wine connection
It’s an area of some “Old World”
niches that really expresses the
diversity of Central Coast wines.
The other California A wine journey through California’s Central Coast ★ Monterey ★ San Luis Obispo ★ Santa Barbara
Stars in the north
In the north, Monterey County
is known for its charming seaside
towns, but it’s also home to a large
premium wine-growing appellation. Here, temperatures can vary
40 degrees between the coastal
northern vineyards and the county’s
more inland southern vineyards.
The appellation receives abundant
sunshine and relatively low rainfall. Again, the cooling influences of coastal fog and breezes
are ideal for long growing seasons
with well-developed fruit.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
excel in the cooler north. Monterey
Chardonnays are rich in apple, citrus and orange blossom aromas and
flavors. The Pinots have intense
raspberry and wild berry character,
with some of the best coming from
the renowned Santa Lucia Highlands.
In Monterey’s warmer inland climates,
Cabernets feature elegant cherry flavors with
herbal and black olive notes, surrounded by
medium tannins. Many of the wines from the
Carmel Valley are more traditional Bordeaux
blends of Cabernet and Merlot, and the
Arroyo Seco area is known for black-fruit
Syrahs with hints of cocoa and silky tannins.
There’s so much to explore in the Central
Coast. In its expanse, you can discover new
appellations while seeking your favorite
grape varieties in some of the most scenic settings found anywhere. The best part of wine
tasting is, indeed, the journey. Enjoy! C
MEDIA BAKERY
By Annette Alvarez-Peters
AS A WINE appellation, or
wine-growing region, the
Central Coast of California is
very large, stretching some
250 miles from south to
north, with diverse climates
and topographies and a wide
range of grape varieties to explore. Any wine
enthusiast will enjoy the unpretentious vibe
and the laid-back, welcoming feel of the
region’s wineries—and the value of the great
wines made by them. Let’s journey through
some of California’s most picturesque scenery to see what’s in store.
Wonderful variety and value
The Central Coast appellation runs from
the Santa Barbara County grape-growing
region in the south to Monterey County in
the north. Within the larger appellation, or
American Viticultural Area (AVA), there
are roughly 30 sub-appellations, also AVAs.
Each area is distinguished and defined as a
place of origin with specific soil and climatic characteristics.
The southern Central Coast encompasses
Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
Both counties are bounded by hillside valleys
to the east and beautiful Pacific coastlines to
the west. Most of the vineyards here lie east to
west, maximizing exposure to the sun as well
as to cooling fog from the Pacific. This combi-
nation allows the grapes to hang longer on the
vines to reach optimum ripeness.
Annette Alvarez-Peters oversees Costco’s wine,
beer and spirits program.
TO FIND which Costco warehouses
carry wine, go to Costco.com, click
on “Costco Connection Magazine,”
then “Beer, Wine & Spirits Locator.”
You can also find notes on Kirkland
Signature™ wines under “Kirkland
Signature Wine Connection.”
Classic reds in the warmer areas
Other classic red grape varieties thrive in
the warmer reaches of the Central Coast. Rich,
red berry Cabernets and lush, plummy Merlots
are best produced in the warmer Santa Ynez
Valley. Cabernet and Merlot also flourish in
the Paso Robles AVA, located in San Luis
Obispo County to the north. Known for its
diverse topography of flat valleys, rolling hills
and rugged mountain areas, Paso Robles is
home to some 40, mostly red, grape varieties,
including peppery Syrah, concentrated Zinfandel and earthy Sangiovese and Tempranillo.
Featured at Costco
You’ll ;nd these ;ne Central Coast
wines at select Costco locations:
Robert Hall Cabernet Sauvignon,
Paso Robles Item #117943
Mirage Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon,
Monterey County Item #612741
Tangent Paragon Vineyard Viognier,
Edna Valley Item #537826
Talbott Logan Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia
Highlands Item #546133
Mer Soleil Chardonnay, Santa Lucia
Highlands Item #794113
J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet
Sauvignon, Paso Robles Item #896695
Cambria Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir,
Santa Maria Valley Item #45308
NW
MAY 2012 ;e Costco Connection
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