Somewhere around October, I am planning on heading to the Central Coast and Paso Robles area and am hoping some of you can recommend some good wineries for me to visit.

I am not interested in the wineries that make these overly extracted fruit bombs. The ones I am interested are ones that have stuck with traditional California style of winemaking or are trying to make their wines old world style. Thank you for any recommendations.

Well, it depends on how far south you want to go, but if you get down to the Los Olivos or Solvang area, you'll want to get to Ephiphany (Eli Parker's own brand)in Los Olivos and in Solvang, Trio Cellars and Stolpman. Oh, they'll have the petite sirahs for you there, too!

I'd recommend these wineries:

Paso Robles - Justin, Turley, and Grey Wolf

San Luis Obispo - Edna Valley and Domaine Alfred

For links to these wineries, hours of operation, and more info go to: http://www.cheers2wine.com/central-coast-wine-tasting.html

quote:

Originally posted by PetiteSyrahFan:
...I am not interested in the wineries that make these overly extracted fruit bombs. The ones I am interested are ones that have stuck with traditional California style of winemaking or are trying to make their wines old world style...

isn't that a contradiction? just kidding, but i think i know what you have in mind... based on that, i'd recommend:

Babcock
Cargassachi
Garretson
Linne Calodo
L’Aventure

do yourself a favor, make time and contact Dave Corey @ Core Wine Co. in Santa Maria

Alban vineyards outside of SLO makes some great Rhone style stuff. Not sure if they do tours or anything, but my girlfriend used to work there and it was a really cool place and in a beautiful part of the county.

Here is a similar thread on this topic.

Also, Board-O posted notes on his visits to some of these wineries: 1, 2 & 3.

treat yourself to L'aventure and tablas creek...

I know the wines of the area quite well, but I've never visited, so I cannot vouch for the actual visiting experience. That said, within the context of your question (more restrained style with and an old world sensibility -- NONE of these except a Qupe white could really be mistaken for French)

Ojai
Melville
Brewer-Clifton
Qupe
Tablas Creek
Miura
Native 9

While I have been to several of these wineries, I highly recommend Tablas Creek if for no other reason to visit the nursery which supplies many other vineyards with Rhone varietals. There is something to be said for the pedigree of the winery as well.