San Lucas is an AVA at the southern end of the Salinas Valley in Monterey County, California. It is one of Monterey's warmer wine regions, and produces rich, concentrated red wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and fruit-driven, tropical white wines made from Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
San Lucas is bordered to the west by the Santa Lucia Range and to the east by the Chalone Hills (home to the Chalone AVA). It includes vineyards on both sides of the Salinas River, although most plantings are on the west. It is the southernmost AVA located within the Salinas Valley itself, and is roughly 40 miles (65km) north of Paso Robles in the neighboring San Luis Obispo County AVA.
San Lucas has a long history as a cattle-grazing area, and its first vines were not planted until the 1970s. It gained AVA status in 1987, but the boundaries were redrawn in 2004 when the neighboring San Bernabe AVA was established.
San Lucas is less windy than the more northern regions in Monterey – it is far enough south to avoid the influence of the strong winds that are funneled through the Salinas Valley from Monterey Bay. As a result, the day-time temperatures are warmer here than in other parts of Monterey. However, the region is still subject to morning fog and some afternoon breezes.
Evening temperatures are much lower than those during the day, giving the grapes overnight respite from the heat and lengthening the ripening period. A longer ripening period means that grapes have time to develop varietal character while retaining vital acidity.
The region has a range of free-draining soils, including calcareous chalk rock, loam and sandstone. This soft, fractured rock lets root systems penetrate the ground deeply with little resistance, giving strength to the vines and limiting vigor and yields. The vines are thus able to put more energy into producing grapes with excellent concentration.
