Vineyards

The name Arroyo Seco literally translates as “Dry Riverbed.” However, this small appellation in the center of Monterey County's Salinas Valley is an oasis of viticulture. Arroyo Seco is famous for growing Chardonnay grapes full of tropical fruit and refreshing acidity. These grapes thrive in a mix of gravelly and sandy loam soils, developing complexity in one of California’s longest growing seasons. As the warm midday sun reflects off large river stones, affectionately termed “Greenfield Potatoes” by the locals, they absorb heat during the day and radiate that heat in the evening to prevent the vines from freezing during frigid nights. Later in the afternoon, cool winds pour in from Monterey Bay, refreshing the vines, intensifying the fruit flavors and allowing the grapes to ripen slowly and evenly.

• Appellation:Arroyo Seco
• AVA Approval: 1983
• Size: 18.240 acres
• Planted: 7,000 acres
• Climate: Moderate, partially sheltered from breezes
• Dominant soils: Garey Sandy Loam, Oceano Loamy Sand, Lockwood Shaly Loam
• Min/max elevations:266 ft. / 1,670 ft.

Situated along California's Central Coast, the Monterey AVA is home to a distinct growing region, thanks to the unique climatic influences afforded by one of world’s deepest underwater marine caverns located beneath the Pacific Ocean’s Monterey Bay. Known as the Blue Grand Canyon, this two-mile deep cavern gives rise to cold water up-wellings, chilling the water and, in-turn, the air, all year long. Daily winds and fog distribute this cold air to nearby Monterey vineyards creating conditions ideal for cool-weather varieties such as Pinot Noir. As the only documented wine-growing region directly influenced by an underwater marine cavern of this nature, Monterey benefits with one of the longest growing seasons in California, allowing for longer hang time, full maturation and balanced wines with complexity, structure, bright acidity & depth of flavor.

• Appellation: Monterey County
• AVA Approval: 1984
• Size: 40,000 acres
• Planted: 40,000 acres
• Climate: Cool to hot, based on location
• Dominant soils: Lockwood Shay Loam, Chualar Loam, Placentia Sandy Loam, Rincon Clay Loam, Garey Sandy Loam
• Min/max elevations: 0 ft. / 2,320 ft.

Located halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles along the Central Coast, the Paso Robles AVA is California’s fastest growing wine region and largest geographic appellation. With a greater day-to-night temperature swing than any other appellation in California, distinct microclimates, diverse soils and a long growing season, Paso Robles is a unique wine region blessed with optimal growing conditions for producing premium and ultra-premium wines. Thanks to cool nights, warm days, and typically late rains, Paso Robles vines tend to have a longer growing season and grapes have more hang time compared to other wine regions, resulting in fully mature fruit whose acid chemistry is kept in balance through the area’s overnight marine cooling. Paso Robles wine country is a land of diversity and contrasts that encompasses river bottoms to rolling hills and flat lands to steep mountains.

• Appellation: Paso Robles
• AVA Approval: 1983
• Size: 610,246 acres
• Planted: 28,059 acres
• Climate: Warm days, cool nights, late season rainfall
• Dominant soils: Over 45 soil series derived from granite, shale, sandstone & volcanic rocks
• Min/max elevations: 628 ft. / 1,980 ft.