Wine growing regions (Q-Z)
An appellation is an officially recognized geographically defined region for growing grapes. The practice originated in France as a way to ensure quality of wines produced in specific regions. The French system regulates the grape varieties that may be grown in a specific appellation, how vines may be planted, what yields are permitted and other aspects of wine making. The thought behind the appellation system embraces the notion of terroir: the impact of a region’s soil, climate, sun, water quality, and geography acting in concert to produce a wine of unique and irreproducible character. Appellations range in size: from very small single vineyards to vast expanses of land spanning hundreds of miles.
In the U.S. appellations are formally called American Viticultural Areas or AVAs. This system is less strict than the French (or other European) systems. Established by Congress in 1978, it was administered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF), until 2003 when it was assigned to the newly formed Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). The AVA system assures consumers that the wine they are drinking originates from a specific winemaker and growing area. However, unlike the French system, the AVA system requires only 85% of the grapes used come from within that specified AVA (in most cases). This is different from the requirements pertaining to labeling wines as varietals. Such wines must contain a minimum of 75% of the grape variety indicated on the label (in most cases). The AVA system also does not limit the regions in the types of grapes grown, or regulate growing or winemaking practices.
Below are the major Californian AVAs with focus placed on the Central Coast.
S
San Antonio Valley: (AVA). Approved by the TTB in July of 2006, the San
Antonio Valley AVA is located in the southernmost part of Monterey
County at the southern end of the Santa Lucia Mountain Range. This AVA
is situated west of the San Bernabe, San Lucas and Hames Valley
appellations. Nestled in a valley between lesser hills of the Santa
Lucia Range to the east and the Santa Lucia Mountains to the west, this
AVA currently has some 800 acres of vineyards planted (at elevations
ranging form 980 to 1300 feet) to more than 20 varieties. Viticulture
here dates back to the 18th Century. At that time, it was centered
around the San Antonio de Padua mission. This valley is significantly
warmer than the Monterey, Santa Lucia Highlands and Arroyo Seco AVAs
to the north. The region is subject to a small evening marine influence
in the form of breezes from the Pacific Ocean. The main cooling effect
comes from the morning from fog generated by Lake San Antonio.
Notwithstanding those influences, the climate generally resembles that
of Paso Robles, the adjacent AVA to the south This warm climate is
suited to Rhône and Bordeaux varietals, such as Cabernet Sauvignon,
Cabernet Franc and Syrah. AVA Map.
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San Benito County: (AVA). 300 miles north of Los Angeles and about 100
miles south of San Francisco, this AVA covers almost 1,300 square
miles. It is framed by the Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties to the
north Merced and Fresno counties to the south and Monterey County to the west. The vineyards in
this region range in elevation from just above sea level to over 5,000
feet. Although generally moderate (attributable to the ability of cool
air from the Pacific Ocean cto enter through gaps in the Gabilan and
the Santa Lucia mountains) the climate in this inland appellation is
quite varied. Along with soil differences, there are enough diverse
microclimates to warrant 4 sub-appellations: Cienega Valley, Lime Kiln
Valley, Mt. Harlan and Paicines). The region grows: Chardonnay,
Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon,
Merlot, Mourvedre, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Syrah and Zinfandel.
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San Bernabe: (AVA). Located in the southern portion of Monterey County,
this AVA was recognized in 2004. In the process of its creation, 1,300
acres were removed from the San Lucas AVA and added to this new AVA to
avoid breaking up the San Bernabe vineyard (the largest continuous
vineyard in the world) which makes up most of this AVA. This vineyard
belongs to the Indelicatio family who were instrumental in the creation
of this AVA. Their current San Bernabe Vineyard consists of
approximately 4,000 acres planted to vine. The AVA is characterized by
multiple mesoclimates with annual temperatures comparable to some
regions of Napa Valley. The temperatures in the large San Berenabe
vineyard itself can vary by as much as 5 degrees (from north to south
ends) owing largely to wind, fog and chilling sea air (cooled by the
Monterey Canyon, an undersea feature in Monterey Bay the size of the
Grand Canyon). These cold air currents are held in place over this AVA
by warmer air coming from warmer inland areas such as Paso Robles
creating temperature differentials as great as 50 degrees between day
and night and resulting in a growing season, sometimes longer by
several weeks than other California grape growing regions. This can
result in different blocks of grapes maturing a month apart. With over
75 years of grape growing tradition, the vineyard produces Barbera,
Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Lagrein, Merlot,
Negrette, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, White Riesling and
Valdiguié. AVA Map.
