Rhone Wines Shine at Zaca Mesa Winery in Los Olivos, CA

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IMG_2259It’s no secret I love the wine on the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail in Santa Barbara County.  There are so many hidden gems on the trail, and while Zaca Mesa is certainly more widely distributed than many other wineries in the area, it has some unique wines you can only find in their tasting room.

Zaca Mesa Winery
6905 Foxen Canyon Rd.
Los Olivos, CA 93441
www.zacamesa.com

For starters, Zaca Mesa is located on some beautiful grounds out in the Santa Maria countryside. There’s even a hiking path through some of their vineyards you can take a walk through, as well as an oversized chess set that I’m sure is super fuIMG_1121 (1)n after a few glasses (not that I would know!). The outdoor area is stunning, and since the weather on the central coast is always fantastic, it’s the perfect place to sip some wine and enjoy a sunny day.

Head inside for your wine and you’ll be greeted by the very friendly staff. Zaca Mesa grows a lot of what you expect to find on the central coast- Chardonnay and some excellent GSM blends. But for the adventurous wine taster, they have some exciting and unique choices. Both their Marsanne and their Roussanne are fantastic whites. I was a little surprised when they recommended the Roussanne serves at cellar temperature instead of chilled, but it has so much body that it works beautifully. If you are into a classic Viognier, their’s is one of the best I’ve had from the region.

IMG_1119 (1)And if you’re a Rhone fan like me, you must try their Z Cuvee and Syrah. They have some special limited Syrah’s too that are just fantastic if you can get your hands on them. And if you fancy something a bit lighter, their Grenache is the bomb dot com. The best part about Zaca Mesa is they are by far one of the most affordable wineries on the trail. Tastings are $10 a person and most of the wine is under $40 a bottle (with many much cheaper options!)

If you are looking for a fun, laid back tasting on the central coast, make sure you visit Zaca Mesa! Leave the pretension at home and have some great wine with some fun people.

Elizabeth

In 2012 I moved to LA with no job and no plan other than that I wanted to work in the entertainment industry. So naturally, the first thing I did was get a job at a liquor store. Thus began my love affair with wine and craft beer. I have always been a foodie, even as a child (thanks Mom and Dad!), so it only made sense to start playing with wine and beer pairings and checking out the kind of food the wineries and breweries are serving up to go along side their libations. I love traveling, drinking local, and finding the newest and most unique beers and wines on the market. My partner Brad also works in the wine and beer industry, and we have a cat who apparently loves wine as much as we do because we often catch her batting corks around the house or chewing on the tops of bottles on our wine rack. I look forward to sharing with you all my favorite drinks, bars, breweries, and tasting experiences! Follow my adventures on Instagram @thelovelyliz.

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