San Lucas AVA

Last updated
San Lucas AVA
Wine region
Type American Viticultural Area
Year established1987, amended 2004 [1]
CountryUnited States
Part of California, Central Coast AVA, Monterey AVA
Total area33,920 acres (13,727 ha) [2]
Grapes produced Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Pinot noir, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah [3]

The San Lucas AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Monterey County, California. It is located at the southern end of Salinas Valley, shares an eastern border with the Chalone AVA, and is bordered on the west by the Santa Lucia Range foothills. The appellation has the largest diurnal temperature variation of any of California's AVAs.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carmel Valley AVA</span> American Viticultural Area in California

Carmel Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Monterey County, California, southeast of Carmel-by-the-Sea and it is one of the ten AVAs in the county. Approximately 100 miles (161 km) south of San Francisco, the AVA was recognized by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury on January 13, 1983 after reviewing the petition submitted by Mr. David Armanasco, General Manager of Durney Vineyard, located in Carmel, to propose a viticultural area named “Carmel Valley.”

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

Santa Maria Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) which straddles the boundary of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties in California's multi-county Central Coast AVA. It was established on August 5, 1981, by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) as California's second oldest AVA. A portion of the AVA crosses the Cuyama River into the southernmost corner of San Luis Obispo County. The east–west orientation of the 152.3 square miles with a wide, open valley and rolling hills means cool winds and fog flow in freely from the Pacific Ocean, settling most noticeably in lower-lying areas. The result is a mild Mediterranean climate that lengthens the growing season and contributes to the eventual sugar/acid balance in the grapes from Santa Maria Valley's 7,500 acres (3,000 ha) cultivated vineyards. On January 28, 2011, the AVA was granted an 29.4 square miles expansion to its southern boundary.

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

Central Coast is a vast American Viticultural Area (AVA) that spans along the Central California Pacific coastline from the San Francisco Bay Area south through Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. It was established on November 25, 1985 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by Taylor California Cellars, a winery in Gonzales, California, to establish the "Central Coast" viticultural area. The boundaries of the Central Coast, which have been expanded twice, includes portions of six counties where approximately 100,000 acres (40,469 ha) cultivated with Chardonnay being more than half of the varietal. Within the multi-county AVA are numerous established appellations that share the same maritime climate produced by the Pacific Ocean.

The San Antonio Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area centered on San Antonio Valley, California in southern Monterey County, California. The AVA was approved in July 2006 by the United States Department of the Treasury Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.

The San Pasqual Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area in northern San Diego County, California. It is located in the San Pasqual Valley of the Peninsular Ranges, in Southern California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Coast AVA</span> American Viticultural Area in California

The North Coast AVA is an American Viticultural Area in the state of California that encompasses grape-growing regions in six counties located north of San Francisco: Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, and Solano. This large appellation covers over 3,000,000 acres (5,000 sq mi) and includes a number of smaller sub-appellations that all share the common ecology trait of weather affected by the fog and breezes off the Pacific Ocean.

The Sonoma Coast AVA is an American Viticultural Area in Sonoma County, California, United States containing more than 500,000 acres (2,000 km2), mostly along the coastline of the Pacific Ocean. It extends from San Pablo Bay to the border with Mendocino County. The appellation is known for its cool climate and high rainfall relative to other parts of Sonoma County. The area has such a broad range of microclimates that petitions have been made to the United States Department of the Treasury Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau for the creation of sub-AVAs such as the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA which was approved in December 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howell Mountain AVA</span> American Viticultural Area in California

The Howell Mountain AVA is an American Viticultural Area located within Napa Valley AVA of California.

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

Edna Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in San Luis Obispo (SLO) County, California encompassing the rural town of Edna which is 9 miles (14 km) southeast of the county seat San Luis Obispo and north of the small coastal town Arroyo Grande. It was established by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) as the county's first AVA within California’s multi-county Central Coast AVA effective May 12, 1982. It became an sub-appellation of the county’s newest San Luis Obispo Coast viticultural area since April 2022. The valley is diagonally flanked by Lake Lopez to the south and Islay Hill to the north. The elongated valley extends along a northwest-southeast axis bordered to the west by the Santa Lucia Mountains and surrounded by volcanic mountains and characterized by black humus and clay-rich soils. With moderate sunshine, cool maritime fog, and rich oceanic and volcanic soils, the Edna Valley appellation has California's longest growing season. The valley is kept cool by breezes from the Pacific Ocean and morning fog. The extended growing season allows complex flavors to develop in the grapes.

The McDowell Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in southeastern Mendocino County, California near Hopland. The wine appellation is located on sloped bench land at elevations as high as 1,000 feet (300 m) above sea level that overlook the Russian River to the west. McDowell Valley is slightly cooler than the surrounding areas of Mendocino County. McDowell Valley Vineyards is currently the only winery operating within the boundaries of the AVA.

The Cienega Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in western San Benito County, California, United States. It is part of the larger Central Coast AVA. The valley was once a major source of wine grapes for Almaden Vineyards before it was acquired by Constellation Brands in 1987. Approximately 1,100 feet (340 m) above sea level, the valley floor is divided by the San Andreas fault. Soil on the east side of the fault is predominantly granite and sandstone, whereas soils on the west side of the fault are predominantly granite and limestone. It contains some of the oldest pinot noir grapes in California.

