Arroyo Grande Valley - Wine Region of the Day
/Photo of Arroyo Grande Valley by David Toomey for Qorkz.
Located in the southeastern portion of San Luis Obispo county, the Arroyo Grande Valley is a study in opposites. The land is largely made of marine sediments that are part of the Franciscan formation but is crisscrossed with volcanic intrusions and faults. The weather is largely warm and dry but marked with a fog line that separates cooler and wetter microclimates from those that are warmer and drier. Naturally this carries over into their wine making, with part of the valley producing Bordeaux and Mediterranean varietals being produced at the far end of the valley and Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling.