Santa Lucia Highlands

Santa Lucia Highlands is located in Monterey County, about a two hour drive south of San Francisco in California’s Salinas River Valley. The vineyards are planted on the terraces of the Santa Lucia mountain range, overlooking the Salinas River.  The vines elevated sites take full advantage of the morning sunshine before the stiff, afternoon winds are funneled southeast from the Monterey Bay between the Santa Lucia and the Gambian ranges to slow down ripening, and help create a particularly long growing season.  Black Kite sources grapes from two vineyards located at opposite ends of the appellation at two different altitudes.  The Soberanes Vineyard is located in the northern part of the appellation at about 400 feet elevation.  The Sierra Mar Vineyard is in the southern part of the appellation and is at 1,000 feet, one of the highest elevation vineyards in this appellation – benefiting from more sunshine and less fog.  This vineyard has naturally thin soils with low yields of highly intense fruit.

Sierra Mar Vineyard

Clones:  Pinot Noir:  Pisoni Clone; Chardonnay Dijon clones
Root Stock:  4
Row Orientation:  North/South

Altitude:  1,000 feet.
Soil:  decomposed granite mixed with gravelly loam

Soberanes Vineyard

Clone:  Pinot Noir:  Pisoni Clone; Chardonnay: Wente Clone
Root Stock:  coming soon
Row Orientation:  North/South

Altitude: 400 feet
Soil:  Arroyo Seco sandy loam