Monterey is an American Viticultural Area located in eastern Monterey County, California. It was recognized on July 16, 1984 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by the Monterey Winegrowers Council to establish the "Monterey" viticultural area. It is within the multi-county Central Coast AVA encompassing about 100 miles (160 km) from the northern shore of Monterey Bay to its southern point near the vicinity of Paso Robles, California. Approximately 40,000 acres (16,187 ha) of wine grapes are currently cultivated in the Monterey AVA.

The Hames Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Monterey County, California at about 35°52'N 120°52'W, about 2 km west of US Route 101. It became an AVA in 1994. It is part of the larger Monterey AVA, and is located at the southern end of the Salinas Valley in the foothills of the Santa Lucia Range. The soil in the valley is shale and loam, and the climate is slightly warmer than other regions of Monterey. In addition to Bordeaux varietals, traditional Port grapes such as Tinta Cao and Touriga Nacional are grown in the valley. One recent significant wine is the 2008 Nybakken "IV Amici" Petite Syrah.

Mt. Harlan is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in San Benito County, California. It was established on December 17, 1990 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) within California’s multi-county Central Coast AVA. It lies within the Gabilan Mountains at elevations of 1,800 feet (550 m) to 2,200 feet (670 m) above sea level where the soil is predominantly limestone. The AVA was established as the result of a petition to the ATF by Josh Jensen and the Calera Wine Company, the only commercial winery in the appellation at the time.

The Paicines AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in San Benito County, California, named after the town of Paicines. It is part of the larger San Benito AVA, and is located near the central part of the county. The Paicines area is warmer than other nearby regions in San Benito, but cooler than the wine regions of the Central Valley. The appellation is home to the Vista Verde Vineyard, a 500 acres (202 ha) vineyard once owned by Almaden Vineyards.

The San Bernabe AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in southern Monterey County, California. It is part of the larger Monterey AVA. San Bernabe is located in the Salinas Valley, between the Salinas River on the east, and the Santa Lucia Mountains on the west. To the north of the appellation is Pine Canyon and to the south is the San Lucas AVA.

The San Ysidro District AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Santa Clara County, California. It is part of the larger Santa Clara Valley AVA and is located in the foothills of the Diablo Range. San Ysidro District is significantly cooler than other parts of Santa Clara Valley. Cooling breezes can reach the area via the Pajaro River which cuts into the nearby foothills.

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

York Mountain is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in San Luis Obispo (SLO) County, California. It lies within the larger Central Coast AVA located on the eastern side of the Santa Lucia Mountains and west of Paso Robles viticultural area. The mountainous terrain features vineyards that are mostly cultivated at an elevation around 1,500 feet (460 m). York Mountain climate is cooler and wetter than Paso Robles being just 8 miles (13 km) from the Pacific Ocean. York Mountain viticultural area was recognized as the county’s second AVA by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) effective on September 23, 1983 after reviewing the petition submitted by Stephen and Max Goldman, owners of York Mountain Winery, to establish a area known as “York Mountain.” Historically, Andrew York, a British immigrant, planted the first vineyard on York Mountain in the 1870s and established Ascension Winery, the first bonded winery in the Central Coast. It survived through Prohibtion and later renamed York Mountain Winery, staying in the York family until 1970 when it was purchased by Max Goldman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sta. Rita Hills AVA</span> Winemaking region in California, United States

Sta. Rita Hills is an American Viticultural Area located in Santa Barbara County, California. From its creation in 2001 through 2006, the wine appellation was officially named Santa Rita Hills AVA. The formal name change was the result of a protest by and subsequent negotiations with Vina Santa Rita, a very large Chilean wine producer that was concerned about the AVA name diluting its international brand value. The name change took effect on January 5, 2006, with a yearlong period for producers in the AVA to change their wine labels. In 2016, TTB expanded the approximately 33,380 acres (52 sq mi) “Sta. Rita Hills” viticultural area by approximately 2,296 acres (4 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Ynez Valley AVA</span> Wine region in Santa Barbara, California, United States

The Santa Ynez Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Santa Barbara County, California and was established on May 16, 1983 by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). It is part of the larger Central Coast AVA, and contains the greatest concentration of wineries in Santa Barbara County. The valley is formed by the Purisima Hills and San Rafael Mountains to the north and the Santa Ynez Mountains to the south creating a long, east-west corridor with very cool temperatures on the coast that become progressively warmer inland. The Santa Ynez River flows east to west on the valley floor toward the Pacific Ocean. As of 2021, the Santa Ynez Valley contains four other established viticultural areas: Sta. Rita Hills on its western boundary; Ballard Canyon and Los Olivos District occupying the center region; and Happy Canyon on the eastern border. Chardonnay is the most planted grape variety in the cooler, western portion of the valley while Rhône varieties thrive in the eastern locales.

References

  1. "§ 9.56 San Lucas" (Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas). Code of Federal Regulations. Retrieved January 24, 2008.
  2. "American Viticultural Areas by State". Wine Institute. 2008. Archived from the original on January 27, 2008.
  3. "San Lucas (AVA): Appellation Profile". Appellation America. 2007. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2008.

36°04′02″N120°57′21″W / 36.0671°N 120.9559°W / 36.0671; -120.9559