York Mountain AVA
York Mountain is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in San Luis Obispo (SLO) County, California. It lies within the larger Central Coast AVA located on the eastern side of the Santa Lucia Mountains and west of Paso Robles viticultural area. The mountainous terrain features vineyards that are mostly cultivated at an elevation around 1,500 feet (460 m). York Mountain climate is cooler and wetter than Paso Robles being just 8 miles (13 km) from the Pacific Ocean. York Mountain viticultural area was recognized as the county’s second AVA by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) effective on September 23, 1983 after reviewing the petition submitted by Stephen and Max Goldman, owners of York Mountain Winery, to establish a area known as “York Mountain.” Historically, Andrew York, a British immigrant, planted the first vineyard on York Mountain in the 1870s and established Ascension Winery, the first bonded winery in the Central Coast. It survived through Prohibtion and later renamed York Mountain Winery, staying in the York family until 1970 when it was purchased by Max Goldman.
| Wine region | |
York Mountain vineyards | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1983 1987 amended |
| Years of wine industry | 154 |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | California, Central Coast AVA, San Luis Obispo County |
| Other regions in California, Central Coast AVA, San Luis Obispo County | Arroyo Grande Valley AVA, Edna Valley AVA, Paso Robles AVA, SLO Coast AVA |
| Climate region | Region I |
| Precipitation (annual average) | 45 to 50 inches (1,143–1,270 mm) 4.24 inches (107.70 mm) during growing season |
| Soil conditions | shallow sandstone, sandy clay with some alluvial deep sandy clay-loam and limestone outcrops |
| Total area | 6,400 acres (10 sq mi) |
| No. of vineyards | 4 |
| Grapes produced | Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Grenache, Petit Verdot, Pinot noir, Syrah, Tempranillo, Viognier, Zinfandel |
| No. of wineries | 2 |