Lime Kiln Valley - Wine Region of the Day

---

Lime Kiln Valley received its designation as an AVA in 1982 but has been home to vineyards since 1887.  Vine cuttings were brought from France and from mission vineyards.

Situated on 2,300 acres, Lime Kiln Valley is located in San Benito County. The valley has been known for its kilns before 1900.  The county formally named the valley in the 1970s.  The soil of the region consists of fine limestone and dolomite base, with top layers of sand and gravel loam above.

The climate of the valley is noted for having less precipitation than the land at higher elevations but slightly more than the greater Cienega Valley.  The valley floor averages 16 inches per year instead of 40 inches up in the mountains and 15 inches in other valley zones. 

Lime Kiln Valley has a mild diurnal cycle; the region has bright sunny days and moderate evenings. Average temperatures in the valley are cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer than the surrounding areas.

.The region is best known for its production of Mourvedre and  Zinfandel but is also home to Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir as well a virtually extinct Bordeaux varietal, Gros Verdot

Chalone - Wine Region of the Day

Chalone received its designation as an AVA in 1982. Sitting on 8,640 acres, the region is located in the Gabilian Mountains situated in both Monterey and San Benito counties.  Unlike many proposed viticultural areas, Chalone had a protracted fight over the name of the region.  Initially, the region was to be called Pinnacles, a reference to the Pinnacles Nation Park that is nearby.  However, as there were copyright issues with that name, the government and interested parties tried to settle on a more acceptable name.  Gavilan and Chalone were also vetted. It was determined that Gavilan (in reference to the nearby Gabilan Range and was also problematic as it is a word used throughout California and the southwest United States as well as a trademark for a brand of tequila.  Gavilan or Gabilan both translate as sparrow hawk.  Eventually the name Chalone was agreed to as at some point in history the  Pinnacles were referred to as Chalone.

The wine region is located on a bench in the Gabilan Range abutting the Pinnacles National Park.  The viticultural area drains into canyons on the outer edge of the region and has an elevation of 1400-2000 feet above sea level.  Chalone features limestone and decomposed granite soil. With sunny days and cool evenings, the region has a large diurnal temperature swing allowing the grapes a longer time to ripen and balance their acidity. Chalone is known for its distinctive mineral flavor that it imparts on its vines. With only 300 acres under vine, the majority of the production is Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Cienega Valley - Wine Region of the Day

---

The Cienega Valley in San Benito County, California received its designation as an AVA in 1982. Located at an elevation of 1,100 feet above sea level, the soil of the region is divided by the San Andreas fault. Soil to the east of the fault consists of granite and sandstone, but to the west, the soil consists of granite and limestone. The Cienega Valley has warm, sunny days and cool nights, allowing the grapes to develop bright flavors and even tannins while retaining acidity levels. The region is known for its production of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Dolcetto, Grenache, Merlot, Negrette, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Syrah, and Zinfandel.

Pacheco Pass - Wine Region of the Day

View fullsize

---

Pacheco Pass received its designation as an AVA in 1984. Pacheco Pass is located on 3,200 acres and is situated on the line between Santa Clara and San Benito Counties. Pacheco Pass is home to the famous roadside attraction Casa De Fruta farmstand, and they are the only producers in the region.  The region grows Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Merlot and Zinfandel.

The pass was named for Francisco Perez Pacheco owner of the nearby Rancho Ausaymas y San Felipe.  Often the pass was referred to as Robber's Pass due to attacks on travelers in the area.  The area is also said to be haunted by ghosts of accident victims (including one searching for his missing head), victims of Indian massacres and the lovelorn.

We think we will stick with the wine.