SLO County News Blog

Golf, Wine, Real Estate, Business & Travel News

Talley Vineyards program assists Farm Workers

Thursday, April 27, 2006

The Talleys in 2004 embarked on a 10-year program to generate up to $1 million to assist farmworkers and their families. An exciting new wrinkle is the May 6 release of Mano Tinta, a wine in which 100 percent of the proceeds will go toward this cause. A Cinco de Mayo celebration is planned to honor this novel idea. Several hundred people are expected at the winery, with a mariachi band, abundant food and drink bolstered by a world of good sentiment. More than 500 cases of Mano Tinta have been produced, which could raise up to $50,000 for the cause.

This is the latest effort for the Fund for Vineyard and Farmworkers, which provides grants to local non-profit organizations that assist those who work in the fields. Areas of greatest need include housing, health care and education.

The Talleys established the fund, seeking a way to provide a legacy to the memory of their grandmother who had just passed away and to help the workers who are fundamental to their success.

"Farmworkers really are the backbone of my family's business," Brian Talley said. "Since I've been working here going on 30 years, I have come to know and appreciate what these people do for us. I also thought it's a great way to bring together the agricultural community in San Luis Obispo County, to support this kind of an effort."

Mano Tinta costs $18 a bottle and is a blend of three robust red varieties: syrah, petite syrah and tempranillo. The result is a big, rich wine that goes down smooth and offers something extra--a sip of social consciousness.

"Agriculture in California could not exist without the important contribution that these folks make," Talley said. "Farmworkers are literally responsible for getting all kinds of food products out of the field and onto our table. It's often wrongly classified as unskilled labor. In fact, there is quite a bit of skill associated with the various jobs that we do here."

Excerpts above from an article by Jim Morris at the California Farm Bureau Federation:
Unique wine gives back to farmworkers

SLO cafe caters to dogs

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Waggin' Tail Cafe and Barkery, a new boutique that caters to a dog's every need, has opened on Marsh Street in San Luis Obispo.

The Barkery offers a range of dog luxuries, from all-natural dog muffins and other luxury bones and biscuit treats, dog spa products, canvas flying discs to collapsible water dishes, Ruffwear water-rescue life vests and day backpacks.

Store owner Dawn Curnes started the business because she wanted to thank her dog Ruby, a black Lab mix that Curnes found at the pound, who saved Curnes when an intruder entered her home about a year and a half ago.

"If it had not been for Ruby, I don't know what would have happened,"" she said.

The store, at 722 Marsh St., is open daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursdays until 9 p.m.

California Wine Sales set Record

Thursday, April 06, 2006

California wine sales in the United States hit another record in 2005, a rise experts attribute to a combination of factors from the Supreme Court weigh-in on wine shipment to the vino-centric movie, "Sideways."

California wine shipments to U.S. markets amounted to 441 million gallons at a retail value of $16.5 billion, said Fredrikson, publisher of the Gomberg-Fredrikson Report. That was up 3 percent from the 2004 record-setting 428 million gallons, which had a retail value of about $15 billion.

About two out of every three bottles of wine sold in the United States comes from California. Looking at sales of all wine, including other states and foreign producers, domestic sales grew by about 5 percent to 703 million gallons valued at $26 billion.

Sales have been growing ever since 1991 when CBS' "60 Minutes" did a story on the perceived health benefits of wine.

But the rate of growth picked up about four years, Fredrikson said, in part because of the introduction of "supervalues," such as Two Buck Chuck, the nickname of Charles Shaw wines that sell for $1.99 in California.

The success of the wine road trip movie "Sideways," which opened in the fall of 2004, and last summer's Supreme Court shipping ruling -- forcing states to treat local and out-of-state wineries equally -- added to the momentum.

SLO County Agriculture led by Wine Grapes

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Led by wine grapes, San Luis Obispo County agriculture production grew 11 percent last year, adding $1.5 billion to the local economy, officials reported.

The county's annual crop report for 2005 showed agriculture brought in a record $596.7 million despite major reductions in avocado and apple crops.

