Here are some more details provided by Sunset.

Be part of this world-class event where aficionados meet in search of the hottest culinary and wine trends on the West Coast. Enjoy wine, food and a rich culinary immersion.

During the month of May, purchase your weekend pass to Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast for only $100. Join Sunset editors along with celebrity chefs Ted Allen, Emmy® Award winner, author and host of Food Network’s Chopped and Aarti Sequeira host of Food Network’s Aarti Party.

The four-day event includes the Main Event at Santa Margarita Ranch, a series of Adventure Tours and special events and dinners held at unique locations across San Luis Obispo County, located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. For more details about SAVOR or to purchase tickets go to www.savorcentralcoast.com.

The inaugural SLO Marathon has been certified by USA Track & Field as an official qualifier for the heralded Boston Marathon.  Any runner worth his or her salt-lined sweaty technical shirt has heard stories and holds a secret desire to brag, ever so slightly, to their fellow enduros how they have hit that age group time split and “qualified for Boston.”

What better, more beautiful way to do it than running through downtown San Luis Obispo, out through vineyard-covered hills and finishing at the historic Madonna Inn?

And once you’ve finished and hit that qualifying mark, it will be just in time for a late breakfast or early lunch.

Qualifying for Boston is coveted and oft bragged about because it’s not an easy feat. For men 55 and older, it means running the full 26.2 miles in under 3:45; women in that age group get an extra 30 minutes. The qualifying time only gets faster when you go south of that age group.

Even if you are not quite Boston ready, there is still no better place to run in the sun-drenched warmth in April then in SLO.

There is also a 5k and half marathon option, but with the event being just a few weeks away it is on the brink of selling out so register soon.

http://www.slomarathon.com/

SLO County is known for its access to locally grown foods and that fact is backed up with daily markets operating in communities throughout the county. In SLO alone there are three throughout the week, not counting the Thursday night granddaddy of them all.

Check out more about the farmers’ markets and what’s in season now at the market.   http://visitslo.com/cm/Activities/Farmers%20Market.html

Honored guests, actor Harrison Ford and renowned Hollywood photographer Timothy White, will start off the evening’s festivities at 5 p.m. by flying into Hearst Ranch’s private airfield, just as William Randolph Hearst’s high-profile Hollywood friends once did.

“Hollywood to Hearst Castle” Event Details

Starting at 5 p.m. with the welcoming of Harrison Ford and Timothy White as they touch down, Hollywood to Hearst Castle includes a motorcade of vintage cars to the castle; a private tour of the castle; indoor poolside cocktails and hors d’oeuvres with celebrity and VIP guests; and an intimate conversation with Harrison Ford and Timothy White while viewing White’s work on the screen of the Hearst Castle private movie theater. This part of the event is by invitation only.

The event will then open up to additional guests and move to the Hearst Castle Theatre at the Visitor Center with an exhibit of Timothy White’s work at 7 p.m. White’s longtime friend and colleague Harrison Ford will present him with the SLOIFF’s inaugural Spotlight Award tribute, created to highlight key figures involved in behind-the-scenes filmmaking, at 7:30 p.m.

The event concludes with a grand finale screening of Citizen Kane from 8-10 p.m.

Historic Screening of Citizen Kane at Hearst Castle

It surprised the festival’s organizers somewhat when Steve Hearst–William Randolph Hearst’s great-grandson and a Vice-President of the Hearst Corporation–gave his hearty endorsement to this showing. They thought he might be resistant to the idea, since the film is after all a scathing indictment of Hearst’s life as a press lord. And this occasion is almost certainly the first time Citizen Kane has been shown at San Simeon. Both William Randolph Hearst’s companion Marion Davies and his son William Randolph Hearst, Jr. stated that Hearst himself never saw Citizen Kane. Nearly everyone else saw it, however. And seventy years after its 1941 debut, many people still form their opinions of Hearst, Davies, and La Cuesta Encantada  (The Enchanted Hill, Hearst’s formal name for his beloved San Simeon), based solely on this film. Steve Hearst feels it is time to give Citizen Kane an informed viewing at San Simeon, and place it in its proper context as a sketch of Hearst’s life drawn with considerable artistic license.

“Citizen Kane is a classic American film but is in no way a historically accurate depiction of William Randolph Hearst or his favorite place in the world, his ranch,” Steve Hearst said.

