Wine region | |
Type | American Viticultural Area |
---|---|
Year established | 1987 |
Country | United States |
Part of | California, Central Coast AVA |
Sub-regions | Cienega Valley AVA, Lime Kiln Valley AVA, Paicines AVA |
Total area | 45,000 acres (18,211 ha) |
Grapes produced | Barbera, Chardonnay, Grenache, Merlot, Mourvedre, Syrah, Tempranillo |
The San Benito AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in San Benito County, California. It is part of the larger Central Coast AVA. San Benito has a moderate climate with cooling breezes from the Pacific Ocean arriving via gaps between the Gabilan Range and the Santa Lucia Mountains. The region was once the principal source of grapes for Almaden Vineyards before the business was acquired by Constellation Brands in 1984.