How did this happen? Three of us touring vineyards in greater Arroyo Grande … and I’m the designated driver?

Well, yes. I was.

It made for two happy passengers, anyway.

And I didn’t have a headache a few hours later. But, then, I wasn’t giddy, either, as we worked through not one, not two, not three, but four wine-tasting rooms.

(Let’s do some math: Five tastings at each of four vineyards … is 20 short pours, which is still a serious among of wine. Hmm.)

Where did we go? Laetitia, Edna Valley, Wolff Creek and Talley … all of them nice and inviting, with friendly sommeliers behind the counter. All of them plying my two companions with crisp whites and full-bodied reds and even a sweet sparkling pink …

When you’re the designated driver, though, you sort of hang in the background, maybe take a chaste sip of this or that, but mostly you’re browsing the non-wine stuff. The books on California vintners, and the cookbooks, and the T-shirts and chips and special honey peanuts …

But you find yourself with increasingly cheerful companions, who are solving the world’s problems while they embrace this pinot noir and dismiss that one.

It was fun, though, even as the sober No. 3.  You know, seeing other people having a good time sometimes can be … a good time.

When we were done, we found our way into downtown Arroyo Grande, which is charming and 1950s-ish and about three blocks long. We strolled into a retro burger shop and had a grilled cheese sandwich and a plate of nachos and a barbecue chickened sandwich and a vanilla shake … and then it was back to the 101, heading south.

The designated driver was ready for the power drive down to Santa Barbara, where we were happy (comparatively) to find a $116 room at the Motel 6 on State Street. (Santa Barbara is not cheap, even in the cheap places.) The two wine-tasters have crashed a bit, but we will be ready to give Santa Barbara a good looking over in the morning.