Tickets for the Spotlight Award tribute and Citizen Kane screening (7-10 p.m.) are $50 each, and include wine tasting and light appetizers. They will be available starting January 23 at slofilmfest.org or by phoning (805) 546-3456.

Hollywood to Hearst Castle is a San Luis Obispo International Film Festival event, in cooperation with Hearst Castle, Friends of Hearst Castle, California State Parks and SanLuisObispoVacations.com.

The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival takes place March 7-11, 2012. The complete event lineup will be announced by January 31, 2012. For more information about festival passes, movie venues, lodging for the event and other guest information, visit slofilmfest.org.

“The growth trends are impressive for the second year of SAVOR,” said Stacie Jacob, executive director of the San Luis Obispo County Visitors and Conference Bureau. “SAVOR is the type of event that falls in line with our mission to create an experience and market the county as a choice destination leveraging our key assets of food, wine and a lifestyle the traveler seeks. We are excited about year three and our continued marketing partnership with the Sunset magazine team.”

The 2011 four-day event held throughout San Luis Obispo County featured more than 38 local chefs, 200 wineries and a variety of opportunities to interact with Sunset editors at 15 unique events. Special places featured as part of the four-day SAVOR adventure included Santa Margarita Ranch, Hearst Castle, Pismo Pier, San Luis Obispo Mission Plaza, Paso Robles Downtown Square, the coastline from Cambria to Morro Bay to Avila Beach and area artisanal farms and wineries.

“Sunset is thrilled that we will be returning to one of our favorite places in the West –California’s Central Coast,” said Barb Newton, president, Sunset Publishing. “We look forward to providing content, personalities, and exposure that will contribute to making 2012 SAVOR’s best year ever.”

The plans for 2012 are underway. Event planners will follow a similar four-day line-up giving guests an opportunity to meet local farmers, winemakers, chefs and artisan producers of the Central Coast. New features underway for 2012 include celebrity guest chefs, more opportunities to shop at SAVOR, new backyard farm ideas and a celebration of the new Sunset International Wine Competition.

Guests agree with the SAVOR experience as 88 percent said the event met, exceeded or greatly exceeded their expectations in a post survey follow-up. At the same time, 82 percent plan to return in 2012.

The 2012 sponsorship drive is underway with national sponsors Oroweat and Infiniti already confirmed with more to come! Event planners thank the dedicated 2011 sponsors who are proudly listed at www.savorcentralcoast.com/event_sponosrs. Event planners are working closely with returning and new sponsors and the Sunset team to ensure SAVOR the Central Coast 2012 is one not to be missed.

Save the date and watch for key updates at www.savorcentralcoast.com.

The hotel is one of only 24 properties selected from the IHG system of nearly 2,000 hotels within its brand in the Americas – Canada, the United States, Latin America -for achieving the highest levels of excellence in all aspects of operation, from quality and product to customer satisfaction.  A 2011 Torchbearer trophy, the company’s symbol of excellence, will be on permanent display at the hotel.

“It is my pleasure to name the Holiday Inn Express & Suites of Atascadero as one of the finest hotels in our industry,” said Kirk Kinsell, president, the Americas, IHG.  “This hotel embodies the spirit, product and service that continue to make IHG properties known and admired throughout the world, continuing our mission to deliver great hotels guests love.”

Recently designated the “Happiest Place in the USA” by National Geographic author Dan Buettner, San Luis Obispo, or “SLO,” offers visiting racers a happy setting in which to experience a runners’ high: scenic views, clean air, crisp ocean breezes, and before and after-race farm-fresh wine tasting, dining, and live entertainment at the event’s three-day “SLO Life Expo.”

Founded by Get Off the Couch Potato Sports Productions LLC, with Title Sponsorship from the City of San Luis Obispo’s Tourism Business Improvement District, the inaugural event will feature a full and half-marathon benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training and a 5K race benefiting the local Special Olympics Chapter.

Honoring Earth Day, the event coordinators plan to take extra measures to ensure a “green” race environment by asking racers to participate in the “BYOB” (bring your own bottle) initiative and by using recycled paper and plastic for marketing and vendor materials.

Packet pick-up is scheduled for Friday, April 20 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, April 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the SLO Life Expo at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo. On Race Day, the SLO Life Expo will open at 7 a.m. and conclude at 4 p.m. Each finisher receives a technical t-shirt, medal, inaugural commemorative program, as well as a “green” virtual goodie bag.

