Lime Kiln Valley AVA

History in San Benito County dates back to the mid-18th century with the advent of the Spanish Catholic priests of the Franciscan order establishing the Alta California Mission system between 1769 and 1833, specifically the Mission San Juan Bautista in 1797. Cienega Valley grape vines were planted in the 1852 by Theophile Vache, a French wine merchant who immigrated from the Bordeaux region.{{cite news |author1=Balzer, Robert Lawrence |title=Peaceful Valley: A Little-Known Historic Wine Area Is Almost Hidden by the Diablo and Gavilan Mountain Ranges, Near San Juan Bautista |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-10-11-tm-13548-story.html |access-date=1 March 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=1987-10-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241210130839/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-10-11-tm-13548-story.html |archive-date=2024-12-10|url-access=subscription}}

Vineyards were planted in Lime Kiln in 1887. The historic Enz Vineyards were planted in 1923 and has been producing and marketing wine referring to a Lime Kiln label since the early 1970's.{{cite web |title=Enz Vineyard |url=https://historicvineyardsociety.org/vineyard/enz-vineyard |website=Historic Vineyard Society |access-date=7 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420063052/https://historicvineyardsociety.org/vineyard/enz-vineyard |archive-date=2021-04-20 |date=2020 |url-status=live}} The general area historically has long been known as Limekiln. On September 6, 1977, the County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a resolution naming the valley surrounding Limekiln as Lime Kiln Valley. The area derived its name from a number of lime kilns built in the area among the local quarries. Many of the kilns were in operation prior to 1910.

Most of the Lime Kiln Valley vineyards are located at {{cvt|1000|ft}} above sea level. The petition stated that the variation in the rainfall would affect any grapes grown in the mountainous area differently than the grapes grown on the valley floor. Therefore, no grapes are grown in the mountainous area and plantings are not anticipated. Vineyard expansions are planned within the amended boundaries of the viticultural area. After evaluating the entire record concerning the climate of the area, ATF believed the boundaries of the proposed Lime Kiln Valley should be amended to exclude the mountainous areas. ATF believed the boundaries now used delineate an area which exhibits similar characteristics, but differ from surrounding areas. The boundaries are described primarily by Cienega Road and the {{cvt|1400|ft}} contour line. While ATF believes that viticultural area boundaries based solely on man-made features are inappropriate, where such features closely approximate natural features, or where they provide a demarcation line from grape-growing areas as opposed to areas not suitable for grape-growing, or where they provide a line to delineate a climatic feature, it is acceptable to use these man-made features in describing boundaries.

Rainfall averages {{cvt|40|in}} per year in the upper western reaches of Lime Kiln Valley, and {{convert|16|in}} per year in the lower eastern reaches. The valley receives over {{convert|2|in|spell=in}} more rainfall per year than Hollister, located approximately {{convert|11|in}} northwest from Lime Kiln Valley. Winter temperatures are well below freezing. Summer temperatures average between {{cvt|85|-|95|F}}, while dropping at night to between {{cvt|45|-|50|F}}. Usual morning fog during early summer is burned off by mid-morning. The prevailing winds are predominantly northwesterly from the ocean.

The soil structure of the valley is basically a sandy and gravelly loam over bedrock of limestone and dolomite. The Coulter pine is the dominant vegetation distinctive from the surrounding area. It grows in limited areas due to climatic conditions. In the area here, the pine grows only within the watershed boundary which very closely approximates the boundary of the viticultural area. Ground water is available in the form of natural springs and artesian wells.{{cite journal | url=https://www.ttb.gov/media/68847/download?inline| journal=Federal Register | title=Lime Kiln Valley Viticultural Area | publisher= Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury |format= 27 CFR Part 9 [Notice No. 387; Ref: Notice No. 352] Proposed Rules |volume=46 |issue=194| pages=49599-49600|date=1981-10-07}}{{PD-notice}}

The only vineyards in the Lime Kiln Valley are owned by the Enz Family. Currently there are {{cvt|40|acre}} of vineyards, including a {{cvt|15|acre}} parcel of head-trained Mourvedre that was originally planted in 1922. The historic vineyard was first planted in 1895 growing with Zinfandel and Cabernet Pfeffer (Gros Verdot), then the 1922 plantings, and in 1972, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel. Since the early 1990’s, Kenneth Volk worked with the vineyard and grafted over the Sauvignon Blanc to Pinot Noir in 1994.{{cite web |website=Kenneth Volk Vineyards |url=http://www.volkwines.com/2008%20Pinot%20Noir%20Enz%20Vineyard.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915041332/http://www.volkwines.com/2008%20Pinot%20Noir%20Enz%20Vineyard.pdf |archive-date=September 15, 2015 |title=2008 Pinot Noir Enz Vineyard |access-date=March 23, 2013}}

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• [https://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-lime+kiln+valley Lime Kiln Valley Wine]
• [https://www.ttb.gov/AVA/ TTB AVA Map]

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Category:American Viticultural Areas of San Benito County, California

Category:Lime kilns in the United States

Category:1982 establishments in California

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