SLH and Monterey, California

The Santa Lucia Highlands (SLH)

The Santa Lucia Highlands (SLH) appellation lies within the larger Monterey County growing region. The earliest vinifera plantings, in what was to become the SLH appellation, took place in the 1790s, with the arrival of the first Spanish missionaries and conquistadors. The modern era, however, began in the early 1970s, with initial plantings by Rich and Claudia Smith at Paraiso, the McFarland family at Sleepy Hollow, Phil Johnson at La Estancia, and Nicky Hahn at Smith & Hook.

Approved in 1991 as a unique AVA, the vineyards here are planted on the southeast facing terraces of the Santa Lucia mountain range, overlooking the Salinas River Valley. The vines’ elevated locations take full advantage of the morning sunshine before the afternoon maritime breezes cool the vineyards. This climatic combination results in an especially long growing season, which allows the grapes to fully develop and attain maximum varietal potential. Ancient, glacial alluvial soils pair with ocean fog and breezes to create a true Region I climate. Cool weather-loving Burgundian varietals Chardonnay and Pinot Noir flourish here; Rhone grape types emulate their French northern districts brethren, thriving in the SLH’s slightly warmer, more wind-protected canyons and slopes.

Today, 5900 wine grape acres are currently under cultivation, with the majority heavily weighted toward Pinot Noir (2,700) and Chardonnay (2000). The Rhone varietals are also in evidence, with Syrah from many of the properties gaining increasing notice. Winegrowers of the Santa Lucia Highlands are innovators – almost every single vineyard is a living laboratory, with new clones, trellising systems, and farming regimens being continuously explored.

Monterey Wine Country

Monterey Wine Country boasts over 175 unique vineyards. Winegrowing mostly takes place in a 90-mile-long valley, with only eight primary viticulture soil types. The northernmost areas of Monterey, deemed as on the edge of being too cold to grow winegrapes, are held in high esteem for their exceptional production of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Yet, the valley experiences a “Thermal Rainbow^TM” feeding off the “Blue Grand Canyon^TM” and spreading north to south, cold to warm, providing diverse ever-warming micro-climates supporting forty-two fine wine varietals.

Blue Grand Canyon^TM

Hidden beneath the surface of the Monterey Bay is an enormous submarine canyon that is sixty miles long and two miles deep. The largest and deepest on the West Coast, this canyon is also unique in its close proximity to the shoreline. Comparable in size and depth to its more visible counterpart in Arizona, this Monterey geologic wonder has been nicknamed the “Blue Grand Canyon^TM.”

Situated less than 100 yards off Moss Landing, the Blue Grand Canyon^TM provides a climatic pathway that connects the deep sea to the wine growing regions of Monterey. In area and depth, it is the fourth largest marine canyon in the world and the only one that directly influences a well-known wine growing area. At an estimated volume of 300 cubic miles of deep, cold water, the Blue Grand Canyon’s^TM vast weather effect on the viticultural districts of Monterey is manifested through fog, wind, lack of rain through the growing season, and moderate temperatures.

Formed two million years ago, the Blue Grand Canyon’s^TM influence is felt from the coastline at Del Monte Beach to inland San Antonio Valley. The wines of the Blue Grand Canyon^TM deliciously express their birthplace – their style and structure are a reflection of their vineyards’ “sense of place” in relation to this unique meeting of land and sea.

Thermal Rainbow^TM

The Thermal Rainbow^TM gives a succinct, visual representation of the Blue Grand Canyon’s^TM influence on the temperatures and subsequent varietal selection throughout Monterey Wine Country. The coolest districts are to the north, closest to the ocean, and the warmest areas are to the south of the county, furthest from the ocean.

In early morning, the entire region is cool and, for a large part, covered by a thick marine later. Temperatures at Monterey Bay in the north and the southern end the county are both around 55 degrees. As the sun rises, the valley starts to warm. The heat burns off the fog and begins the slow rise in temperature at the southern end of the county. The heat generated from the sun forces the warm air to rise and creates a low pressure effect. Cool air off the ocean is drawn and funneled through the Gabilan and Santa Lucia mountain ranges, moving down the valley with increasing force as the day progresses. The ocean air acts as a natural air conditioning system that mitigates the rise in temperatures from north to south and extends the growing season, allowing for slow, gentle ripening.

At their peak, wind speeds approach 30 miles per hour and there is a 40 degree differential from the Bay to the south end of the county. Where a vineyard is located within this Thermal Rainbow^TM goes a long way to determining which of the region’s forty-two varietals are planted there. Cool climate-loving Pinot Noir and Chardonnay do well towards the north; Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and many Rhone varietals flourish in the warmer south.