Page 71 - Exploration10LLR

Notes:
Edna Valley Wines _________________
_________________
Wine-searcher.com _________________

The Edna Valley AVA is located in the south-western corner of San Luis Obispo County (affectionately _________________
nicknamed 'SLO County'), on California's Central Coast. The first vines (Mission) were planted here in the _________________
early 1800s, and winemaking remains popular today. The area's naturally varied landscape offers various
options for vineyard site selection – one of the reasons why winegrowing has continued here successfully for _________________
so long. _________________

The AVA runs north-west to south-east for 10 miles (16km) along the Edna Valley, immediately south of San _________________
Luis Obispo city. At the heart of this area is the small town of Edna (known today as Old Edna since the _________________
town's commercial and industrial interests shifted northwards into to the sprawl of San Luis Obispo).
_________________
Thanks to the cooling moist winds which travel up the valley from the coast, the climate here is much cooler
than that experienced further inland. Just across the Los Machos hills is Kern County, where temperatures _________________
are significantly higher (and rainfall significantly lower), and just beyond that is the California High Desert. _________________
Because of these relatively moderate temperatures, the Edna Valley growing season is typically a little _________________
longer and more even than in the warmer areas of the Central Coast, and its wines are perceptibly more
balanced in terms of sugars and acidity. _________________
_________________
Edna Valley has one of the longest growing seasons in California. Grapes hang longer on the vine here,
resulting in higher levels of phenolic ripeness and increased varietal character in the finished wines. The _________________
region also has a complex array of soils, most of which are well-suited to quality viticulture. Much of the ________________
valley was once part of the Pacific Ocean and ancient marine sediments have left a fertile base. The soil is
further enriched with dark humus, loam and clay.

The terroir in the valley is well suited to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, both of which are renowned for their
ability to produce fine wines in cooler climates. These two Burgundian varieties dominate plantings in Edna
Valley vineyards, although Syrah, one of California's up-and-coming varieties, is hot on their heels and
producing some very well-received wines. Rich, aromatic Viognier – Syrah's white counterpart from the
Rhone Valley – is also doing well.

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