Cienega Valley AVA

Cienega Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in western San Benito County, California, within the vast Central Coast viticultural area. It was established on August 19, 1982 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms( ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by Almadén Vineyards to establish a viticultural area in San Benito County to be named "Cienega Valley." The valley was a major source of wine grapes for Almadén Vineyards since the 1950s before it was acquired by Constellation Brands in 1987. Approximately 1,100 feet (340 m) above sea level, the valley floor is divided by the San Andreas Fault. Soil on the east side of the fault is predominantly granite and sandstone, whereas soils on the west side are predominantly granite and limestone. It grows some of the oldest Pinot Noir vines in California. The viticultural area is located at the base of the Gabilan Mountain Range which rises to 3,274 ft (998 m) and forms a boundary line between San Benito and Monterey Counties. The Pescadero Creek runs through the vineyards and the San Andreas fault line borders the-northeast edge. Cienega Valley lies approximately five miles (8.0 km) south, overland, from the town of Hollister. On the east is the Paicines Vineyards. The ATF ruled that both Cienega Valley and Lime Kiln Valley viticultural areas both have enough similar characteristics to justify expanding the boundaries of Cienega Valley to include all of Lime Kiln Valley. The Cienega Valley area is planted with hundreds of acres of vineyards consisting of numerous varieties of grapes.