Creston District AVA

Last updated

Creston District AVA
Wine region
Type American Viticultural Area
Year established2014 [1] [2]
CountryUnited States
Part of California, Central Coast AVA, San Luis Obispo County, San Luis Obispo Coast AVA
Climate region Region III [1]
Precipitation (annual average)11.5 inches (292.1 mm) [1]
Soil conditionsSOld, well developed terrace and hillside soils; mix of granitic and sedimentary rocks [1]
Total area46,794 acres (73 sq mi) [2]
Size of planted vineyards1,365 acres (552 ha) [3]
No. of vineyards14 [3]
Varietals produced Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Zinfandel, Merlot, Petite Sirah. [3]

Creston District is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in the south east portion of the Paso Robles AVA in San Luis Obispo (SLO) County, California. It is located in the vicinity of the small community of Creston, California and was established by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) on November 10, 2014. The Paso Robles Viticultural Area Committee (PRVAC) petitioned TTB to establish 11 new AVAs located entirely within the existing Paso Robles viticultural area. [1] [4]

Contents

Terroir

Topography and Climate

Creston District encompasses 46,794 acres (73 sq mi) with 1,365 acres (552 ha) of cultivated vineyards. [3] It lies on an old erosional plateau at the base of the La Panza Range with alluvial terraces and fans of Huerhuero Creek. The area rises 1,000 to 2,000 feet (300–610 m) in elevation and the average annual rainfall is 11.5 inches (292 mm). [2]

Soil

The district soil is old, well developed terrace and hillside mix composed of granite and sedimentary rocks. [1]

Viticulture

Notable vineyards within Creston District include Chateau Margene, Parrish Vineyard, Creston Vineyard 85 and B & E Vineyard. [3] The most widely planted varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Zinfandel, Merlot, Petite Sirah. [3]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Maria Valley AVA</span> American wine region located in California

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paso Robles AVA</span> Appelation that designates wine in San Luis Obispo County, California

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Coast AVA</span>

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Arroyo Grande Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in San Luis Obispo County, California approximately 12 miles (19 km) southeast of the county seat San Luis Obispo. Arroyo Grande Valley was recognized on February 5, 1990 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) as the state's 60th AVA based on the petition filed in 1987 by Don Talley of Talley Vineyards and William S. Greenough of Saucelito Canyon Vineyard for the establishment of the "Arroyo Grande Valley" viticultural area in San Luis Obispo County. The 16 miles (26 km) long, approximately 67 square miles valley appellation benefits from its east-northeast orientation allowing the breeze from the Pacific Ocean to moderate the climate of the area. The valley is divided by a fog line produced by the cool maritime layer where Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Rhône varietals are grown on the higher elevations near Lopez Lake and the cooler mid-valley vineyards being home to Chardonnay and Pinot noir. On April 8, 2022, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) approved the designation of the expansive San Luis Obispo (SLO) Coast AVA overlapping the boundaries of Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande Valley viticultural areas because they share common features. However, these two previously established areas still have unique characteristics to retain their viticultural area distinctions within SLO Coast. Edna Valley lies immediately to the northwest, the Los Padres National Forest straddles the north leg boundary, the Santa Maria Valley AVA lies to the southeast of Arroyo Grande Valley, and the Pacific Ocean communities of Oceano, Grover City and Arroyo Grande abut its southwestern border.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edna Valley AVA</span> Appelation that designates wine in San Luis Obispo County, CA

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Snipes Mountain is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in the Yakima Valley of Washington state. It was established by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau {TTB), Treasury on January 21, 2009 as the state's 10th AVA. It is the second smallest AVA in the state, after the Red Mountain AVA, and has one of the state's longest viticultural histories. The 4,145 acres (6 sq mi) appellation is a sub-AVA of the Yakima Valley AVA and the Columbia Valley AVA. It is located above and between the towns of Sunnyside and Granger around Outlook, Washington, in the southeast corner of the Yakima Valley.

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Los Olivos District AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Santa Barbara County, California established on January 20, 2016, by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). It straddles the Santa Ynez Valley, formed by the Santa Ynez River, between the Purisima Hills above Solvang. The area encompasses the townships of Los Olivos, Ballard, Santa Ynez and Solvang. State Route 154, known locally as the San Marcos Pass Road or Chumash Highway, bisects the region accessing many of the wineries and vineyards as it traverses toward its destination in Santa Barbara.

