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• All eyes on county for California Wine Month

  All eyes on county for California Wine Month

  The grape harvest has begun to draw attention to the state’s wine industry. Gov. Jerry Brown and the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors have again proclaimed September as California Wine Month.

  The San Luis Obispo County Visitors and Conference Bureau is promoting upcoming consumer wine events, while regional trade groups are on the road.

  “California wine is so important to our local area here,” said Brittany Garcia, the visitors bureau’s community and member relations manager. “I think it really shines a light on San Luis Obispo County wines and wine regions.”

• Wine Notes: Cold spring helps pinot crop after recent rain

  Wine Notes: Cold spring helps pinot crop after recent rain

  Ironically, poor weather in the spring is helping protect Laetitia Vineyard & Winery’s pinot noir crop as it faces this late harvest and recent rain.

  April frosts caused a condition known as “shatter,” as grape buds were destroyed by the freeze.

  But that led to looser clusters on the pinot noir vines, said Lino Bozzano, vice president of vineyard operations for Laetitia, located south of Arroyo Grande.

• Wineries tap social media in marketing

  Wineries tap social media in marketing

  The owners of Kynsi Winery, like many others on the Central Coast, know social media has become an important business tool.

  And while it’s free, finding the time to use it and knowing what approaches will work can be difficult.

  “We don’t have a lot of staff,” owner Gwen Othman admitted. “We’re a small family winery. We have a blog, but it’s tough to keep up on.”

• Biz Buzz: Guadalupe tavern moving to Orcutt

  Biz Buzz: Guadalupe tavern moving to Orcutt

  Far Western Tavern in Guadalupe, which has won numerous awards for its steak and barbecue, is moving to Old Town Orcutt in May or June next year.

  Lack of weekday business volume and a pending costly retrofit of its building in Guadalupe prompted the decision to relocate, according to general manager Michael Cordsen.

  The restaurant will continue to seat a total of about 250 people at the new Clark Avenue site at Pacific and Clark streets in Orcutt, he said.

• Wine Notes: Talley Vineyards is a product of persistence

  Wine Notes: Talley Vineyards is a product of persistence

  When Don Talley first planted grapevines in the Arroyo Grande Valley, he wasn’t sure which ones would flourish, so he experimented, said his son Brian Talley.

  That was 1982, when grapes were just a tiny portion of Central Coast agriculture. Don’s father, Oliver Talley, had been growing vegetables there since 1948.

  “I have to hand it to my dad’s persistence,” said Brian Talley, now president of Talley Vineyards. “He learned that the cool, coastal influence of the Arroyo Grande Valley could produce world-class chardonnay and pinot noir.”