California Trip

[thewoodman]

Paso/SLO is an area I do a couple of times a year, when visitng friends or on business. Matter of fact, I'll be driving back that way from LA after Xmas.

I strongly concur with the Eberle and Justin suggestions. Another small, but good Paso winery is Dark Star. Even smaller, but still worthy of mention is Nadeau.

Sounds like you'll sail right by Arroyo Grande and Edna Valley area. Talley and Edna Valley are worth getting off the freeway for.
In Santa Barbara County I like Firestone and Zaca Mesa, but haven't been to most of the wineries there.

Didn't find any of the Monterey County wineries to be really exceptional the last time I was there, although Bernardus is good for Overoaked (and overpriced) chardonnay. You seem to have mentioned the Salinas Valley wineries, but many in the Carmel Valley have tasting rooms. There's also a nice wine bar/retail store near the Monterey Bay Aquarium that carries all the Monterey product (can't recall the name).

Just my two cents.