Arroyo Grande Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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Arroyo Grande Valley

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, Chardonnays and Riesling. 

Paso Robles Highlands District - Wine Region of the Day

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The Paso Robles Highlands District is the most southeast sub-appellation within the Paso Robles AVA.  The district was first settled in the 1880s when the name "Highlands" was assigned to the school district east of Creston. The topography is, as expected, does consist of uplands and canyons which have a more continental climate (think more season variation instead of overall moderate temperatures).  Despite this, the Winkler scales rates this area as a low region IV, making it more like Spain with an emphasis on those grape varietals.  While temperatures in the AVA may be high the lows may be as much as 50 degrees Fahrenheit which slows the ripening rate of the fruit on the vine and allows flavors and sugar to develop.  

San Juan Creek - Wine Region of the Day

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 One of the eleven sub appellations in the Paso Robles Viticultural area this viticultural area is located along San Juan Creek, a tributary to the Estrella River.  The source of the creek is the Temblor Range that runs from the northwest to the southeast in San Luis Opisbo and Kern Counties.  The viticultural area follows the creek from Shandon and then along the steep canyons of the Temblor Range.  The region is shielded from marine influence by both the Temblor and Santa Lucia Ranges with elevations ranging from 980 to 1,600 feet above sea level.  The area has a more continental climate that is warmer and drier than the surrounding regions.  San Juan Creek receives approximately 10.4inches of precipitation per year and receives nearly 3,400 Growing Degree Days which makes it ideally suited for warmer climate grapes such as those from the Rhone Valley, Italy, Spain and Portugal such as Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Nebbiolo, Petite Sirah and Zinfandel The soils are formed from the alluvium that was formed by the San Juan Creek, the Cholame Creek and the Estrella River valleys.

York Mountain - Wine Region of the Day

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York Mountain by David Toomey for Qorkz.

York Mountain received its designation as an AVA in 1983. Sitting on 9,360 acres, York Mountain is part of the eastern Santa Lucia Mountain Range in San Luis Obispo County. Vineyards on York Mountain are at high elevation of around 1,500 feet. The soil is made up of chalky limestone and is considered to be not very fertile, which causes the vines to put all of their efforts into developing the fruit. The high elevation gives York Mountain extended hours of sunshine daily and the hot sun is tempered by cool coastal breezes. The mountain is known for producing complex and interesting red varietals, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Pinot Noir.

Edna Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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Edna Valley by David Toomey for Qorkz.

Edna Valley received designation as an AVA in 1982. Sitting on 22,400 acres, Edna Valley is in San Luis Obispo County. Edna Valley features Lopez Lake to the south and Islay Hill to the north. The valley is shadowed by volcanic mountains and is characterized by black humus and clay-rich soils. The valley is cooled by breezes from the Pacific Ocean and morning fog.  It also receives ample daytime sunshine. This combination allows for a slow ripening of the fruit during an extended growing season. The longer hang time gives the Chardonnays of Edna Valley their bright fruit flavors and well-balanced acidity. In addition to Chardonnay , Edna Valley is also known for producing of Pinot Noir .

Arroyo Grande Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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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. 

Paso Robles - Wine Region of the Day

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Paso Robles

Photo of Paso Robles by David Toomey for Qorkz. 

Paso Robles received its designation as an AVA in 1983. Sitting on 666,618 acres in San Luis Obispo County, Paso Robles is home to eleven sub-districts, including: Adelaida District, Creston District, El Pomar District, Paso Robles Estrella District, Paso Robles Geneseo District, Paso Robles Highlands District, Paso Robles Willow Creek District, San Juan Creek, San Miguel District, Santa Margarita Ranch, and Templeton Gap District. By far the largest region in San Luis Obispo County, Paso Robles has over 19,000 acres under vine. The region features a mixture of silica clay and chalky lime soils. Closer to the Pacific, the western edge of Paso Robles has warm daytime temperatures, often topping 90 degrees during the peak of the growing season. The grapes are cooled by the maritime breezes coming in off the Pacific Ocean. Moving east across the region, the climate becomes more aired and drier than its western counterpart. In the east, fruit ripens more quickly than in the west, giving it bright flavors with low acidity and tannin structure. The more famous western region features a longer growing season allowing the fruit to take its time to ripen and develop a balance of acidity and tannin. Cabernet Sauvignon is the varietal that is most prevalent in the eastern regions of Paso Robles while Rhone varietals such as Viognier and Syrah dominate the west. In all, there are over 40 grape varietals grown in Paso Robles, and the region has become well known for its blends.