We’re able to pick really late in the season without the pressure of rain.” “That’s why we’re able to ride grapes (let them fully ripen) like Syrah and Grenache. “The storms that typically come into the North Coast towards the end of harvest, they don’t get to us until later,” said Aaron Jackson, founder of Aequorea Wines, who authored the AVA application that was submitted to the tax and trade bureau in 2017. Also gaining popularity are the region’s sparkling wines and late-ripening reds like Grenache, Syrah and Tempranillo. Pinot and Chardonnay have long been the stars here, but recently the area has generated buzz for its aromatic whites, like Albariño and Grüner Veltliner.
“Being able to create this coastal zone that really made us feel like we’re giving the buyer an idea of where we are is super important.”Ĭurrently, 32 wineries make wine from just under 4,000 acres of vineyards along the SLO Coast.
“Using a county designate, it doesn’t really explain who we are and where we’re from,” said Maria Bennetti, managing partner of Cambria’s Stolo Vineyards, who first proposed creating this AVA in 2013. Situated less than 2 miles from the ocean, Cambria’s Stolo Vineyards is part of the newly approved SLO Coast AVA. But both the county and Central Coast encompass a wide range of climates and do not accurately reflect the unique terroir of these coastal vineyards or the characteristics of the wines produced here. Until now, many SLO Coast producers put San Luis Obispo County or Central Coast on their wine labels. Often compared to the wines of Burgundy in France, SLO Coast wines tend to be lighter in style and more moderate in alcohol compared to warmer regions like Napa and Paso Robles (San Luis Obispo County). Altogether, this produces fresh, elegant and flavorful wines, notably Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, that pair well with food. The vines also receive direct sun exposure due to their southern location. The growing conditions here are marked by cool temperatures, extremely high winds and fog, all of which get trapped between the mountain range and the ocean. The AVA designation boosts the region’s marketing ability, helping customers identify the unique characteristics of wine from this area.
Last month, the California Department of Food and Agriculture awarded SLO Coast a $309,000 grant to help the region’s winemakers promote their wines outside of the state. SLO Coast’s approval follows a major financial investment in the region. Only three other AVAs have been approved in California in the past four years. Calfornia has more than 140 AVAs and 11 pending applications, according to the tax and trade bureau’s website. Historically, AVAs can take years to plan and approve. Starting next month, wines made within those boundaries can be labeled “SLO Coast” or “San Luis Obispo Coast,” just as wines produced within the Napa Valley AVA are labeled as “Napa Valley.” SLO Coast is the 43rd sub-AVA within the massive Central Coast AVA, which stretches from south of San Francisco to Santa Barbara (two sub-AVAs, Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande, are now part of SLO Coast).