We just finished a trip up in Paso Robles where we spent two days exploring the winemaking region and visiting four different wineries, Tobin James, Eberle, Calcareous, and Opolo. We enjoyed visiting each winery, which all represented much different approaches to their tasting rooms.

It was somewhat hard to figure out which wineries to see, and even to get addresses. When I got back I decided to take another look and I found a great resource I will probably uses over and over again in the years to come.

Wine Institute

Since their founding in 1934, shortly after the repeal of Prohibition, Wine Institute has helped guide the California wine industry through 85 years of growth and prosperity. Membership in Wine Institute has increased from 42 wineries to over 1,000 today, and they have watched California wine become America’s favorite and win fans around the world.

Discover California Wines

Here is the website: https://discovercaliforniawines.com/

Learn About Wine For Free - Capstone California

Capstone California - A Comprehensive Study of California Wine - Presented by Wine Institute

If you want to learn about wine for the fun of it, there are hours of information here you can dive into. If you want to get certified, there are several levels that are offered: The program offers four levels of study, from novice to expert. Each builds on the level prior, and covers history, lore, geography, climate, soils, grapes, viticulture, vinification, aging and maturation, wine laws, official classifications, producers, vintages and the business of wine.

Here is the website: Capstone California Certification

California Varieties

This is a great resource going over the details for each type of grape variety. I bought books that aren't as good as what is on this website.

California Regions

This is a great resource going over each of the different wine making Regions in California. Again, I bought books that aren't as good as what is on this website.

Videos of Each Major Region

There are aerial map videos of the major regions. Central Coast Fly Over

Sonoma County Fly Over
North Coast Fly Over
Napa Valley Fly Over

Variety Maps

See what grape varieties are grown in each region.