FUN-travel: Wine Tasting – Murphys to Pismo Beach – Day 4

May 6, 2015 by  

  • Coffee was ready early, plus really good and strong, gives them extra points! And breakfast at Victoria Inn was exceptional! While they don’t serve a full breakfast, all of the items were fresh and homemade. There was plenty of fruit, bagels, lox, and all the extras. We actually were very lucky as the owner was there to greet and serve us this morning. Would definitely recommend staying here!

    talley

    Talley Vineyards

  • Our drive followed the Gold Route and was more of the same scenery we had yesterday. Except today, the roads were more windy and zigzagged across the mountains. At times it was a bit scary, as the road carved into the side of the mountain, narrowed with shear drop offs and no guard rails. Good thing was we had the road mostly to ourselves. The terrain went from lush grass to fading brown dotted with trees as we descended. Intermittent clusters of flowers clung to the edge ranging in color from reds, oranges, fuchsias, purples and white.

1st stopClavo Cellars – Templeton just south of Paso Robles – to pick up our wine club. More great wines at great prices. We took our whole years worth saving 25% + shipping charges.

2nd stopTalley Vineyards – Arroyo Grande – while we are “big red” wine fans they have some award winning Chardonnays and Pinots. Good enough to join too! Opted for the Estate wine club which hadn’t released yet – will pick them up on our next trip.

vineyards-of-central-california

3rd stop – Spyglass Inn, Pismo Beach – got a pre-pay deal – big, newly remodeled room, amenities include free Wi-Fi, plush robes, luxury bedding, upscale bath amenities, hair dryer, Keurig coffee maker, refrigerator, iron/ironing board, MP3 docking station, and flat screen TV. Some rooms also offer private terraces, relaxing fireplaces, and breathtaking ocean views.

  • The only turnoff was plastic cups in the room! When I asked the front desk for a wine glass they sent me to 20150401_184007_resizedthe restaurant. Only problem – the hotel doesn’t own the restaurant and so they couldn’t give me a wine glass. After much haggling with the staff and asking for the manager I got “one.” Absolutely ridiculous!

FUN-fact – Pismo Beach sits in the middle of the Central Coast wine corridor – Santa Barbara to Paso Robles – with almost 200 wineries.

  • I can’t be the only guest who has come here after visiting wineries and want to enjoy some in my room. When I stay at a hotel where the rack rate is $300 I expect glass, not plastic!

FUN-foodCracked Crab – Big Bucket for One – wild gulf shrimp & Bairdi crab – includes spicy Cajun sausage, red skin potatoes, corn cobetts – dumped on the table with sides of drawn butter, homemade cocktail and triple mustard sauces, warm sourdough rolls – and plenty for two!

  • We had eaten here a couple years ago and came back because the Alaskan Bairdi Crab is the best we’ve ever had. We were told only 6 restaurants in the US offer it.

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