These days, sustainability is a hot-hot-hot buzz word in winegrowing, and the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA is a exceptionally coveted real estate tagline for a wine label. But it wasn’t always thus, especially back in 1973 when Rich and Claudia Smith began planting what would become their 400-acre Paraiso Vineyards. … [Read more...]

Too many cooks spoil the broth, but Two Cooks are juuuuuust right when you’re talking about Russell and Heather Thomas’s Two Cooks Catering. … [Read more...]

Fig = Good Food At first glance, it might not seem that Chris Dillow’s diminutive Atascadero eatery – Fig Good Food – could possibly be the home of so many yummy bold flavors. How can all that come out of that little place? However, for those in the know, the “Good Food” part of the name is redundant. You really just need to say “Fig” to get mouths watering. After many years in the restaurant industry at the “front of the house” (as the hospitality side of the biz is called), Dillow turned … [Read more...]

Who doesn’t want to become savvier about wine? If you’re a newbie taster or even an average wine drinker, you can learn the difference between your tannins and your tannats in Stasi Seay’s “Wine Savvy 101.” A longtime pal of Central Coast Vineyard Team, Seay has been involved in all aspects of the wine industry throughout her career. Trust us, this is a gal that knows how to manage her canopy! Plus, her easy-going attitude promises that Wine Savvy 101 will “wine education without all the … [Read more...]