Lime Kiln Valley AVA
Wine region
TypeAmerican Viticultural Area
Year established1982, amended 1987[1]
CountryUnited States
Part ofCalifornia, Central Coast AVA, Cienega Valley AVA, San Benito AVA
Soil conditionsDecomposed granite and limestone soils[2]
Total area2,300 acres (931 ha)[2]
Grapes producedMourvedre, Zinfandel[3]

The Lime Kiln Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in the larger Cienega Valley AVA in San Benito County, California. This appellation spans 2,300 acres (931 ha) and was granted AVA status in 1982. The soil in the region is composed of foundations of limestone and dolomite with sandy, gravelly loam above. The area has a wide diurnal temperature variation of up to 50 °F (28 °C), with daytime temperatures in 85 °F (29 °C) to 95 °F (35 °C) range during the summer growing seasons. The AVA is home to old vines' Mourvedre plantings.[3]

Enz Vineyard and Gros Verdot

The only vineyards in the Lime Kiln Valley AVA are owned by the Enz Family. Currently there are 40 acres of vineyards, including a 15-acre parcel of head-trained Mourvedre that was originally planted in 1922.

In 2007, the Enz Vineyard first planted in 1895 and now growing grapes for Kenneth Volk Vineyards was discovered to be planted with the nearly extinct Bordeaux variety Gros Verdot instead of Cabernet Pfeffer as originally thought.[4]

References

  1. ^ "§ 9.27 Lime Kiln Valley" (Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas). Code of Federal Regulations. Retrieved January 24, 2008.
  2. ^ a b "Lime Kiln Valley Wine". Wine Searcher. December 31, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Lime Kiln (AVA): Appellation Profile". Appellation America. December 31, 2020. Archived from the original on September 10, 2013. Retrieved April 15, 2021.}
  4. ^ "2008 Pinot Noir Enz Vineyard" (PDF). Kenneth Volk Vineyards. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
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