7. Alisos Canyon
Written by Petitioner, Wes Hagen:
- The Alisos Canyon AVA exhibits a unique viticultural influence of the San Antonio Creek Valley which runs directly from the mouth of Alisos and Comasa Canyons to the Pacific Ocean 20 miles to the west. The ingress of cooling marine winds and fog along the San Antonio Creek Valley helps define the climate of Alisos Canyon AVA. (Winkler Climate Zone 2)
- Soils are based on weathered sandstone and shale, the Paso Robles and Sisquoc formations with a rare limestone streak along the corridor of the AVA.
- Soil Geek Sidebar: High calcium content from ‘siliceous shale pebbles’, ‘marly limestone’ that will have the impact of grape-skin thickening: increasing extraction, color and tannins in red varietal winegrapes. The ‘clayey matrix’ provides higher cation exchange capacity (CEC) as positively charged clay soil particles are necessary for the uptake of macro and micronutrients by vines.
- What should you try first? Syrah, Grenache, Viognier, Cabernet Franc are the standouts.
Conclusion: This is a nascent and narrowly-focused Rhone-focused wine region ready for exploration, only two hours north of Los Angeles and 45 minutes from downtown Santa Barbara.
Read all about our new AVA!
Alisos Canyon Wine Appellation Approved
Santa Barbara Independent
by Matt Kettman
Drumroll, Please: Introducing Alisos Canyon, Santa Barbara County’s Seventh AVA
The SOMM Journal
by Wes Hagen
‘A New Niche to Taste and Explore’: Alisos Canyon is America’s Newest Appellation
Wine Enthusiast
by Matt Kettmann
Santa Barbara County Gains a New AVA
The Drinks Business
by Phoebe French