Wine - California - Central Coast (North) - Appellations

Front 1

Discuss the Alameda County CO.

Back 1

(p495)
Alameda County CO
(Central Coast North)

This appellation covers grapes grown anywhere within Alameda County.

Front 2

Discuss the Arroyo Seco AVA.

Back 2

(p495)
Arroyo Seco AVA
(Monterey County, Central Coast North)

Triangular-shaped, sloping benchland, with frost-free vineyards of coarse sandy loam.

Front 3

Discuss the Ben Lomond Mountain AVA.

Back 3

(p495)
Ben Lomond Mountain AVA
(Santa Cruz County, Central Coast North)

This AVA covers 60 square miles (155 square kilometers) on Ben Lomond Mountain, encompassing just 70 acres (28 hectares) of vines.

Front 4

Discuss the Carmel Valley AVA.
What is the climate like?

Back 4

(p495)
Carmel Valley AVA
(Monterey County, Central Coast North)

This appellation covers 30 square miles (78 square kilometers) around the Carmel River and Cachagua Creek. A distinctive microclimate is created by the valley's elevation and the northeastern Tularcitos Ridge, which curbs the marine fog and provides more sunny days.

Front 5

Discuss the Chalone AVA.
What is the soil like?
What is the climate like?
What are the most suitable grape varieties?

Back 5

(p495)
Chalone AVA
(Monterey County, Central Coast North)

Benchland vineyards at 1,650 feet (500 meters) above sea level, with volcanic and granitic soils of high limestone content. The soil combines with an arid climate to stress the vines. Suited to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Blanc.

Front 6

Discuss the Cienega Valley AVA.
Where is it located?
What is the soil like?

Back 6

(p495)
Cienega Valley AVA
(San Benito County, Central Coast North)

The Cienega valley is located at the base of the Gabilan (or Gavilan) Mountain Range where the Pescadero Creek is used artificially to augment the area's rainfall. The soil is loamy, well-drained, and often lies over weathered granite.

Front 7

Discuss the Contra Costa County AO.

Back 7

(p495)
Contra Costa County AO
(Central Coast North)

An appellation covering grape varieties grown anywhere within Contra Costa County.

Front 8

Discuss the Hames Valley AVA.

Back 8

(p495)
Hames Valley AVA
(Monterey County, Central Coast North)

North of Lake Nacimiento, where more than 600 acres (250 hectares) of vineyards already exist.

Front 9

Discuss the Lime Kiln Valley AVA.

Back 9

(p495)
Lime Kiln Valley AVA
(San Benito County, Central Coast North)

Annual rainfall ranges from 16 inches (41 centimeters) on the valley floor to 40 inches (102 centimeters) in the mountainous west. Soils are sandy and gravelly loams over limestone, with a high magnesium carbonate content.

Front 10

Discuss the Livermore Valley AVA.

Back 10

(p495)
Livermore Valley AVA
(Alameda County, Central Coast North)

One of the coastal intermountain valleys surrounding San Francisco, the Livermore Valley has a moderate climate, cooled by sea breezes and morning fog, with very little spring frost.

Front 11

Discuss the Monterey AVA.
What is the climate like?
How are the vineyards irrigated?

Back 11

(p495)
Monterey AVA
(Monterey County, Central Coast North)

This AVA is distinguished by a very dry climate, although the watersheds of the Santa Lucia, Gabilan, and Diablo Mountain Ranges provide sufficient water, through the presence of underground aquifers, to irrigate the vineyards.

Front 12

Discuss the Monterey County AO.

Back 12

(p495)
Monterey County AO
(Central Coast North)

An appellation covering grapes that are grown anywhere within Monterey County.

Front 13

Discuss the Mount Harlan AVA.
What winery virtually owns this AVA?
What is the soil like?

Back 13

(p495)
Mount Harlan AVA
(San Benito County, Central Coast North)

Like Chalone, Mount Harlan is, for all intents and purposes, a single-winery AVA (Calera in this instance), and is situated on rare limestone outcrops in the same range of hills (the San Benito Range), albeit at the other end and on the opposite-facing flank, and higher - 2,200 feet (670 meters).

Front 14

Discuss the Pacheco Pass AVA.
What sets this area apart from its neighbors?
What is the climate like?

