Arroyo Seco AVA facts for kids
| Wine region | |
Chardonnay from the Arroyo Seco AVA
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| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1983 2006 Amended 2021 Amended |
| Years of wine industry | 63 |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | California, Central Coast AVA, Monterey County, Monterey AVA |
| Other regions in California, Central Coast AVA, Monterey County, Monterey AVA | Carmel Valley AVA, Chalone AVA, Hames Valley AVA, Monterey AVA, San Antonio Valley AVA, San Bernabe AVA, San Lucas AVA, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Gabilan Mountains AVA |
| Heat units | s |
| Total area | 18,240 acres (28.5 sq mi) 18,092 acres (28 sq mi) |
| Size of planted vineyards | 8,500 acres (3,440 ha) |
| Grapes produced | Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Grenache, Merlot, Mourvedre, Muscat Canelli, Pinot blanc, Pinot gris, Pinot noir, Riesling, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah, Viognier |
Arroyo Seco is a special farming area in Monterey County, California. It's located southeast of Monterey Bay. This area is known for growing grapes to make wine. It is called an American Viticultural Area (AVA).
The Arroyo Seco AVA covers about 18,240 acres (29 sq mi) of land. This includes a valley next to the Arroyo Seco Creek. Around 8,500 acres (3,440 ha) of this land is used for growing grapes. Because it is close to the Pacific Ocean, the weather here is cool and good for certain types of grapes.
What Makes the Soil Special?
The soil in Arroyo Seco is very good for growing grapes. It has lots of gravel and fine sand. These soils let water drain away easily. This is important for healthy grapevines.
The soil was formed by ancient rivers. These rivers carried down decomposed granite from the Gabilan Range. This makes the soil gravelly and low in lime. This type of soil is similar to famous grape-growing regions in France.
Why Did the Boundaries Change?
In 2021, a small change was made to the Arroyo Seco AVA's border. This change involved the border it shares with another grape-growing area, the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA.
About 148 acres (60 ha) of land was moved from Arroyo Seco to the Santa Lucia Highlands. This land was mostly hills. One vineyard with about 135 acres (55 ha) of grapevines was affected. The owner of this vineyard agreed with the change. This small change did not affect the overall size of the AVA very much. It also did not change the borders of other nearby grape-growing areas.