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San Luis Obispo County: (AVA). Located halfway between San Francisco
and Los Angeles, the county is home to several AVAs which have
developed independently but share the geographic feature of east-west
running valleys. Since 1990, total vine plantings have grown to now
cover some 26,400 acres. There is a significant maritime influence of
Pacific winds and coastal fogs on this region’s climate. Cooling marine
air enters through the east-west running valleys and leads to a long
growing season resulting in intense, complex flavors. This puts San
Luis Obispo wines in the company of the world’s greatest. The region
includes four AVAs: Arroyo Grande, Edna Valley, Paso Robles and York
Mountain – all of which tout their own terroirs and microclimates. The
York Mountain AVA lies in the northernmost part of the San Luis Obispo
AVA and is home to just one winery. Paso Robles, protected from most of
the coastal influence by the Santa Lucia Mountains, is San Luis
Obispo’s warmest AVA. Wine growing is not new to San Luis Obispo as it
was brought to the region by Spanish missionaries several centuries
ago. The region’s wine growing industry was revitalized in the early
1970s, in Edna Valley with the total number of wineries currently
approaching 90. However, Paso Robles has risen to greatest prominence.
The most common varietals grown in the San Luis Obispo region are
Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Viognier and
Zinfandel. This large AVA is also home to a number or Rhône Rangers
growing Rhône varietals.
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San Lucas: (AVA). Located at the southern end of the Salinas Valley in
Monterey, it is framed by the foothills of the Santa Lucia Range to the
west and Chalone Hills to the east. Less than 8,000 acres are planted
to under vine, particularly after some 1,300 of its acres were
reassigned to the newly formed San Bernabe AVA, to the north in 2004.
Vineyards in this relatively hot growing region sit at elevations
between 500 and 1,200 feet. Ocean winds and fog are less influential
here than they are in the other, cooler, Monterey AVAs. Still, the San
Lucas AVA still experiences the state’s largest diurnal temperature
variations. The staples of viticulture here are Cabernet Sauvignon,
Chardonnay, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc. AVA Map.
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Santa Barbara County: (AVA). Historically, the most prominent AVA in
the Central Coast, it encompasses three smaller officially recognized
AVAs, (Santa Maria Valley, Santa Rita Hills and the Santa Ynez Valley)
all touting distinct microclimates and terroirs. A fourth region
located between the Santa Maria and Santa Ynez Valleys, is Los Alamos.
This area does not yet have AVA status. Santa Barabara County’s
east-west valleys (framed by the Santa Ynez and San Rafael Mountains)
and proximity to the ocean make for excellent wine growing conditions.
Spanning 50 miles from Point Conception to Rincon is the longest
east-west traverse of shoreline along the whole western seaboard of the
two American continents. There are nearly 100 wineries and vineyards
over 21,000 acres of vines. Viticulture in Santa Barbara began in the
18th century with Spanish missionaries planting vines for sacramental
wine, but it was not until the 1960s, when UC Davis enologists
designated the area as a premier wine growing region, that commercial
viticulture began its rise to global prominence. Less than half of the
grapes grown in the region are used locally. More than half of annually
produced grapes are sold to wineries outside the County at some of the
highest prices in California. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir have been the
flagship varietals of the county but Rhône and Italian varietals make
up a large portion of grapes grown in the county.
