California's Highway One-Laguna Beach's wine trail

June 21, 12:43 PMSF Upscale Travel ExaminerLee Daley

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Laguna Beach’s Wine Trail

You can get your beach fix and still sample world class, award-winning wines by combining a Laguna Beach getaway with visits to some superb wine-tasting venues.

Laguna Canyon:

Just this past weekend I enjoyed a 2005 Wyland Artists Series Cabernet Sauvignon, a stunning Gold Medal Award winner, at Laguna Canyon Winery. The boutique winery lies nestled in the canyon’s foothills within walking distance of downtown Laguna’s beaches and art galleries. Using premium grapes from Sonoma, Napa and Washington’s Columbia Valleys, vintners Marlowe and Darren Huber crush, oak barrel age, ferment and bottle their award-winners on site. On the first Friday of each month, the winery hosts tasting parties with live music and delicious appetizers.

The 2005 Cabernet I tasted is the first release from the new Wyland Cellars Collection that Laguna Canyon Winery has inaugurated. Only 500 cases of this blend were made with a portion of sales being donated to the Wyland Foundation.

The Wyland Foundation was founded by Laguna Beach marine life artist and environmentalist, Wyland. The foundation encourages environmental awareness through education programs, life-size public art projects and community events.

Five minutes away from the winery, I discovered the Laguna Culinary Arts cooking school. Owner Nancy Milby has created an eclectic establishment that features dozens of gourmet cheeses, a bistro café and a separate wine shop. As a certified sommelier, Milby hand picks every label in the shop. She finds great pleasure in showcasing high-quality local and international wines for under $30. More than 350 labels from around the world grace the shelves along with a small library of wine related paperbacks and coffee-table books. The Café hosts Happy Hours most evenings, often with cheese plates and chef specials.

Downtown:

At another venue in downtown Laguna Beach, you’ll find a huge selection of wines from around the world. California Taste Fine Wine Shop hosts tastings most weekends. Owner Bill Benziger enjoys pouring new varietals and the shop sells several premium organic wines

Prefer to taste fine wine with dinner and a view of the ocean? Head to the historic Hotel Laguna where you can watch waves crash along the coast from the hotel’s Terrace, a patio above the shores of the Pacific Ocean serving lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch, Or choose the hotel’s Claes Restaurant. Its extensive wine list features more than 25 different wines by the glass. Wine Spectator Magazine has recognized the Claes Restaurant with its Award of Excellence for nine years..

Another Laguna Beach venue, Tabu Grill, has received the highest Zagat rating in Southern California with a rating of 29 out of a possible 30. Tabu Grill’s internationally focused wine list includes a half-bottle collection. Patrons can also split a glass, an option I find very thoughtful. It’s also a nice way to sample vintages from the smaller family owned wineries and more obscure labels that Tabu includes on their wine list.

Watch for my upcoming review of Laguna Beach restaurants and resorts serving noteworthy wines.

California’s Highway One, known as Pacific Coast Highway or PCH, runs right through Laguna Beach connecting it with San Diego to the south and Los Angeles to its north,

Visit the Laguna Beach Visitors Bureau at www.lagunabeachinfo.org