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110 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017 110 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017 Stretching 100 miles from north to south, Monterey wine country varies geographi- cally, but the ocean influence connects it. The mountains, the soils—primarily varia- tions of sandy, shaly and clay loams—and the proximity to the ocean provide its diversity. The Monterey AVA includes the five AVAs of Santa Lucia Highlands, Arroyo Seco, San Bernabe, San Lucas and San Antonio Valley as well. Even with its remote location, many win - eries from outside the region purchase fruit from Monterey to supplement their estate vineyards, taking advantage of the area's unique varietal expressions to complement their portfolios. This, to the growers' dismay, fuels a lack of recognition for Monterey as a quality wine-growing region; while several fantastic wineries are located in the area, many labels producing wine from Monterey grapes are primarily associated with other wine regions. Executive Director of the Monterey County Vintners & Growers Association, Kim Stemler, sees this practice shifting. "This trend of exporting fruit has changed significantly in the last several years, as more fruit is being kept within the county and made by brands that display Monterey or one of the Monterey AVAs on the label. Ten years ago, it would have been 80 percent of the fruit going into others' wines. Now it's down to 45-50%," she shares. Savvy wineries do proudly support their Monterey holdings, and the growing list of producers includes large producers like Gallo and Jackson Family Wines as well as smaller entities like Riboli Family Wine Estates, Cloudfall Wines and J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines. Riboli makes Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from vineyards in Santa Lucia Highlands and Arroyo Seco under its San Simeon, Maddalena and Windstream labels at their newly established Paso Robles facility. The Riboli family has been making wine since the 1920s and own the oldest winery in Los Angeles proper—San Antonio Winery. Cloudfall, owned by Trinchero Family Estates, relies on two beautiful vineyards of Monterey County pioneer Scheid Vineyards and another in San Lucas to make beautiful, expressive Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Jerry Lohr planted vineyards in what is now Arroyo Seco in the early 1970s, and J. Lohr currently makes wine from Arroyo Seco and Santa Lucia Highlands but also owns acreage in Paso Robles and Napa Valley. Jerry recently turned 80 and still has an inspiring zest for life. Santa Lucia Highlands AVA established: 1991 acres of vineyards: 6,100 primary grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah Making a name for itself as a high-quality AVA for Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands delivers a distinct expression of California Pinot Noir. With the southeast-facing vine - yards on the Santa Lucia Mountain Range, the elevation takes advantage of the morn- ing sun while the cool fog streams from Monterey Bay through the Salinas Valley, which courses through the Santa Lucia Range and the Gabilan Range, resulting in wines with a just-ripe fruit profile and balancing acidity. Nicolaus and Gaby Hahn bought land in the area, deciding to plant grapes shortly thereafter, and made their first wine in 1980. The region, at the urging of Hahn, became an AVA in 1991, and the Hahn's still produce outstanding wines from 650 acres of sustainably-farmed vineyards focus - ing on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Other reputable producers in the region include Smith Family Wines, Morgan Winery, Talbott Winery, Pisoni, Mer Soleil, Riboli Family Wines and Estancia. Iconic vineyards include Doctor, Sleepy Hollow, Double L and Garys' to name a few. Monterey A.V.A. Chalone A.V.A. Santa Lucia Highlands A.V.A. Arroyo Seco A.V.A. Carmel Valley A.V.A. San Bernabe A.V.A. San Lucas A.V.A. Hames Valley A.V.A. San Antonio Valley A.V.A. P a c i f i c O c e a n Gonzales Monterey Bay San Jose (45 Minutes to the North) Moss Landing Monterey Carmel Big Sur Bradley San Lucas Lockwood Salinas Greenfield Soledad San Ardo Monterey County San Francisco San Jose Los Angeles C a l i f San Jose f San Jose o r n i a Gonzales