Alisos Canyon is an American Viticultural Area (AVA), located in Santa Barbara County, California due east outside the small town of Los Alamos on U.S 101 and about 20 miles (32 km) south of Santa Maria, was established on August 25, 2020, by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). Alisos Canyon stretches west to east over 9 square miles with one bonded winery and nine commercially-producing vineyards cultivates on approximately 238 acres (96 ha). Alisos Canyon Road bisects the region accessing many of its vineyards. The USDA plant hardiness zone for the AVA is 7b.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Barbara County wine</span> Wine region in California, US

Santa Barbara County wine is an appellation that designates wine made from grapes grown mostly in Santa Barbara County, California which is located approximately 50 miles (80 km) north of Los Angeles County. County names in the United States automatically qualify as legal appellations of origin for wine produced from grapes grown in that county and do not require registration with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) of the Treasury Department. TTB was created in January 2003, when the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, or ATF, was extensively reorganized under the provisions of the Homeland Security Act of 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Luis Obispo Coast AVA</span> Appelation that designates wine in San Luis Obispo County, California

San Luis Obispo Coast and SLO Coast identify the sixteenth American Viticultural Area (AVA) within San Luis Obispo County, California. It was established by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury on April 8, 2022, becoming the state's 143rd official AVA. The area encompasses over 480,585 acres (750.914 sq mi) nestled between the Santa Lucia mountains and the Pacific coastline stretching about 70 miles (110 km) from Ragged Point southbound on the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and Highway 101 to the outskirts of Santa Maria at the intersection of State Highway 166 and Highway 101. It includes the coastal communities of San Simeon, Cambria, Cayucos, Morro Bay, Avila Beach, Pismo Beach, Arroyo Grande and Nipomo while encompassing the county seat of San Luis Obispo. The TTB approved the petition's two names, "San Luis Obispo Coast" and "SLO Coast", to identify the viticultural area's description and wine labeling. The term "SLO" is a historical and commonly used reference for the county and city initials as well as a description of the region's relaxed culture. The new AVA overlaps the previously established Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande Valley viticultural areas. There are over 50 wineries and an estimated 78 commercial vineyards cultivating approximately 3,942 acres (1,595 ha) with a majority of the vineyards located within 6 miles (9.7 km) of the Pacific Ocean defining an area whose grapes and wines represent it. Cool weather varietals like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are commonly grown while lesser varietals Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer and Gruner Veltliner also thrive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Luis Obispo County wine</span> Appelation that designates wine in San Luis Obispo County, CA

San Luis Obispo (SLO) County wine is a appellation that designates wine made from grapes grown in San Luis Obispo (SLO) County, California which is sandwiched between Santa Barbara County to the south and Monterey County at the northern boundary on the Pacific coast. Its location sits halfway between the cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles on the north–south axis of U.S. Route 101 and Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). The county lies entirely within the Central Coast viticultural area. County names in the United States automatically qualify as legal appellations of origin for wine produced from grapes grown in that county and do not require registration with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) of the Treasury Department. TTB was created in January of 2003, when the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, or ATF, was extensively reorganized under the provisions of the Homeland Security Act of 2002.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Establishment of the Adelaida District, Creston District, El Pomar District, Paso Robles Estrella District, Paso Robles Geneseo District, Paso Robles Highlands District, Paso Robles Willow Creek District, San Juan Creek, San Miguel District, Santa Margarita Ranch, and Templeton Gap District Viticultural Areas" (27 CFR 9 Docket No. TTB-2013-0009 {T.D.TTB-125 Ref: Notice No. 140]). Federal Register. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau: 60954–60968. October 19, 2014.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. 1 2 3 "Paso Robles AVA: 11 Viticultural Areas". Paso Robles Wine Country.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Wine Region: Creston District". Everywine. Archived from the original on February 25, 2015.
  4. Leslie, Kaytlyn (October 8, 2014). "11 new grape-growing areas will be created in North County". San Luis Obispo Tribune. Archived from the original on June 9, 2020.

35°30′47″N120°26′51″W / 35.5130°N 120.4474°W / 35.5130; -120.4474