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Santa Cruz Mountains: (AVA). North of Monterey County, and west of San
Jose, the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation covers more than 350,000
acres across Santa Cruz, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties between
Monterey and Half Moon bays. Only about 1,500 acres of the AVA are
actually under vine. Most of the appellation's vineyards are at
elevations from 800 to 2,000 feet. The entire AVA benefits from the
cooling effects of marine winds and fogs but the varying terrain gives
varying microclimates. The vineyards at the foot of the western slopes
of the Santa Cruz Mountains face the Pacific Ocean and are generally
the coolest. On the other end of the spectrum, the warmest climates
tend to prevail in the low-lying, inland vineyards. These rugged
mountains with thin soils produce formidable Chardonnay, Cabernet
Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. Other varieties growninclude: Sauvignon
Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Carignane, Dolcetto, Merlot, Syrah and
Zinfandel. A sub-appellation, the 38,400 acre Ben Lomond Mountain AVA
(located at the western end of the Santa Cruz Mountains), was
established in 1988.
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Santa Lucia Highlands: (AVA). This north-south running AVA spans
elevations from 40 to 1,200 feet of the southeastern-facing slopes of
alluvial soils above the Salinas Valley in Monterey County. Currently,
there are some 2,300 acres of vineyards in this AVA. Sheltered from the
Pacific Ocean by the Santa Lucia Mountains, the region experiences cool
morning fog and afternoon breezes from Monterey Bay resulting in one of
California’s longest growing seasons. At elevations approaching 1,200
feet, the fog burns off much earlier than below and the vines on the
AVA’s southeastern-facing slopes receive direct sunlight, more so at
higher elevations. The wines produced in the Highlands are recognized
for their intense fruit character and an elegant backbone with high
acids and a mineral edge. Chardonnay (over half of the wines produced
in this AVA) and Pinot Noir are the stars of this growing region.
Interactive Map. AVA Map.
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Santa Maria Valley: (AVA). Bordered by the San Rafael Mountains and the
Los Padres National Forest to the east, the Solomon Hills to the south
and the city of Santa Maria to the west, this east-west oriented is the
northernmost of the three AVAs within Santa Barbara County. The Santa
Maria Bench - on the northwest side of the AVA, at the foot of the San
Rafael Mountains - reaches elevations of 200-800 feet above the
valley’s basin. Soils range from sand and gravel to clay and loam. The
7,500 acres of vine planted in this AVA enjoy Pacific fog and coastal
winds - at times quite powerful - that help create an extended growing
season. There is relatively low annual rainfall in this valley. There
are several historic and prestigious vineyards here: Bien Nacido,
Nielsen, Sierra Madre and Tepusquet. Many other, smaller vineyards
produce high quality wines as well. The number of wineries in the Santa
Maria Valley grows every year and in 2007 approaches 20. These few
wineries, though, are among the best and most reputed producers in
California. The grapes grown here are also sourced by producers outside
the AVA and command some of the highest prices in North America.
Traditionally, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir have been the stars of this
region. However, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot,
Mourvedre, Sangiovese and Syrah are being grown here.
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Santa Ynez Valley: (AVA). This long east-west valley lies between by the Purisima Hills to the north at its western end and the San Raphael Mountains to the northeast in the eastern end and the Santa Ynez Mountains to the south. Considerably warmer than the Santa Maria Valley to the north, it includes the Santa Rita Hills appellation at its west end. Wrapping around the eastern end of the rolling hills of the Santa Rita Hills AVA, the western end of the Santa Ynez AVA is influenced by the effects of the Pacific and is considerably cooler than its eastern portion. Following the Santa Ynez River eastward, the elevation rises approximately 800 feet and the vineyards, in north-south running canyons, experience higher temperature fluctuations in the context of an overall warmer climate. There are approximately 2,200 acres under vine in the Santa Ynez Valley, about half of the acreage of the pre-Prohibition era. The cooler western section of the AVA (Sta. Rita Hills) is planted mostly to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, whereas the eastern, warmer, section (Happy Canyon) is dominated by Bordeaux varieties and supported by a mixture of Rhône varities. In between the two ends, anything goes. While Rhône varieties are coming to prominence here, Bordeaux, Italian and Iberian varieties are still cultivated. Depending on location, these varieties show varying success and a broad stylistic spectrum.
