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5 Introduction The wine region of California's Central Coast cuts a wide swath, meandering from Santa Barbara County in the south to San Francisco Bay in the north. The 300-mile route is framed by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the towering Sierra Madre Mountains and the Padres National Forest to the east. Stretching along El Camino Royal (the royal route harking back to the Spanish settlers now largely Highway 101), the scenic route snakes through oak-studded hillsides and old stagecoach routes then winds back to a spectacular coastline. The region is deeply rooted in the lore of early California from Native Chumash Indians and the Old West tales of Yankee ranchers, settlers, and soldiers to Franciscan monks, and Spanish land-grant rancheros. In fact, it was Father Junipero Serra who planted more than 1,000 vines in 1797 at the historic Mission San Miguel Arcangel near Paso Robles. What's so special about the Central Coast wine region is its diversity. There are multiple macro and microclimates, vast variations in soils, and extreme diurnal temperature swings. Vineyard plantings can stretch from fertile valley floors to elevations of 2,500 feet above sea level. This diversity draws maverick winemakers who love to experiment with more than 40 varieties of wine grapes grown in the area. The result is a broad variation of wines produced throughout this region, with each AVA (American Viticultural Area) presenting its own distinctive flavor profile. Santa Barbara County's wine trails meander through hamlets such as Santa Ynez, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Ballard Canyon, and Buellton. There are various sub-appellations anchored in these small towns, defining the area's terroir, so for example, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Santa Rita Hills AVA stretching from Buellton to Lompoc will be distinctly different from a Chardonnay in the Santa Maria Valley AVA. The same goes for varietals like Syrah, which will present a different flavor profile coming from the warmer Ballard Canyon AVA than from, say, cooler Santa Rita Hills. J. Lohr Vineyards, page 65 Écluse Wines, page 61

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