A Seaside Weekend In Cambria

Welcome to the stunning village nestled on the great Pacific Coast Highway ~ Cambria, California

Moonstone Beach in Cambria, California

Situated on the great Pacific Coast Highway 1, the town of Cambria sits smack dab in the middle of San Francisco and Los Angeles, in San Luis Obispo (SLO) county.  

With breathtaking shorelines and coastal influence, it’s no wonder why they are producing some award winning cool climate wines here.  I had the best weekend exploring the quaint town, taking in the local wine tasting rooms, and dining at its neighborhood restaurants.  A weekend in Cambria feels like a stepping back to a slower, more relaxed time in California. 

So, get ready for CaliWineGal, SLO style!

First stop ~ Madeline’s on Moonstone.  Conveniently located at the “Cambria Shores Inn” (the quaint oceanside retreat where I stayed), Madeline’s on Moonstone offers a delightful selection of wines from renowned winemaker Jeff Branco.  These wines were the perfect introduction to decelerating a bit and taking in the pacific sunset, where surfers were enjoying the last of the days waves.  Jeff’s favorite varietal is Petit Verdot.  And let me tell you, one taste of Gigi’s Cuvee (which is Petit Verdot dominant) and I can see why!  These wines, mostly reds coming from inland neighbor Paso Robles, hit the spot on this particular cool seaside evening.

After a fresh cod sandwich at nearby Moonstone Beach Bar and Grill, and my head hit the pillow for a perfect nights slumber next to the waves rolling into the shore.  

Day 2

Nestled amongst the hills just outside downtown Cambria, and less than 3 miles from the cool waters of the Pacific Ocean, sits an old 1800’s dairy barn and farm repurposed solely for Stolo Vineyards and Winery.  

This family winery is producing some killer white AND red cool coastal wines!  At Stolo, they only use only estate grapes coming from either their Creekside or Hillside vineyard, which is reflected by a light or dark label.  

What are they growing?  Some fabulous Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah.  We had so much fun tasting the differences in the resulting wines, which shared unique styles dependent on which vineyard they were coming from.  

This is a winery to keep your eyes on because they just hired superstar sommelier and author, turned winemaker Rajat Parr to head their winemaking team starting with the 2021 vintage!

I am certainly staying tuned!

After spending a couple hours at the vineyards, we meandered around downtown, which is full of art galleries, locally-owned restaurants, and of course tasting rooms.

Two tasting rooms in particular were serving up fabulous experiences and wines!

Our first stop was Moonstone Cellars.  Walking into Moonstone feels kind of like walking into “Cheers”.  Its convivial vibe shines through from the casual tasting room with a walk-up bar to the the courtyard, where you can enjoy a glass or bottle with friends. Producing a wide array of varietals mainly from the Central Coast, winemaker Todd is sure to find a wine for every palate!  I was particularly fond of the Viognier and Grenache, which went home with me! A great stop for dog lovers too!

On to our last stop!

The downtown tasting room, Cutruzzola Vineyards, is a place to geek out or just sit back and enjoy the beautifully crafted Pinot Noir and Riesling coming from the steep south-facing slopes of their local estate vineyard, “Riven Rock”, which is just outside of town.  We were lucky to taste a vertical of their Pinot Noir Gloria Estate, PLUS their inaugural Blanc de Noir Sparkling wine, which is made in the traditional method! Reyna is a wiz with her knowledge of the different Pinot Noir clones and the attributes each one brings to this fussy varietal. Cutruzzola is a must-stop for anyone who is ready to soak up wine knowledge and catch a glimpse into the future of this lovely coastal wine region.

After a marvelous day of wine tasting, dinner at Robin’s Restaurant was just what we needed! Located in a historic building downtown, Robin’s serves up eclectic and worldly cuisine. Along with the beautifully prepared food was equally incredible service, all within one of the prettiest restaurants I’ve had the chance to experience.

Cambria is a true hidden gem on the beautiful California Coast…a place to relax, rewind and enjoy the good life!

For more information, visit https://visitcambriaca.com