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Sta. Rita Hills, (Santa Rita Hills): (AVA). Located at the western end
of the Santa Ynez Valley between Buellton to the east and Lompoc to the
west, the Sta. Rita Hills AVA lies between the east-west running La
Purisima Hills to the North and the east-west running Santa Rosa Hills
to the south with the east-west running Santa Rita Hills in the middle.
The Sta. Rita Hills received AVA status in 2001 owing much to the
efforts of Bryan Babcock, Richard Sanford, Rick Longoria as well as
members of the Santa Rita Hills Wine Growers Alliance from Clos Pepe,
Seasmoke and Melville. Due to a contention by an influential Chilean
winery (Vina Santa Rita) that the appellation name impinged on
international trademarks, the name of the appellation was altered to
read: “Sta. Rita Hills” in 2006. With about 2,300 acres of vineyards
(of the AVA's total 40,000 acres), Sta. Rita Hills is one of the
smallest appellations in the state. Cooled by marine winds and coastal
fog, the climate of this appellation is ideal for Chardonnay and Pinot
noir and the Sta. Rita Hills are regarded as one of the premier
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir growing regions. Part of the cooling marine
effect, powerful winds also keep yields down in the more exposed
vineyards by blowing the flowers off the vines. Nevertheless, the
cooling effect dissipates the farther eastward one travels in the AVA
and summer temperatures may reach 100°F in the eastern end. Some also
assert that the area between the La Purisima and the Santa Rita Hills
(along Highway 246) is, paradoxically, cooler than the southern portion
(along Santa Rosa Road) of the AVA - which is closer to the ocean. The
soils in the Sta. Rita Hills also change from east to west. The
well-draining, sandy soils with gravel and shale in the west end are
replaced by more loamy, clay-rich soils in the east, particularly in
the southeastern corner of the AVA. This impacts the farming
methodology and the character of the fruit and resulting wines. In
addition to Burgundian wines, stunning wines are also made from Italian
and Rhône varieties grown here. Map.
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Sonoma: (AVA). One of the six wine producing counties of the North
Coast AVA. Covering an area more than twice that of the neighboring
Napa County, Sonoma County has more than 58,000 acres of vines with
517,000 acres within the Sonoma Coast AVA. The county is 47 miles long
and 52 mile wide and bounded by Mendocino County to the North, Marin
County to the South, Napa County to the east and the Pacific coastline
to the west. The climate in the region is moderate and diverse with
marine influences. Moisture drops farther away form the coastline.
Counter intuitively, the northern portion of the AVA is warmer than the
south. Home to 254 wineries, the county has a rich winemaking history
dating back to the mission days the early 19th century. All varieties
of grapes are grown in the county in its 12 AVAs: Alexander valley,
Bennett Valley, Carneros, Chalk Hill, Dry Creek Valley, Knights Valley,
Northern Sonoma, Rockpile, Russian River, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County
Green Valley, Sonoma Mountain.
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Y
York Mountain: (AVA). York Mountain is tucked against the eastern
slopes of the Santa Lucia Mountains where it straddles Highway 46 on
the western border of the Paso Robles AVA in San Luis Obispo County.
This general area is commonly referred to as the Templeton Gap. One of
the smallest AVAs in California, it covers some 9,300 acres at
elevations of 1,500 feet. Just 7 miles from the Pacific Ocean, the York
Mountain AVA is cooler (Climate Region I) than the adjacent Paso Robles
AVA. The Santa Lucia Mountains block most of the ocean moisture and
precipitation from reaching the majority of the Paso Robles AVA.
However, the location of the York Mountain AVA allows it to catch some
of that moisture and cooling marine breezes before they dissipate
farther to the east. York Mountain gained AVA status in 1983 through
the efforts of then-owners of York Mountain Winery – the only winery in
the AVA and one that bears the distinction of being the oldest winery
in continuous operation in California. The initial vineyards were
planted by Andrew York in 1882 to Alicante Bouschet, Mission and
Zinfandel grapes for bottling by the winery which was then called
Ascension Winery. There are now five or six separate vineyards in this
small AVA growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Grenache, Pinot
Blanc, Pinot Noir and Syrah.
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