oaks

An urgency ordinance to protect native oak trees in San Luis Obispo County was added to the books Friday. The County Board of Supervisors approved the measure 4-1 during a special session. 

The controversy surrounding oak woodland clear cutting by Justin Vineyards on its properties in North County San Luis Obispo is now making its way to the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors.

KCBX News has been following a controversial Justin Vineyards expansion project near Paso Robles that has now come to a halt, and resulted in an apology from the vineyard owners following a public outcry.

It’s been nearly two weeks since the owners of Justin Vineyards issued an apology statement for the deforestation of oak trees on some company property in the Paso Robles area.

Despite the statement, there is still a loud chorus of vocal critics on social media calling for the continued boycott of Justin Wines and other products made by its parent, The Wonderful Company.

UPDATE: June 20, 2016

Sine we first published this story on Friday, June 17, 2016, additional restaurants have announced their plans to pull Justin wines from their menus. These include:

Controversy is growing over a vineyard-expansion project in the Paso Robles Wine Growing region.

The plan calls for the clear-cutting of an oak forest on land owned by Justin Vineyards. Much of the project has already been completed, but what remains currently on hold.

Continuing research out of UC Santa Barbara shows our coastal oaks are starting to show signs of stress related to the ongoing drought and record heat.