Wine, cattle and vegetables led the way. Wine grapes grew by 47 percent in value over 2004 to $194 million.

"Ag in our county continues to be a strong economic force," county agricultural commission Bob Lilley said.

Higher demand and near-record prices for beef put cattle in the No. 2 position. The value of beef for 2005 was estimated at $53 million, down nearly 3 percent from $54.4 million in 2004.

Read entire article at:
Growers report a mixed bag for 2005
The Tribune, Julie Lynem

To see more of The Tribune, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to www.sanluisobispo.com. (c) 2005, The Tribune, San Luis Obispo, Calif. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

San Luis Obispo County Scrapbook Store, Scrapbooking Supplies at Simply Scrappin'

Monday, April 03, 2006

Simply Scrappin', located in San Luis Obispo County's beach town of Pismo Beach, is now under new ownership!

The new owners have been busy fixing up the store and ordering lots of new product. Scrapbook albums, paper, cardstock, stickers and embellishments are arriving this week from Chatterbox, Tapestry, Bazzill Paper, Scenic Route Paper Co., Flair Designs and more!

Plan to visit Simply Scrappin' and experience their friendly and knowledgable customer service along with the largest selection of the latest scrapbooking products on the Central Coast!

www.simply-scrappin.com

May 20 - Paso Robles Wine Festival

Saturday, April 01, 2006

Tickets are now available for the 2006 Paso Robles Wine Festival, which will take place Saturday, May 20, 2006, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the downtown city park in Paso Robles, California. The tasting features more than 70 wineries, making it the largest outdoor tasting in California, and is the marquee event during three days of special Paso Robles Wine Country festivities at more than 90 area wineries. Centrally located midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on California's scenic central coast, Paso Robles Wine Country is the state's third-largest and fastest growing wine region.

Paso Robles Wine Festival activities will begin Friday, May 19, when area wineries begin hosting on-site activities including winemaker dinners, special barrel tastings, tours, seminars and more. These activities will continue Saturday and Sunday throughout the region, and offer wine enthusiasts a chance to discover the distinct, different characteristics of Paso Robles wines while meeting the winemakers who created them.

Also on Friday, the annual Wine Festival Golf Tournament, benefiting the American Viticulture Foundation, will take place at Hunter Ranch Golf Course, with check in beginning at 7:30 a.m.

The main event takes place on Saturday, May 20, 2006, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the downtown city park, where thousands of wine enthusiasts will gather for an unlimited tasting of wines from more than 70 Paso Robles wineries during the Paso Robles Wine Festival. Event organizers have announced a number of changes for 2006, designed to enhance consumers' experience at the festival.

"The downtown city park is where the Paso Robles community gathers," said Stacie Jacob, executive director of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. "During the wine festival we get to invite all of our friends in the wine enthusiast community to come and share a day of celebrating the great wines of Paso Robles."

Changes for the 2006 Paso Robles Wine Festival include the advent of a designated tasting area, a new separate picnic area, commemorative Riedel glassware and a host of high end food vendors. The new designated tasting area allows visitors to enjoy unlimited wine tasting from 1 to 5 p.m. while listening to live music from two stages (one within the tasting area, one in the exterior picnic area). Only ticketed tasters will be allowed in the cordoned off area, which will cover about two thirds of the city park, making movement from each winery to winery booth easier.

Two ticket options are available for the Saturday afternoon tasting. A $50 Tasting Ticket package includes unlimited wine tasting from 1 to 5 p.m., as well as a commemorative Riedel tasting glass. A $15 Designated Driver ticket includes four free non-alcoholic beverages, a commemorative beverage container and entry to the tasting area for guests 18 and older. Tickets may be purchased online at pasowine.com or by phone at 800.549.WINE. Photo identification verifying age will be required at the time of entry.

The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance (PRWCA), represents wineries, growers and businesses in Paso Robles Wine Country. Centrally located between San Francisco and Los Angeles, along California's Central Coast, Paso Robles Wine Country is California's fastest growing wine region. It encompasses more than 26,000 vineyard acres and more than 170 wineries.

For more information, visit www.pasowine.com.