Central Coast AVA

Region Hierarchy
Climate(s) Moderate, Warm
Links Wiki
Grape(s)
Color Grape Notes
Red Cabernet Sauvignon Grape Grape notes: High tannins due to thick skin. Buds late and needs a long growing season. Often blended with Merlot to gain softness. Usually destemmed and crushed.
Red Grenache / Grenacha Grape Grape notes: Often used to make Roses. Often blended with Syrah or Tempranillo. Thin skin; late ripening. Garnacha in Spain; all elsewhere Grenache. Resistant to heat.
Red Malbec Grape Grape notes: Often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Merlot. Originally from France.
Red Merlot Grape Grape notes: Aroma/Flavors vary according to ripeness. Often blended with Cab. Sauvignon to add softness. Buds and ripens early.
Red Pinot Noir (Nero) Grape Grape notes: Low tannins due to thin skin. Susceptible to rot. Early budding and ripening.
Red Sangiovese (Chianti) Grape
Red Syrah / Shiraz Grape Grape notes: Shiraz in Australia; all elsewhere Syrah. Small with thick, dark skins.
White Albariño Grape Grape notes: Thick skinned, fungus resistant
White Chardonnay Grape
White Gewurztraminer Grape Grape notes: This is an aromatic grape; its nose intensity will likely be pronounced.
White Pinot Gris (Grigio) Grape Grape notes: Early budding and ripening.
Two main styles:
1. Harvested early. Dry, light body, medium-to-high acidity and simple flavors.
2. Delayed harvesting. Full body, medium acidity and complex flavors.
White Riesling Grape Grape notes: Susceptible to botrytis
White Roussanne Grape Grape notes: Ripens late
White Semillon Grape Grape notes: Think skin makes it susceptible to Noble Rot. Commonly blended with Sauvignon Blanc to add body
White Viognier Grape Grape notes: Aromatic grapes, so likely the nose is pronounced. Ripens late in the season so will have high sugar and low acidity.
Wines(s)
Type Wine Notes
Still Orange Roussanne Wine (Skin-fermented)
Still Red Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Wine notes: Often able to age well.
Still Red Chianti Wine Wine notes: Late ripening grape.
Still Red Grenache / Grenacha Wine Wine notes: Thin skinned. Typically used in a blend (including Roses). High alcohol.
Still Red Malbec Wine
Still Red Merlot Wine
Still Red Pinot Noir Wine Wine notes: Burgundy Pinot Noir is typically drunk young.
Still Red Syrah (Shiraz) Wine Wine notes: High tannins due to thick skin
Still White Albariño Wine Wine notes: Better young. Sometimes a bit of lees contact to add body and complexity.
Still White Chardonnay Wine
Still White Gewurztraminer Wine Wine notes: Usually high alcohol, complex and flavorful.
Still White Pinot Grigio Wine (Italy)
Still White Riesling Wine
Still White Semillon Wine
Still White Viognier Wine Wine notes: Usually high alcohol



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