroyo Grande is Lund's, a fine wine and distinctive gift store owned and operated by Bob and Margareta Lund. Here you'll find not only an extensive collection of wines and champagne from California and the rest of the world, but something no other wine store has... The most complete selection of fine wines the Central Coast of California has to offer - from the appellations of Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Edna Valley, Arroyo Grande Valley and Paso Robles. Lund's has the knowledge and experience to recommend the best wines and champagne at the best price. And do remember, that notable Chardonnay and Pinot Noir comes from the Edna Valley, Arroyo Grande Valley and the Santa Maria appellations. Lund's is located right in the heart of the Central Coast wine industry, offering some of the finest wines California has to offer. Thanks to excellent soils, a long growing season, and a variety of microclimates, the area's hundred-plus wineries produce everything from rich Chardonnays to jammy Zinfandels, from opulent Pinot Noirs to elegant Cabernet Sauvignons, from aromatic Viogniers to spicy Syrahs. San Luis Obispo County offers two distinct winegrowing regions within close proximity to each other. Cool-climate varietals thrive in the Edna Valley and the Arroyo Grande Valley to the south, while heat-loving varietals soak up the summer sun of Templeton and Paso Robles to the north. Both areas enjoy the influence of warm summers and cool ocean breezes, and because of this optimum climate, Central Coast wines are well-balanced, classic varietal interpretations that can be enjoyed now or cellared for a special occasion. Lund's 133 E. Branch St. Arroyo Grande, CA (805) 473-1184 www.lundsgift.com Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Wine New SLO Wine Store for Frugal Wine LoversSunday, February 05, 2006Monterey St. Wine Co., a new wine store featuring wines from around the world for less than $10.99, will be opening this spring in downtown San Luis Obispo.The wine shop will be at 1255A Monterey St., at Johnson Avenue and next to Popolo Rotisserie Cafe. It is a joint venture between Douglas Shaw, owner of The Sanctuary Tobacco Shop in San Luis Obispo, and John Stipicevich, a partial owner in Chumeia Vineyards in Paso Robles. Shaw described the new store as "filling a void in the county." About 70 percent to 75 percent of the wines available will cost less than $10.99, with the remainder representing higher priced and premium wines. The store's selection will include wines from California as well as varietals from all of the major wine regions of the world. "I want people to buy a wine for dinner and feel like they didn't break the bank," explained Stipicevich. "Some of the best values in wine are from outside of this country." "We make some great wines on the Central Coast, but we have become Central Coast-centric," he said. "We need to broaden our understanding and our taste of wine. Pinot noir from Central Otago (New Zealand) tastes totally different than pinot noir from the Edna Valley." Monterey St. Wine Co. will feature a tasting bar and weekly Thursday night wine tastings. In addition, it will offer a cheese selection of 20 to 30 artisan American and European cheeses. The store is expected to open by mid-April. It takes over the lease March 1. Source: Ermina Kaim, The Tribune Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Wine Common Golf Rules & PenaltiesSaturday, February 04, 2006After my first tournament experience last month, I've been brushing up on the USGA Rules of Golf. Brent Kelley provides the following "cheat sheet" for the most common infractions and their penalties under the Rules of Golf.More Clubs in Bag than Allowed (Rule 4-4) Fourteen clubs is the maximum allowed. Penalty for exceeding 14 in match play is loss of hole for each hole on which the breach occurred, up to a maximum of two holes. In stroke play, penalty is two strokes for each hole on which the breach occurred, up to a maximum of four strokes. Wrong Score Recorded on Scorecard (Rule 6-6d) Penalty for signing scorecard that includes scores lower than actually recorded is disqualification. There is no penalty for signing a scorecard that incorrectly inflates a player's score, but the higher score stands. Playing out of Turn (Rule 10) There is no penalty for playing out of turn. Other than the scorn of other members of your group. In match play, a competitor has the option of making you re-do your shot in the correct order of play. Grounding the Club in a Hazard (Rule 13-4) Grounding the club in a hazard is illegal. Anyone who does it must assess themselves (or have assessed) a 2-stroke penalty (or loss of hole in match play). Hitting an Unattended Flagstick with a Putt (Rule 17-3) The flagstick is in the hole, unattended, and your putt strikes it. That's a 2-stroke penalty in stroke play (ball subsequently played as it lies) and loss of hole in match play. Ball Moves after Address (Rule 18-2b) If your ball moves once you've taken your address, it's a 1-stroke penalty. The ball is replaced on its original spot. Ball Moves after Loose Impediment is Removed (Rule 18-2c) Players can remove loose impediments without penalty as long as the ball and the loose impediment are not both in a hazard. Through the green, if the ball moves when any loose impediment within