Edna Valley AVA
| Wine region | |
View from Edna Valley Winery | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1982 1987 Amended |
| Years of wine industry | 53 |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | California, Central Coast AVA, San Luis Obispo County, San Luis Obispo Coast AVA |
| Other regions in California, Central Coast AVA, San Luis Obispo County, San Luis Obispo Coast AVA | Arroyo Grande Valley AVA |
| Growing season | 287 days |
| Climate region | Region I-II |
| Precipitation (annual average) | 20 in (510 mm) |
| Soil conditions | Sandy clay loam, clay loam or clay |
| Total area | 22,400 acres (35 sq mi) |
| Size of planted vineyards | 1,000 acres (400 ha) |
| No. of vineyards | 20 |
| Grapes produced | Albarino, Chardonnay, Grenache, Merlot, Mourvedre, Petite Sirah, Pinot gris, Pinot noir, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah, Teroldego, Viognier |
| No. of wineries | about 36 |
Edna Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in San Luis Obispo (SLO) County, California encompassing the rural town of Edna which is nine miles (14 km) southeast of the county seat San Luis Obispo and north of the small coastal town Arroyo Grande. It was established as the nation's eleventh, the state's eighth and the county's second appellation
on May 12, 1982 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by Edna Valley Vineyard, Paragon Vineyard, Chamisal Vineyard, Lawrence Winery and MacGregor Vineyards proposing a viticultural area in San Luis Obispo County named "Edna Valley.”
The viticultural area resides within California's multi-county Central Coast AVA and became a sub-appellation in the county's newest San Luis Obispo Coast (SLO Coast) viticultural area in April 2022. The valley is diagonally flanked by Lake Lopez to the south and Islay Hill to the north. The elongated valley extends along a northwest–southeast axis bordered to the west by the Santa Lucia Mountains and surrounded by volcanic mountains and characterized by black humus and clay-rich soils. With moderate sunshine, cool maritime fog, and rich oceanic and volcanic soils, the Edna Valley appellation has California's longest growing season. The valley is kept cool by breezes from the Pacific Ocean and morning fog. The extended growing season allows complex flavors to develop in the grapes. The region is best known for its Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah. The USDA plant hardiness zone is 9b to 10a.