Lime Kiln Valley AVA explained

Lime Kiln Valley AVA
Type:American Viticultural Area
Year:1982, amended 1987[1]
Country:United States
Part Of:California, Central Coast AVA, Cienega Valley AVA, San Benito AVA
Soil:Decomposed granite and limestone soils[2]
Total Size:2300acres
Grapes:Mourvedre, Zinfandel[3]

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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 2300acres 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 50F-change, with daytime temperatures in 85°F to 95°F 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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: § 9.27 Lime Kiln Valley . Code of Federal Regulations . Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas . 2008-01-24.
  2. Web site: Wine Searcher. 2020-12-31 . Lime Kiln Valley Wine . 2021-04-15.
  3. Web site: Appellation America . 2020-12-31 . Lime Kiln (AVA): Appellation Profile. https://web.archive.org/web/20130910081008/http://wine.appellationamerica.com/wine-region/Lime-Kiln.html . 2013-09-10 . live. 2021-04-15.
  4. Web site: Kenneth Volk Vineyards . 2008 Pinot Noir Enz Vineyard . March 23, 2013.