Santa Lucia Highlands AVA
This California AVA was established in 1992 on the western edge of the Salinas Valley. It encompasses 22,000 acres along an 18-mile stretch of benchland that runs between Gonzales and the aroyo seco AVA. This area sits above the normal Salinas Valley fog level at the 200- to 1000-foot level facing southeast. This position allows long sunlit days for optimum ripening without the afternoon heat that hits the valley. This cool area has a long growing season where varieties like Chardonnay (the most widely planted) and Pinot Noir (the area’s rising star) DO extremely well. Other varieties here are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Blanc, and Riesling. A number of area growers sell grapes to out-of-the-area wineries that bottle wines labeled with the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation.
The New Wine Lovers Companion, 2nd Edition, by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Copyright © (1) 2003, 1995 by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Reprinted by arrangement with Barron's Educational Series, Inc.