The Climate of Arroyo Seco Viticulture
Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot Thrive in the Climate of Arroyo Seco
Arroyo Seco is a dry wine region that does not get a lot of rainfall. Irrigation is widely used throughout the AVA. The northeastern part of Arroyo Seco is windy and cool. Riesling and Gewurztraminer do well here. Ocean breezes enter the Salinas Valley at its opening near Monterey Bay. Winds are stronger in the eastern hills of the valley, but they affect Arroyo Seco and the Santa Lucia Highlands in the western hills as well.
The northwestern tip of Salinas Valley is usually very foggy, but it rarely makes its way all the way down to Arroyo Seco because of the region’s higher elevation. Fog rarely advances south of the town of Greenfield. Jekel Vineyards is the best known property in this part of the region.
The southwest part of the AVA is quite sheltered from winds that dominate the eastern parts of Salinas Valley. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and other full bodied red varietals are typically grown in areas. Because the weather can be a bit humid here, botrytis cinerea, or “noble rot,” can infect grapes.
> Monterey County Wineries