Year established 1982, amended 1987 Total area 2,300 acres (931 ha) | Country United States Grapes produced Mourvedre, Zinfandel | |
Type American Viticultural Area Part of Central Coast AVA, Cienega Valley AVA, San Benito AVA | ||
The Lime Kiln Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in the larger Cienega Valley AVA in San Benito County, California. This appellation spans 2,300 acres (931 ha) and was granted AVA status in 1982. The soil in the region is composed of foundations of limestone and dolomite with sandy, gravelly loam above. The area has a wide diurnal temperature variation of up to 50 °F (10 °C), with daytime temperatures in 85 °F (29 °C) to 95 °F (35 °C) range during the summer growing seasons. The AVA is home to old vine Mourvedre plantings.
Enz Vineyard and Gros Verdot
The only vineyards in the Lime Kiln Valley AVA are owned by the Enz Family. Currently there are 40 acres of vineyards, including a 15 acre parcel of head-trained Mourvedre that was originally planted in 1922.
In 2007, the Enz Vineyard first planted in 1895 and now growing grapes for Kenneth Volk Vineyards was discovered to be planted with the nearly extinct Bordeaux variety Gros Verdot instead of Cabernet Pfeffer as originally thought.