Wine Regions
Welcome to California’s Central Coast - a sprawling AVA (American Viticulture Area) that stretches from the southern outskirts of San Francisco down to charming Santa Barbara. Covering approximately 250 miles, this region boasts 40 AVAs, each known for cultivating a diverse range of grapes that yield some of California's most captivating wines. Among the 90,300 acres of vineyards, Chardonnay stands as the predominant grape variety. Our focus at Chesterfield Cellars lies in sourcing exceptional grapes from prestigious vineyards throughout these unique California AVAs.
San Luis Obispo
SLO Coast, situated along the coastal side of the Santa Lucia Mountain range, offers a unique setting. With an east-west orientation, it welcomes cooling ocean breezes and morning fog, creating one of the lengthiest growing seasons. This favors maximum ripeness for the grapes. As you move inland, the climate matures to accommodate Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Grenache. The soils, ranging from fossilized shells to shale and sand, contribute to wines with lively acidity.
Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County is a region that gained fame from the film "Sideways." It also has an east-west orientation and placement between two mountain ranges, which creates an ideal environment for cool climate varieties like Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay. With elevations spanning 200 to 3400 feet, the soils are diverse – featuring calcareous limestone for acidity, diatomaceous earth for intensity, sandy soils for fruit-forward styles, and clay loam for moisture retention. Abundant sunshine, extended growing periods, and minimal rainfall during harvest come together to express the true terroir in these wines.