Arroyo Grande Valley

The Arroyo Grande Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in San Luis Obispo County, California. It is part of the larger Central Coast AVA with the area composrd of sedimentary and volcanic soils over a layer of bedrock known as the Franciscan Complex. The 16 miles long appellation benefits from its east-northeast orientation which allows the breeze from the Pacific Ocean to moderate the climate of the area. The valley is divided by a fog line produced by the cool coastal fogs where Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Rhône varietals are grown on the higher elevations near Lopez Lake and the cooler mid-valley vineyards being home to Chardonnay and Pinot noir.