Gonzales Moss Landing Moss Landing Monterey Monterey Carmel Carmel Big Sur Big Sur Bradley Bradley San Lucas San Lucas San Lucas San Lucas San Lucas San Lucas San Lucas San Lucas San Lucas San Lucas Lockwood Lockwood Lockwood Lockwood Lockwood Lockwood Lockwood Lockwood Lockwood Lockwood Lockwood Lockwood Lockwood Lockwood Salinas Salinas Greenfield Greenfield Soledad Soledad San Ardo San Ardo San Ardo San Ardo Visit Monterey County Vintners & Growers Association online at MontereyWines.org 0 10 5 Miles From the cooler north to the dryer, warmer south, Monterey County's range of diversity of microclimates create optimal conditions for almost every vinifera varietal and style. • 9 American Viticultural Areas (AVA's) • Over 46,000 cultivated acres • Over 40 varieties • Largest grower of Pinot Noir in California MAP COURTESY OF MONTEREY COUNTY VINTNERS & GROWERS ASSOCIATION As of January 1, 2019, all wines that include the name of an AVA within Monterey County on the label will also have to include Monterey County or Monterey. Monterey AVA established: 1984 acres of vineyards: 40,000 primary grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah { appellations } Salinas River Salinas River S o l e d a d G o n z a l e s River Road Arroyo Seco Road Foothill Road Paraiso Springs Road Gonzales River Road River Road 101 101 Soledad Mission Olson Bianchi Mer Soleil Smith Paraiso Smith & Lindley Big Pond Costa - J. Lohr Tondre Pisoni Hillside Lone Oak Sleepy Hollow South Escolle Sleepy Hollow West Guidotti Stonewall Sierra Mar Silva McIntyre Double L La Reina Boekenoogen Leavens Rosella's Loma Linda Soberanes Dos Rubios Lucia Highlands Kelly's Highlands Ranch Manzoni M. Mirassou Peterson KW Ranch Silvio's Pessagno Hook Vigna Monte Nero Las Alturas Doctor's Garys' Vigna Borrego La Estancia Sumida Sisters Talbott Sleepy Hollow North V i n e y a r d s o f t h e S a n t a L u c i a H i g h l a n d s A p p e l l a t i o n V i n e y a r d s o f t h e S a n t a L u c i a H i g h l a n d s A p p e l l a t i o n 0 0.5 1 0.25 Miles © W.A.S.L.H. 2010 This map has been prepared by information furnished by the vineyards. No legal reliance on this document should be made without independent verification. Map by Mike Bobbitt & Associates www.mikebobbitt.com, designed by www.grantpeterson.com SantaLuciaHighlands.com V i n e y a r d s o f t h e S a n t a L u c i a H i g h l a n d s A p p e l l a t i o n V i n e y a r d s o f t h e S a n t a L u c i a H i g h l a n d s A p p e l l a t i o n C L I M A T E • Cool, Region I to I + , moderate AM to PM temperatures • Fog & wind from Monterey Bay reduce temperatures, slow ripening • Semi-arid climate with little rain during sensitive growing periods • Early budbreak: late February / early March • Late harvest: mid September thru late October V A R I E T A L A C R E A G E Pinot Noir 2,729 Chardonnay 2,034 Riesling 484 Syrah 166 Pinot Gris 130 Viognier 120 Sauvignon Blanc 54 V A R I E T A L A C R E A G E Pinot Noir 2,729 Chardonnay 2,034 Riesling 484 Syrah 166 Pinot Gris 130 Viognier 120 Sauvignon Blanc 54 Malbec 43 Gewürztraminer 43 Muscat Canelli 21 Merlot 20 Roussanne 14 Grenache Blanc 11 others (6) 31 Total Vinifera 5,900 D O M I N A N T S O I L S Chualar Loam: deep sandy loams occurring on alluvial fans and stream terraces at elevations of 50 to 2,000 feet. Arroyo Seco Gravelly Loam: calcareous sandy loams formed in granite alluvial fans at elevations of 100 to 3,000 feet. Placentia Sandy Loam: duplex sodic sandy loams forming in alluvium from granite on moderately sloping fans and terraces. W I N E R Y W I N E R Y W I T H T A S T I N G R O O M P I N O T N O I R C H A R D O N N A Y O T H E R R E D S O T H E R W H I T E S L E G E N D Monterey Los Angeles San Francisco C a l i f o r n i a M o n t e r e y B a y G a bi l a n R a ng e S L H A V A Carmel Monterey C a l i f o r n i a Big Sur MAP COURTESY OF SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS WINE ARTISANS A view of Salinas Valley and the Gabilan Mountains from Smith Vineyard. Red fruit and feisty acidity predominate in Riboli Family Wines' limited-production Windstream Pinot Noir, influ- enced by the climate of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. "We find that these wines need more time in French oak," says winemaker Anthony Riboli. PHOTO: RANDY CAPAROSO