I have a soft spot for Cambria. I have so many special memories that have taken place there with loved ones that mean so much to me, so I like to head up there any chance that I get. It’s a great place to go to unplug, relax, and slow down and that’s exactly what I try to do each time I’m there. The central coast has a slower pace of life, but Cambria feels even slower.
There are many attractions in Cambria and the nearby town of Sam Simeon, but there are two bigger attractions that bring people through town: Big Sur and Hearst Castle. I’ve been fascinated by the Hearst family name since I was in Junior High School when I was part of the Newsies musical. That’s when I heard the name “William Randolph Hearst” for the first time.
If you don’t recognize the name – don’t worry – I’ll quickly get you caught up to speed! Mr. Hearst “was a media genius whose influence extended to publishing, politics, Hollywood, the art world and everyday American life.” While he was conquering his accolades, he inherited thousands of acres around San Simeon, which is where he ended up building Hearst Castle, also known as La Cuesta Encantada, which is Spanish for “Enchanted Hill.” This “castle” can be seen from Highway 1 because it’s so large…165 rooms to be exact. Just picture the house in The Great Gatsby, and then multiply it by 2x.
Lucky for us, we can enjoy wine at Hearst Winery, which is right across Highway 1 from the long driveway that leads to the castle. I drove up with my mom for a Mother’s Day getaway, then drove back again with my roommate about a month ago to experience the wine at the tasting room, which I absolutely loved. And, guess what? I couldn’t stop talking about how much I enjoyed their wine, so I went back again.
The tasting room has two tasting flights to choose from, but we chose to try the Proprietor’s Reserve Tasting. This particular flight has four varietals: 2016 Proprietor’s Reserve Chardonnay, 2017 Reserve GSM, 2015 The Point Barrel Select Bordeaux Blend, and the 2015 Proprietor’s Cabernet Sauvignon.
2016 Proprietor’s Reserve Chardonnay
100% Chardonnay
Aroma: Honeysuckle, Dried Straw, Medium Oak
Flavor: Lemongrass, Pineapple, Asian Pear, Oak
60% Grenache, 34% Syrah, 4% Mourvedre, 2% Viognier
Aroma: Sweet Berries, Vanilla Spice
Flavor: Elegant, Chalky Tannins, Firm Acidity
2015 The Point Barrel Select Bordeaux Blend
35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Petit Verdot, 20% Malbec, 20% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc
Aroma: Blackberry and Cassis, layered with hints of toasted oak and leather in a dense bouquet
Flavor: Regal texture with an age worthy tannic structure. Abundantly lush fruit.
2015 Proprietor’s Cabernet Sauvignon
87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petite Verdot
Aroma: Blackberry preserve, black current, spicy toasted oak with alluring density
Flavor: Oak Spice, chalky tannins, tobacco
All four wines were incredible. Personally, I’m a red wine kind-of-girl, so my favorite was the 2015 The Point Barrel Select Bordeaux Blend. I can’t stress enough how smooth this blend feels and how dangerously easy it is to drink. My second favorite was the 2015 Proprietor’s Cabernet Sauvignon.
Next time you’re driving along Highway 1, I highly recommend stopping and enjoying the little towns of San Simeon and Cambria. If you’re heading south from Big Sur, you’ll probably be car sick anyways, so you might as well stop and grab at burger at The Truck, which is conveniently located inside of the tasting room. The “Truck Burger” is my favorite item on their menu and it’s made with Hearst Ranch beef. You’ll thank me later!
