Emerging trends in SLO County wine and beverage sector

This collection of stories showcases the changing landscape of San Luis Obispo County’s wine and beverage sector.

The bankruptcy of Laetitia Vineyards poses questions for local wineries and their employees, while Baywood Park prepares for two new wine bars and other enterprises that may reshape the neighborhood. Duncan Alley’s transformation into a new beverage destination demonstrates interest in community-driven spaces, as seen with spots like Ancient Owl Beer Garden and Shrine Brewing’s new taproom.

Policy shifts may affect the region, with proposed tariffs potentially raising production costs for wineries, and water shortages challenging both farmers and residents in areas above the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin. Meanwhile, Paso Robles wineries like Indigené Cellars build deeper community ties through philanthropic efforts and diversity, and conversations grow about avoiding pitfalls like those seen in Napa’s luxury-focused wine scene.

Read the stories below.

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Third Wheel Tours, a new sidecar motorcycle wine tour, partners with Cass Winery in Paso Robles to take customers on tasting trips into the vineyard. By Laura Dickinson

NO. 1: TRUMP’S TARIFF PLAN COULD RAISE PRICES ON GOODS — INCLUDING THAT BOTTLE OF SLO COUNTY WINE

The plan could have larger impacts on SLO County’s economy as well. | Published January 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Hannah Poukish Chloe Shrager

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Raymond Smith, owner/winemaker with Indigené wines, seen here on March 12, 2025, was recently recognized in the prestigious San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. By David Middlecamp

NO. 2: HOW AN AWARD-WINNING SLO COUNTY WINEMAKER IS GIVING BACK TO COMMUNITY — ONE BOTTLE AT A TIME

“My life is full because of that,” Indigené founder Raymond Smith told The Tribune. | Published March 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sadie Dittenber

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Candy Nachel spends about $350 per month to truck in water to her home on El Pomar Road east of Templeton. She stores the water in a tank, seen here on Feb. 27, 2025. By David Middlecamp

NO. 3: NO WATER IN WINE COUNTRY: HOW SLO COUNTY RESIDENTS SURVIVE WHEN THEIR WELLS GO DRY

They truck water in, but it’s expensive. And each day, they turn on that tap and wonder if they’ll run out before the next delivery arrives. | Published April 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Stephanie Zappelli

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Two people on paddleboards take to the waters of the Morro Bay Estuary during a King Tide at the Baywood Park Pier on Nov. 15, 2024. By John Lindsey

NO. 4: CHANGES COMING TO BAYWOOD PARK, INCLUDING 2 NEW WINE BARS AND OTHER BUSINESSES

Find out what’s new at the waterfront town in Los Osos. | Published March 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by John Lindt

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Ancient Owl Beer Garden and Bottle Shoppe has an attractive brick patio area in San Luis Obispo’s Duncan Alley. The beer garden is located at 3197 Duncan Rd, Unit A in San Luis Obispo. By Laura Dickinson

NO. 5: HOW SLO’S DUNCAN ALLEY BECAME A HOT SPOT FOR WINE, BEER AND MORE: ‘A MINI TIN CITY’

Taprooms, wineries and a coffee shop have moved into the new marketplace in San Luis Obispo’s LoBro neighborhood. | Published March 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Hannah Poukish

Third Wheel Tours, a new sidecar motorcycle wine tour, partners with Cass Winery in Paso Robles to take customers on tasting trips into the vineyard. By Laura Dickinson

NO. 6: THE ‘GRAPES OF WRATH’ REVISITED: FROM NAPA’S FOLLY TO SLO’S FUTURE | OPINION

Columnist Clive Pinder has advice for SLO County wine industry: “Let’s not sell our soul chasing Napa’s shadow.” | Published June 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Clive Pinder

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.