The view looking north from Terry Hoage
Vineyards in Paso Robles, with the Ecluse
Wines boutique winery seen in the distance.
CALIFORNIA
WINE CENTRAL
Stars of the Central Coast
A broad wine-growing region with diverse varietals and values
By Liza B. Zimmerman
24
| MAY 2013
Santa Cruz have seen a 16% increase in growth from 2009 to
2012 in winery numbers, with the majority of brands tracked
producing less than 5,000 cases, according to the Central Coast
Symposium. Diversity, value and what is perceived to be a more
CENTRAL COAST FAST FACTS
Major AVAs:
Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara,
Santa Cruz.
Growing conditions:
Highly diverse given the large area of the region, with a
wide range of soil types and microclimates.
Popular varietals:
Chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, zinfandel, as
well as many Italian and Rhône varietals.
Major vineyards and wineries:
Au Bon Climat, Laetitia Vineyard Winery, Qupe Wine
Cellars, Kendall Jackson.
www.cheersonline.com
PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY ALLIANCE
S
tretching from Los Angeles to San Francisco, "the Central
Coast is too diverse to be categorized as one singular
wine-production region," says Arthur Hon, wine director
at Sepia restaurant in Chicago.
For instance, "You can find delicate varietals that are planted
in the colder parts of the Central Coast, and more-hardy
grapes—especially the reds—that are grown in the warmer
parts of the regions," Hon notes. Sepia carries about 15 wines
from the region, priced from $50 to $150 a bottle.
The area has such a wide range of grapes, soil types and
microclimates that it can successfully produce everything from
chardonnay and pinot noir to Italian grapes and Bordeaux
blends and Rhône varietals, Hon says.
In fact, the area boasts many unusual Italian grape varietals,
such as sangiovese, vermentino, aglianico, arneis and nebbiolo.
And the "Rhône Ranger" movement of the early 1980s, which
introduced syrah, viognier and other grapes from France to
California, started in the Central Coast.
The region is home to nearly 700 wineries, according to data
from the 2013 Central Coast Wine and Viticulture Symposium,
which was held in Paso Robles, CA, in March. The counties
of Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and
