They're totally famous: Local pinot noir from Sinor-LaVallee (Avila Beach) and Talley Farms (Arroyo Grande) will be included in the 19th annual Pinot Noir Festival held in San Francisco on Nov. 18. Congrats, y'all (stop by both tasting rooms to see what the hubbub is all about)! ... The San Luis Obispo Wine Country Association has been awarded a $196,455 grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and that's no small chunk of dough. This funding will surely help our small yet mighty wine region, with just 90 wine grape growers and 5,000 acres of vineyards, to stay visible on the supermarket shelf ... Don't forget: Harvest on the Coast continues Nov. 3 through 5 in SLO Wine Country. For delicious details on the grand tasting, winemaker dinner, and other events, visit slowine.com. Δ

Hayley Thomas Cain is proud of SLO County's entire local wine community for helping those affected by the recent wildfires. She can be reached at [email protected].