Arroyo Seco AVA
| Wine region | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1983 2006 Amended 2019 Amended 2021 Amended |
| Years of wine industry | 63 |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | California, Central Coast AVA, Monterey County, Monterey AVA |
| Other regions in California, Central Coast AVA, Monterey County, Monterey AVA | Hames Valley AVA, San Bernabe AVA, San Lucas AVA, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA |
| Growing season | 245 days |
| Climate region | Region II-III |
| Heat units | 1875-2250 GDD |
| Precipitation (annual average) | 9.5 in (240 mm) |
| Soil conditions | Mocho, Lockwood, Arroyo Seco, Rincon, Elder and Chular series. Coarse sandy loams |
| Total area | 1983: 18,240.0 acres (28.5 sq mi) 2006: 18,040 acres (28 sq mi) 2019: 18,130 acres (28 sq mi) 2021: 17,982 acres (28 sq mi) |
| Size of planted vineyards | 1983: 8,500 acres (3,440 ha) 2024: 7,000 acres (2,833 ha) |
| No. of vineyards | 32 |
| Grapes produced | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Grenache, Merlot, Mourvedre, Muscat Canelli, Orange Muscat, Pinot blanc, Pinot gris, Pinot noir, Riesling, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah, Tempranillo/Valdepenas, Vermentino, Viognier, Zinfandel |
| No. of wineries | 1983: 2 2024: 10 |
Arroyo Seco is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Monterey County, California, southeast of Monterey Bay. The state's 15th appellation was established on May 16,1983 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by the Arroyo Seco Winegrowers and Vintners, an association composed of grape growers and vintners with vineyards, to establish a viticultural area within Monterey County known as "Arroyo Seco."
Arroyo Seco is a triangular shaped area adjacent to the Arroyo Seco Creek which flows into the Salinas River near Soledad. The appellation encompassed 28.5 square miles (18,240.0 acres) in the Salinas Valley with about 8,500 acres (3,440 ha) of cultivation and two bonded wineries. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean produces the maritime climate, and is best suited for those cool climate grape varieties.
In 2019, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury expanded Arroyo Seco by 90 acres (36 ha), however in 2021, TTB ruled on a modification of the shared boundary between Santa Lucia Highlands and Arroyo Seco AVAs. The boundary modification transferred 148 acres (60 ha) of foothills terrain from the west side of the Arroyo Seco to the southeastern area of the Santa Lucia Highlands. One vineyard containing approximately 135 acres (55 ha) was affected by the realignment, and the vineyard owner included a letter of support in the petition. The modification reduced Arroyo Seco AVA by less than 1 percent and did not affect the boundaries of the Monterey or the Central Coast AVAs.