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Wine Region and History
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South San Luis Obispo County, located halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, has earned worldwide recognition and respect for the exceptional quality of wine grapes produced in this ideal viticultural area. The area includes the Edna Valley, the Arroyo Grande Valley, each a designated American Viticultural Area, the Avila Valley and Nipomo.
Wine growing in San Luis Obispo County stretches back to the missionary days of California viticulture, when the first grapevines were planted by the Franciscan padres who settled California in the 1880s. Today, because of this region’s ideal world-class microclimate and soils, wine grapes are the leading crop in San Luis Obispo County.
There are over 3000 acres of vines in South San Luis Obispo County, and more vineyards are being planted. The climate and soils have been proven to provide the perfect environment for growing and producing ultra premium quality wines.
Due to the unique geography of the South Central Coast, the valleys have east-west orientations and are distinguished by the extensive maritime influence on the climate and soil. The soils are dominated by marine deposits left millions of years ago when the valleys were under water. Loam and clay topsoil overlay calcareous marine deposits promoting complex flavors.
The climate is tempered by marine air flowing directly into the valley from the Pacific Ocean. This cooling influence creates an unusually long growing season resulting in greatly intensified varietal flavors. All of these elements produce wine grapes and wines of complex flavors and intensity found only in the world’s greatest wine regions. |
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Few wine aficionados visiting wineries in San Luis Obispo County's countryside realize that this region's wine heritage goes back 200 years. The first grapevines were planted by Franciscan padres to make wine for sacramental purposes, and it is recorded that the wines produced at the San Luis Obispo Mission earned the good padres higher revenues than any other mission producing wine in California.
"The padres planted anywhere from 1,000 to 1,200 vines, but their wines were low in tannic acid and could not be aged properly because of the lack of the proper white oak barrels," according to local historian, Dan Krieger, Ph.D. Cal Poly. " The padres used the grapes to make Brandy because it had greater value and it could be shipped successfully."
Nearly 100 years later, early settlers began producing wine commercially. Yet it is only in the past decade that San Luis Obispo's wine industry has really flourished. According to a report by San Francisco wine consultants Gomberg, Fredrikson and Associates, San Luis Obispo County vineyards increased 72 percent in the last ten years. That's one of the most dramatic increases of any wine region in America.
Today there seems no limit to the number of new vineyards being planted in this county. Vintners strive to produce ultra-premium wines from varietals best suited for this region's microclimates. The cool climate and marine sediment in the soils of Edna Valley earned the valley's wine grape growers a reputation for growing superior Chardonnays. Yet today, viticulturists have proven that the soils of the Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande Valley are also ideally suited for growing Pinot Noir, Syrah, Grenache, and white Rhone varieties such as Roussanne and Viognier.
Although the Edna Valley, Arroyo Grande Valley and Paso Robles appellations developed independently, all within San Luis Obispo County, there were many time parallels as the early pioneers built the foundation for today's wine industry. |
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When the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa in downtown San Luis Obispo was established in 1772, the padres, led by Father Junipero Serra, planted the county's first grapevines there. Professor Krieger explained that by the 1820's, Father Jose Sanchez was producing 400 barrels of wine a year. At the same time, Father Antonio Martinez was making 100 barrels annually from vineyards at the Dallidet Adobe, now Mitchell Park in San Luis Obispo.
The vineyard in San Luis Obispo was abandoned when Mexico secularized the missions. It was not until the 1860's when the mission was acquired by French immigrant Pierre Hippolyte Dallidet, that the grapevines were brought back to life. Soon, other farmers began commercial ventures with the grapes, shipping grapes, raisins and their first wines to San Francisco from Port San Luis.
The first vineyard in Arroyo Grande was planted near Lake Lopez. In 1879, homesteader Henry Ditmas and his wife Rosa planted Zinfandel and Muscat vines, imported from France and Spain. Years later the vineyard was abandoned, and the vines were saved only due to the overgrown native plants, which protected them from being eaten by wildlife. Just a few years later, the Paso Robles region had its first commercial winery established in 1882 by rancher Andrew York. York Mountain Winery is the oldest winery in continuous operation in this county. |
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The Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande Valley regions did not get started commercially until 1968. County farm advisor Jack Foote planted several premium wine varieties in Edna Valley to determine whether or not they could be grown there. His success spurred the planting of many new vineyards soon afterward.
In 1973, Norman Goss began planting a vineyard on Orcutt road, founding Chamisal Vineyard. At nearly the same time, Jack Niven began planting Paragon Vineyard, yet neither of them knew of the others plans. In 1974, at the Ditmas ranch, the roots of the century-old-vines first planted there were still alive when ranchers Bill and Nancy Greenough bought the estate. Those three acres were brought back into production, adding to the premium Zinfandels that Saucelito Canyon winery is known for today.
Older wineries, such as the Edna Valley Vineyard have served to produce the premium wines that brought this cool climate recognition. Edna Valley Vineyard has been an institution of learning for many of our most talented local winemakers. Nearly forgotten wines, like Chamisal, purchased recently by Terry Speizer, are being renovated and brought up to modern day standards. |
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The influx of new wineries, both small and large, continues to rise. Small one-man operations and corporate-owned wineries are now plating new vineyards side-by-side. Numerous wineries outside the region, most of which have purchased grapes here for many years, are investing in land to plant more vineyards. Although these newcomers have much to contribute to this region, the acclaim goes to this region's early pioneering vintners who endeavored to prove the reputation of the Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande Valley by producing the finest wines possible.
The next ten years will become even more meaningful to the local wine industry. As these vintners better understand viticultural techniques, specifics of the soils and climates of this region, the wines we enjoy that these vintners are so proud of now, will become even more incredible. |
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© 2005 San Luis Obispo Vintners & Growers Association
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