San Luis Obispo, CA hotels offer the ideal home-base for vacationing runners to experience the area’s lively downtown shopping district, endless outdoor adventures, and one-of-a-kind historic and cultural attractions such as Hearst Castle, Mission San Luis Obispo, world-class wine country, and the famous Thursday Evening Farmer’s Market.

For more information and updates on the inaugural San Luis Obispo Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K, visit www.SLOMarathon.com.

The Wine Advocate- October 31, 2011- Talley-Ho!

It’s hard to believe but the Talley family, led by owner/winemaker Brian Talley, is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Talley Vineyards. This small oasis, essentially a mono-appellation consisting of one winery dedicated to classy, elegant, long-lived Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, is located in the Arroyo Grande Valley. Ironically, their fame and fortune are probably associated more with avocados and other vegetables, with the closest winery, the outstanding Alban Vineyards, situated about 5 miles to the north. Alban specializes in Rhône Valley varietals (such as Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache and Viognier), and other than passionate owners with high standards, the two wineries have nothing else in common.

I sat down with Brian Talley in late September for a remarkable tasting. As long time readers of The Wine Advocate are aware, these wines have consistently received terrific reviews since I first visited the property many years ago. However, I have never before followed up with a tasting of older vintages to see how they are aging, even though my instincts suggested there was no reason why they should not age well given the quality of the winemaking, the low yields, and the natural winemaking philosophy employed by Brian Talley. Our tastings concentrated on one vineyard, Rosemary’s Vineyard, which is about eight miles east of the Pacific Ocean. As my previous reviews will show, this is not the only top vineyard owned by Talley. They also produce world-class, high-quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Rincon Vineyard and own several other promising sites such as the Stone Corral and Oliver’s vineyards. However, the Rosemary’s Vineyard is the one that surrounds the Talley residence, about a mile west of the Rincon Vineyard. It was planted between 1987 and 1995, and the soils are characterized by decomposed/ fragmented sandstone loam (that has a distinctive white character) with some clay in the subsoils. This reasonably steep, well-drained, hillside vineyard is a cool-climate site given its proximity to the Pacific Ocean as well as the prevalence of cool breezes that blow through this region.

Like many of his colleagues, Brian Talley is committed to an artisanal as well as Burgundian approach to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir winemaking. The Chardonnay is whole cluster pressed then settled in tank before it is racked into medium-toasted French oak barrels, largely from the forests of Allier and Vosges. The percentage of new oak utilized (between 25-35%) is relatively small by California standards, and the wine spends an average of 14-16 months in barrel prior to being bottled unfiltered. Two critical factors in the Chardonnay production is that all of the fruit goes through full malolactic, which allows the wines to be bottled unfiltered. Moreover, they are never acidified. As for the Pinot Noir, the general philosophy is to destem although in vintages where there is good stem ripeness (known as lignification) as much as 25% whole clusters can be used. The Pinot Noir is also put through a typical Burgundian cold soak of 3 to 5 days in order to extract more color, aroma and flavor. Indigenous yeasts are the catalysts for fermentation, following which the wine is moved to medium to heavily toasted Allier and Vosges barrels where it spends 15 to 18 months before being bottled unfiltered. The percentage of new oak used for the Pinot Noir averages between 30-40% depending on the vintage character.

The advantage of a tasting such as this is that the total focus is on one terroir, the personality of one specific plot of land, in this case the 28-acre Rosemary’s Vineyard. The original plantings of Chardonnay came from the Old Wente selections that Brian Talley accessed from Larry Hyde further up in Sonoma and Napa. The original Pinot Noir selections included some of the Mount Eden clones as well as the newer Dijon clones when new sections were planted in 1995.

In terms of viticulture, the Talley philosophy includes long-term sustainability and bio-dynamically based farming techniques (essentially organic viticulture). The original vineyards include the much wider spacing of the old California system of 12 x 6 feet, and the newer plantings are 6 x 3 feet. Yields range from 2 tons or less of fruit per acre for the Chardonnay Rosemary’s Vineyard to an even more draconian 1 to 1.5 tons of fruit per acre for the Rosemary’s Pinot Noir. Alcohol levels are moderate (between 14 and 14.5%), although in the ripest years the alcohol levels have occasionally reached 15%. Most of the harvesting takes place at night (when it’s very cool), and the 28-acre Rosemary’s Vineyard is evenly split between Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