one club length of the ball is removed, it's a 1-stroke penalty. The ball is replaced at the original spot. Ball in Water Hazard (Rule 26-1) If you find your ball in a water hazard, you can always try to play it without penalty. Otherwise, it's a stroke-plus-distance penalty. Option 1: Take a 1-stroke penalty and return to the spot of the original shot to re-play. Option 2: Take a 1-stroke penalty and drop a ball behind the water hazard (going back as far as you want), keeping the point at which the original shot crossed into the hazard directly between your drop and the hole. For a lateral water hazard, drop within two club lengths of the spot where the ball crossed the margin of the hazard (no nearer the hole), or on the opposite side of the hazard at an equidistant spot. Ball Lost or Out of Bounds (Rule 27-1) Stroke plus distance. Take a 1-stroke penalty and return to the spot of the original shot to re-play. A provisional ball may be played before searching for the original ball begins. Ball Unplayable (Rule 28) You can declare a ball unplayable anywhere except in a water hazard, and you are the sole judge as to whether your ball is unplayable. Declaring a ball unplayable results in 1-stroke penalty and a drop. Drop as close as possible to the spot of the old ball; within two club lengths and not nearer the hole; or at any point behind the spot of the original ball, as long as that spot remains in between the hole and the location of the dropped ball. Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Rules Recognizing Paso Robles Unique Wine RegionsFriday, February 03, 2006If local vintner efforts are successful, the Paso Robles wine region could be carved into several smaller ones within the next few years. Some North County winemakers want to carve Paso into several smaller wine regions; the idea is to raise sales by heightening awareness of the unique qualities of each area's grapesDoug Beckett of Peachy Canyon Winery has already petitioned to create an American viticultural area called Paso Robles Westside. Now Austin Hope and Justin Smith are preparing an application for the Templeton Gap area to be federally recognized. That has many in Paso Robles speculating about the future of the region and how it should be designated. "My idea is that every subappellation in Paso Robles should be there as a talking point for Paso Robles," Hope said. "The Templeton Gap is one of the best places to grow true-to-form Rhône wine, particularly syrah." Some in the North County wine industry say the development of new and smaller appellations within Paso Robles is a sign of the growth and maturation of the region. They say identifying unique characteristics of different regions can help consumers understand more about the wines produced there. Wine grapes are the leading agricultural crop in San Luis Obispo County, valued at $127 million in 2004, the most recent figure available. Read entire article: Paso Robles vintners push for new federally recognized areas The Tribune, Raven J. Railey Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Paso Robles Wine Delicious & Inexpensive Central Coast Red WinesThursday, February 02, 2006Laurie Daniel listed her red wine picks for $20 or less recently in The Mercury News. Some of the best values she's tasted - especially Syrahs - lately come from the Central Coast.During the summer, Laurie enjoys white wine because it's cold, crisp and refreshing. But in winter, when the weather is chillier and foods heartier, red wine is more often on her table. Sometimes a special bottle is in order, but for Tuesday night pizza or Friday roast chicken, a wine lover can drink very well for $20 or less. Here are some recommended wines she's tasted in the past few months: Drink delicious reds for $20 a bottle or less Laurie Daniel, The Mercury News Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Wine Golf Tournaments at Cypress Ridge Golf CourseWednesday, February 01, 2006 If you're looking for a place to host your next golf event consider Cypress Ridge Golf Course. Rated 4 1/2 stars by Golf Digest's "Best Places to Play", This Peter Jacobsen Signature Course is as challenging as it is beautiful. In California the only course that rates higher is Pebble Beach. Cypress Ridge is very confident that their meticulously maintained course and cordial customer service will exceed the expectations of their guests. Cypress Ridge is certified as a Silver Signature Sanctuary through the prestigious Audubon International. It is the 14th golf course in the world to receive this elite distinction. This integrated approach to environmental planning provides a colorful backdrop to a spectacular golf course. The following tournament services are available for group sizes 16 to 144 players: Customized Logo Carts Signs Scorecards, and Contest Markers Special Contests Set-up Scorecard Preparation and Collection Scoring on our Tournament Scoreboard Designated Registration Area Set-up Event Coordination Range Balls (optional extra) Putting Contests (optional extra) Pre-Round Group Clinic at Golf Academy (optional extra) Club Rentals (optional extra) Food and Beverage (optional extra) Contact Cypress Ridge Golf Course to book your tournament. Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Tournaments |
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