Back 14

(p495)
Pacheco Pass AVA:
(Santa Clara and San Benito Counties, Central Coast North)

The terrain sets this area apart from its neighbors. It is a small valley, with a flat or gently sloping topography that contrasts with the rugged hills of the Diablo Range to the east and west. The climate is moderate and wetter than that of the Hollister Basin to the south.

Front 15

Discuss the Paicines AVA.

Back 15

(p495)
Paicines AVA
(San Benito County, Central Coast North)

Here the days are warm and the nights cool, and the annual rainfall ranges between 12 and 15 inches (30 and 38 centimeters). This AVA has fallen into disuse since Almadén, the winery that proposed it, moved to Santa Clara.

Front 16

Discuss the San Benito AVA.

Back 16

(p495)
San Benito AVA
(San Benito County, Central Coast North)

Not to be confused with San Benito County, this AVA encapsulates the smaller AVAs of Paicines, Cienega Valley, and Lime Kiln Valley.

Front 17

Discuss the San Benito County AO.

Back 17

(p495)
San Benito County AO
(Central Coast North)

This is an appellation covering grapes grown anywhere within San Benito County.

Front 18

Discuss the San Francisco Bay AVA.
What is the climate like?

Back 18

(p495)
San Francisco Bay AVA
(Central Coast North)

This appellation encompasses more than 1.5 million acres that are, to some degree, affected by coastal fog and winds from San Francisco Bay. It also includes the city of San Francisco, apparently to justify the appellation name, but this could lead to the emergence of Moraga-like vineyards.

Front 19

Discuss the San Lucas AVA.
What is the soil like?

Back 19

(p495)
San Lucas AVA
(Monterey County, Central Coast North)

This AVA consists of a 10-mile (16-kilometer) segment of the Salinas Valley between King City and San Ardo, in the southern section of Monterey County. The soils in this area are mostly alluvial loams.

Front 20

Discuss the San Mateo County AO.

Back 20

(p495)
San Mateo County AO
(Central Coast North)

This is an appellation covering grapes grown anywhere within San Mateo County.

Front 21

Discuss the San Ysidro AVA.
What varietal is it particularly noted for?

Back 21

(p495)
San Ysidro AVA
(Santa Clara County, Central Coast North)

The appellation covers a small enclave of vineyards at the southeastern end of the Santa Clara AVA. San Ysidro sits between two hills that channel the sea breezes coming up the Pajaro River, and is particularly noted for Chardonnay.

Front 22

Discuss the Santa Clara County AO.

Back 22

(p495)
Santa Clara County AO
(Central Coast North)

This is an appellation covering grapes grown anywhere within Santa Clara County.

Front 23

Discuss the Santa Clara Valley AVA.

Back 23

(p495)
Santa Clara Valley AVA
(Santa Clara County, Central Coast North)

Encompassing the entire municipality of San Jose to the north and better known as Silicon Valley in the south, this AVA must qualify as the most built-up wine appellation in the world.

Front 24

Discuss the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA.
What is the climate like?
What is the soil like?

Back 24

(p495)
Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
(Santa Clara County, Central Coast North)

The name "Santa Cruz Mountains" was first recorded in 1838. Its climate is influenced in the west by ocean breezes and maritime fog, while the east is moderated by San Francisco Bay. Cool air coming down from the mountains forces warmer air up, lengthening the growing season to a full 300 days. The soils are forms of shale that are peculiar to the area.

Front 25

What are the AVAs of the Central Coast (North) of California?

Back 25

(p495)
Central Coast (North):

Santa Cruz Mountains AVA (1981)
Carmel Valley AVA (1982)
Chalone AVA (1982)
Cienega Valley AVA (1982)
(Lime Kiln Valley AVA (1982))
(Livermore Valley AVA (1982))
(Paicines AVA (1982))
(Arroyo Seco AVA (1983))
(Monterey AVA (1984))
(Pacheco Pass AVA (1984))
(Ben Lomond Mountain AVA (1987))
(San Benito AVA (1987))
(San Lucas AVA (1987))
(Santa Clara Valley AVA (1989))
(Mount Harlan AVA (1990))
(San Ysidro District AVA (1990))
(Santa Lucia Highlands AVA (1990))
(Hames Valley AVA (1994))
(San Francisco Bay AVA (1999))
(San Bernabe AVA (2004))
(San Antonio Valley AVA (2006))