Are you looking for the best Edna Valley wineries to visit? We found eight great options for you to consider. As with all things these days, you should contact these wineries in advance to see what hours are available. Also, you may want to ask what their current wine tasting options are. Everything is in flux, so best to know in advance.
Surprisingly, Edna Valley wineries are often unfamiliar even to lovers of Central Coast wine -- pinot noir and chardonnay from the Sta. Rita Hills of Santa Barbara County and the cabernets and zinfandels of Paso Robles. Traverse the two wine destinations and you could pass by the Edna Valley without even realizing it.
South of San Luis Obispo and east of Avila Beach, Highway 227 snakes between steep foothills and sloping vineyards revealing some of the best lesser-known wines of California. Head north through the vineyards and you’ll get a view of Bishop’s Peak and a few of the other Nine Sisters -- the volcanic “morros” that characterize the area’s geologic profile (like Morro Rock).
If you’re short on time there are tasting rooms along Highway 101 as you make your coastal commute, but venturing off the main route is the best way to enjoy the Edna Valley wineries. Stretched between the Santa Lucia Mountains and the Pacific Coast you’ll find historic vineyards and humble winemakers. Grapes are as varied as the landscape in which they grow: from pinot noir and chardonnay to Rhone classics and rare Italian varietals. The majority of winemakers in this area are Sustainability in Practice (SIP) certified, meaning they adhere to rigorous environmental requirements when producing wine.
Edna Valley may seem relatively modest and slow-paced -- that people overlook it is probably its greatest asset. Because the region hasn’t caught up to the intense industry production of Napa or even Santa Barbara (now 11 years after the film Sideways), Edna Valley wineries aren’t saddled with the expectations of an international reputation. They are free to experiment, to make changes if necessary, and because the land is less expensive, to offer quality bottles without inflated prices.
Best Edna Valley Wineries
Kynsi Winery
Kynsi is an Edna Valley favorite. The Othman family operates the
winery and estate vines, focusing their labors on pinot production. Tasting through the available pinot noirs is a great way to make a sensory evaluation of that elusive wine word, terroir. Kynsi wine represents a sophisticated and technical approach to winemaking in the region, using their estate grapes from the Stone Corral Vineyard and some from Bien Nacido Vineyard in Santa Maria. The name comes from the Finnish word for an owl’s talon. Owls represent an important element to the winery’s founding -- the Othmans recruited barn owls to eradicate a gopher problem while they were still making wine out of the old dairy barn. Enchanting and rustic, the structure stands adjacent to the tasting room.
Autry Cellars
Autry Cellars is one of the best Edna Valley wineries because the owner is a fanatic. Steve Autry is a winemaker like few others. He brings intensity and passion to his product. The tasting room is a simple affair. If you are someone who goes wine tasting because you love the amazing architecture or to view the art collection at the winery, this isn't the place for you. But if you love tasting wine with someone who knows a lot about winemaking, Autry is the place for you.
Steve focuses his efforts on making award-winning Bordeaux varietal wines. We love his Tertian Harmony Bourdeaux blend. This is a complex wine with powerful red fruit and a dark chocolate finish.
Tastings are by appointment only, so give them a call before visiting (805) 546-8669.
Chamisal Vineyards
The patio at Chamisal Vineyards (pronounced “sh-amisal”) is the best outdoor space in Edna Valley. Triangular sail shades temper bright 
sunlight and exposed bulb string lights brighten moderate winter nights. Stacked oak barrels enclose ample seating to one side but the open vineyard view and hilly backdrop are a thing of beauty: bring a picnic. Not that you are just here to gaze and graze. Chamisal offers a number of pinot noirs, one of them a bit unusual. The Stainless Pinot Noir is a young wine made with a blend of vineyard grapes and aged in stainless steel tanks -- it demonstrates the characteristics of pinot noir without the influence of oak barrel flavors. Tasting with friends? Check out the Educational Tour & Private Tasting. For $40 each, you get a tour of the vineyard, a tasting of the Estate Flight, and lunch.
Wolff Vineyards and Winery
A large portion of the vines at Wolff are planted to chardonnay, and they execute this wine superbly. Balanced between tropical and nutty, Wolff chardonnay offers a bit of the oak taste you crave without
assaulting you with buttered popcorn. All 125 acres at Wolff Vineyards are dry-farmed, meaning the vines are not irrigated and have to send their roots deep to perform well. Looking for something unusual? Teroldego is an Italian varietal rarely cultivated in America. Its rich ruby color is menacing but this one’s an easy drinker. It is easy to linger at the Wolff tasting room where the staff is friendly and engaging and the tasting room affords views all the way out to Bishop’s Peak (the tallest in the 20 million-year-old volcanic chain). Don’t forget a full quaff of the petite Sirah, owner/ grower/ vintner Jean-Pierre Wolff really shines with this inky gem.
Saucelito Canyon Vineyard
If you want a peek into the San Luis Obispo wine country's past, Saucelito Canyon is the perfect epilogue to your Edna Valley visit. Owner Bill Greenough settled in Saucelito Canyon, a remote nook in the upper Arroyo Grande Valley, in 1974. There, he discovered three acres of zinfandel vines that were originally planted around 1880 by 
Englishman Henry Ditmas. Thus began the Greenough family vintner story -- Greenough’s son Tom took over winemaking responsibilities in 2009. The Greenough's have added Grenache Blanc to their lineup which is anchored by zinfandel and tempranillo. For an engrossing historical account of Saucelito Canyon and the men who worked it, read The Mad Crush, by Sean Christopher Weir. The memoir hinges on the distinctive characters who have built up Central Coast wine, and the wild rumpus that is harvest in the vineyard.
Baileyana and Tangent Wines
The is one of the best Edna Valley wineries to visit because of the location and the white wines. The tasting room is housed in an old schoolhouse from the early 1900s. It sits across from vineyards that stretch to the horizons. This enchanting location is perfect for tasting the wines of Baileyana and Tangent.
Tangent produces some of the best white wines on the Central Coast. The Albarino is an absolute standout wine that you should taste during your visit. Baileyana features some beautiful red wines. You should try their Pinot Noir if they are pouring it during your visit.
Please contact the tasting room for a reservation before you visit.
Biddle Ranch Vineyards
This is a stunning property. From the moment you step on the property, you know this winery is being run by people who care. The attention to detail starts with the beautiful olive tree-lined entry and continues into the tasting. room. The farmhouse modern design of the tasting room is both clean and elegant. The large door at the back tempts to you venture outside to taste. The views of the Edna Valley from this spot are breathtaking.
Biddle Ranch Vineyards is one of the best Edna Valley wineries to visit because of the serenity you feel when you visit. They feature some wonderful Pinot Noir wines and even have a nice sparkler for you to try.
We suggest you take the time to visit!
