VINEYARDS SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS
APPELLATION: Santa Lucia Highlands
In the 1990s, this sleepy Monterey County Appellation sprang upon the luxury-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay scene with a bang. Once known as a region that produced vegetal tasting wines from Cabernet and Merlot grapes in the 1970s, a new crop of growers proved that this area is second to none in producing world class, cool climate loving varietals like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The east-northeast facing alluvial fan of gravelly loam soils make up the majority of the appellation. The even soil depths and even exposure to the sun result in even ripening grapes with layers of earthy minerality and spice. An interesting coincidence is that the slope and aspect to the sun of the Santa Lucia Highlands are almost identical to those of Burgundy's famous Cote d'Or. Testarossa has been making Santa Lucia Highlands wines since 1997.
