Wine region | |
Type | American Viticultural Area |
---|---|
Year established | 1982[1] amended 1987[2] |
Years of wine industry | 54[3] |
Country | United States |
Part of | California, Central Coast AVA, San Luis Obispo County, San Luis Obispo Coast AVA |
Other regions in California, Central Coast AVA, San Luis Obispo County, San Luis Obispo Coast AVA | Arroyo Grande Valley AVA |
Climate region | Region II[4] |
Precipitation (annual average) | 20 in (510 mm)[5] |
Soil conditions | Sandy clay loam, clay loam or clay[1] |
Total area | 22,400 acres (35 sq mi)[1] |
Size of planted vineyards | 1,000 acres (400 ha)[6] |
No. of vineyards | 20[3][7] |
Grapes produced | Albarino, Chardonnay, Grenache, Merlot, Mourvedre, Petite Sirah, Pinot gris, Pinot noir, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah, Teroldego, Viognier[8] |
Edna Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in San Luis Obispo (SLO) County, California encompassing the rural town of Edna which is 9 miles (14 km) southeast of the county seat San Luis Obispo and north of the small coastal town Arroyo Grande. It was established by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) as the county's first AVA within California’s multi-county Central Coast AVA effective May 12, 1982. It became an sub-appellation of the county’s newest San Luis Obispo Coast (SLO Coast) viticultural area since April 2022. The valley is diagonally flanked by Lake Lopez to the south and Islay Hill to the north. The elongated valley extends along a northwest-southeast axis bordered to the west by the Santa Lucia Mountains and surrounded by volcanic mountains and characterized by black humus and clay-rich soils. With moderate sunshine, cool maritime fog, and rich oceanic and volcanic soils, the Edna Valley appellation has California's longest growing season. The valley is kept cool by breezes from the Pacific Ocean and morning fog. The extended growing season allows complex flavors to develop in the grapes.[1]