Wine Fog
Wine Fog
|
|
2PCS JINHAO 18KGP FOUNTAIN PEN WINE FOG ROLLER BALL PEN $13.99 |
|
|
JINHAO GOLDEN RED BURGUNDY WINE FOG ROLLER BALL PEN 052 $6.99 |
Appellations – Place Names for Vineyards
Appellations – Place Names for Vineyards
An appellation is a legally defined and protected geographic region used to identify where wine grapes are grown. When we see Santa Maria Valley on the label, we know that 85% of the grapes used to make the wine hail from the bench lands of Santa Maria. This tradition is very old with references found in the Bible.
In the United States to have a wine region become an American Viticultural Area (AVA), private petitioners, usually grape growers and wineries, provide the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau proof that growing conditions, including soil type, climate, elevation and physical features are unique to a specific area. Not all petitions are accepted and some have waited years for approval.
There are over 200 American Viticulture Areas in the United States with 110 in California.
Nearby Wine Appellations Explored
The large Central Coast Appellation stretches from San Francisco Bay to Santa Barbara. Within the borders of this region are 29 separate smaller appellations. Here are details of five nearby AVA’s:
Paso Robles has the largest local AVA with 26,000 acres of vines growing over 40 grape varieties and providing fruit to almost 200 nearby wineries. It encompasses the cooler wetter areas west of highway 101 as well as the warmer areas to the east. A petition to have an additional 11 sub AVAs is under review. Cabernet, Zinfandel, Merlot, Syrah and a number of Rhone varieties dominate the region, producing wine with ripe, rich fruit characteristics.
York Mountain AVA is higher, wetter, cooler and much smaller than the sprawling Paso Robles AVA with six separate vineyards and one winery. Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Grenache, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir and Syrah are grown.
Edna Valley AVA is located southeast from the Mission town of San Luis Obispo. It is eight miles long, runs east-west and is bordered by low lying mountains funneling cool ocean breezes and evening fog into the area. The region’s rocky volcanic soils produce fruit with intense varietal character and complex flavors. It is best known for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with a dozen wineries open for tasting including Claiborne & Churchill, Saucelito Canyon, Stephen Ross and Autry Cellars.
Arroyo Grande Valley AVA is a 16-mile-long serpentine valley southeast of San Luis Obispo. The marine fog moves up the valley from the coast and cools the warm area during the summer creating fruit with rich concentrated flavors. Talley Vineyards and Laetitia wineries reside here and have excellent tasting facilities.
Santa Maria Valley AVA has almost 7,500 acres planted and is best known for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, but vineyard acreage also includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Merlot, Mourvedre, Sangiovese and Syrah. Look for lots of fruit and minerality in the area wines. Only a dozen or so wineries are located here. Cambria Winery, Cottonwood Canyon and Ken Volk Vineyards are good places to visit.
About the Author
Cleveland is the founder of the online winery directory www.CaliforniaWineryAdvisor.com where hundreds of wineries are profiled in rich detail and cataloged by wine types, winery amenities, ambiances, tasting fees and hours of operation. Cleveland has been in the wine trade as a educator, writer, photographer, salesman, cellar rat, and most recently “The Winery Advisor”. He makes his home in San Luis Obispo and can be reached at: BCleveland@CaWineryAdvisor.com
42 Reflections collection?
If cats and dogs are still caressing the skin? If the peanut butter cookies are Made From peanut butter, then what are Girl Scout cookies made of? If space is a vacuum, who changes the bags? If Swimming is good for your shape, then why do whales look the other way they do? If tin whistles are made out of tin, what are fog horns? If white wine goes with fish, white grapes go with sushi? If you jog backwards, her weight gain? If you take an Oriental person and spin around several times, makes them disoriented? Why are the signs that say "Slow Children" have a picture of a child running? Why do they call it "chile" if it's hot?
Jajaja ☺