What stood out in this tasting was just how remarkably long-lived these wines are (although that is not often a factor in consumers’ wine purchasing decisions these days). While they are gorgeous to drink young, they evolve beautifully, and, like most age worthy offerings, they lose a lot of their baby fat and youthful exuberance, becoming more subtle and graceful as they age. Several of the finest Chardonnays in the tasting were some of the older ones. The Pinot Noir were more variable, especially those that were the oldest. This is a remarkably consistent viticultural site and the Talley’s have been faithful to their overall philosophy of winemaking, élevage and bottling since the beginning. Moreover, their pricing strategy makes these wines among the finest values for world-class Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that exist. That in itself should peak consumers’ interest in these wines. Of course, the older wines are largely unavailable, and thus the following tasting notes are for academic purposes only. It is still possible to find some vintages of these limited production, high quality wines from 2006 onward.

One of the interesting aspects, whether from Burgundy or California, is that I often find that certain winery’s Chardonnays age more slowly and better than their Pinot Noirs. Talley may be one of those wineries. Top vintages of their Chardonnays generally have 15 or more years of cellaring potential, and their Pinot Noirs are usually best consumed before reaching age 15. There will always be exceptions, but the wines of Talley Vineyards merit serious attention. Pricing has always been fair and with prices of approximately $65 a bottle, they represent reasonable bargains for wines of such aromatic and flavor dimensions. While they are not inexpensive, compared to French white and red Burgundies of similar quality, they are steals.

For more information on Talley Vineyards, or to get your name on their mailing list, etc., visit the winery’s web site or call them at (805) 489-0446.

—Robert Parker

Please visit the Talley website www.talleyvineyards.com for full review text and ratings.

San Luis Obispo Vintners Association announces their 21st Annual Rockin’ Harvest Celebration, November 4th – 6th. The Grand Tasting and Auction will take place on Saturday, November 5th from noon – 3 at the beautiful Avila Beach Golf Resort.

Over 60 wineries and restaurants from the San Luis Obispo region are featured in the scenic seaside setting of the Avila Beach Golf Resort. Winemakers, local chefs and wine lovers share the fruits of their labor and passion for the art of winemaking. This auction is not your typical run of the mill auction. Be prepared to be entertained by the winemakers as they show off their lifestyle auction lots.

Live music will be provided by The Kicks, a local band and favorite among many on the central coast. Back by popular demand, this year’s auction will once again open up with a live music set from the Winemaker’s Band, ‘The Crushtones’, a group formed especially for last year’s Annual Event. For locals, and those from out of the area, this is a great time to explore San Luis Obispo and discover the culinary treasures of our unique region.

General Admission Tickets to the Grand Tasting Event on Saturday are $80, or $60 when you book your stay in Avila Beach. More information on the event, check out www.slowine.com.  Don’t miss out on this unforgettable weekend in SLO Wine Country!

Even the members of the band have trouble describing their music, but they all know whatever they do, it always comes out sounding uniquely like Marley’s Ghost. Mandolinist Jon Wilcox thinks it’s the vocals. Steel guitarist Ed Littlefield says it’s the broad repertoire. Guitarist Dan Wheetman just calls it American roots music, if you count reggae.

“These men are mining for emotional convergences of voices and instruments, sentiments and sensibilities, song and style, and often find it in rich, unexpected combinations.” —Joel Selvin Senior Pop Music Critic, San Francisco Chronicle

The most important ingredients in the Marley’s Ghost equation are the characters in the band. The five multi-instrumentalists- Dan Wheetman, Jon Wilcox, Mike Phelan, Ed Littlefield Jr., and Jerry Fletcher- boast distinctive musical personalities that couldn’t be less alike yet together they are a unique amalgam of their respective backgrounds, personal proclivities, and musical abilities — a blend honed to a seamless collaboration over the many miles they traveled together down the road.  Check them out online at www.marleysghostband.com.

Seating limited, reserve early on-line at www.slobg.org or (805) 541-1400 ext 301. Cost: $15 members; $20 non-members. Concert begins at 4 p.m., free docent led tour of the Garden begins in the Preview Garden at 3pm. No-host bar.

The San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden is located on 150 acres in El Chorro Regional Park off Highway One between Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo, at 3450 Dairy Creek Rd.  When the master plan is complete, the Garden will be the only garden of its kind in the United States exclusively devoted to the ecosystems and plants of the five mediterranean climate regions of the world.  Through its programs and facilities, the Garden fosters an appreciation and understanding of the relationship between people and nature and encourages a sense of stewardship for the natural environment.

Visit us online at www.slobg.org.