Malibu-Newton Canyon is a tiny AVA nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains halfway between Los Angeles and Oxnard in Ventura County, California. The valley was first planted with vines in 1987, and was granted AVA status in 1996 after a successful petition from the area's one winery, Rosenthal Estate. Malibu-Newton Canyon wines tend to be big and opulent and are mostly made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay.
The AVA lies entirely within the Newton Canyon, a mountain basin that sits just below Castro Peak, one of the highest elevations in the Santa Monica Mountains. Vineyards sit at altitudes of between 1400ft and 2800ft (430-850m) above sea level, putting them well above the fog that covers the lower-lying land. The canyon is just four miles (6km) from the sandy beaches of Malibu.
©Neil McNally/Rosenthal Wines
The basin shape of the canyon is what distinguishes Malibu-Newton Canyon from the surrounding areas. The ridges that surround the canyon are high enough to exclude the vineyards from heavy maritime influences, meaning that temperatures here fluctuate more than in the lower-lying areas (which are moderated by the ocean). However, the ridges are still low enough to allow lighter mists and ocean breezes into the valley in the evenings. Warm sunshine during the day is followed by colder evenings, which extends the ripening period, leading to balanced grapes with good levels of ripeness and acidity.
Soils in Malibu-Newton Canyon are generally made of silty loam with deposits of crushed rock that originated from the construction of a road tunnel in the area. These dry soils have good drainage capabilities and stress vines enough to reduce both vigor and yield. The berries from these stressed vines have more-concentrated sugars and acids, leading to rich wines with good concentration of flavor.
While Malibu-Newton Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon is not as well known as its Napa Valley and Santa Cruz Mountain counterparts, it has garnered respect from critics and consumers alike.
The area's demarcation as an AVA in 1996 paved the way for other wine regions in Los Angeles County: Saddle Rock Malibu, Leona Valley and Antelope Valley of the California High Desert have since become AVAs as well.
