San Antonio Valley
Surrounded by the Santa Lucia range, the San Antonio Valley appellation is located in a bowl-shaped valley in the southern most area of the county. Although temperatures here are warmer on average than the other AVAs in Monterey, San Antonio Valley is still influenced by occasional morning fog from nearby Lake San Antonio and cool evening breezes from the Pacific Ocean.
San Antonio Valley is Monterey County’s newest American Viticultural Area, receiving its designation in 2006. But San Antonio Valley’s grape growing history reaches back to 1772 when the original padres at San Antonio de Padua Mission realized this locale was ideal for making their sacramental wine. The mission remains to this day, a lasting reminder of the district’s earliest viticulture.
Currently, over 800 acres of vinifera grapes and more than 20 varietals are under cultivation in San Antonio Valley. With an elevation ranging from 580 to 2800 feet, this region experiences warm, dry conditions. The soils found here are primarily gravelly loam and clay. Taken together, these elements provide an excellent setting for growing full-bodied Rhone and Bordeaux varietals from Cabernet Sauvingon and Petite Sirah to Syrah and Marsanne.
| Name of AVA: | San Antonio Valley |
|---|---|
| AVA Approval: | 2006 |
| Acres Planted: | 800 |
| Climate: | Hot, minor coastal influence. |
| Dominant Soils: | Arbuckle Gravelly Loam, Nacimiento Silty Clay Loam, Lockwood Shaly Loam, Chamise Shaly Loam |
| Min/Max Elevations: | 587ft/2,789ft |