Creston District is an AVA in the southeast of the greater Paso Robles region. It was established in 2014 and surrounds the town of Creston in San Luis Obispo County.
The district covers a plateau at the base of the La Panza Range and is bisected by the Huerhuero Creek as it runs towards the Salinas River. Its western border follows the historical boundary of the Huerhuero grant line, a mid 19th Century Mexican land grant. The town and district took its name from the eventual owner of the land, Calvin J. Cressy. Creston has an elevation from 1000-2000 feet (305-610 meters) as it extends up above the foot hills of the La Panza Range.
Despite its easterly location, Creston benefits from moderate sea breezes passing through the Templeton Gap. The breezes sometimes carry marine fog and bring a cooling effect to the vineyards, which are largely planted on west- and southwest-facing slopes to maximize these effects. Cool air can also drain off the La Panza Range, where it travels down Huerhuero Creek and over the plateau in the evenings. Creston has a relatively low annual average rainfall of 11.5 inches, because it falls in the shadows of both the La Panza Range and the Santa Lucia Range, though this is mitigated in part due to abundant groundwater along the Huerhuero Creek. The soil is a mix of granite and sedimentary rock brought in through water ways over time. A combination of loam and high granitic content allows for deep rootstocks and good drainage.
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are the most significant grapes along with Zinfandel, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. The latter three are used for the region's southern Rhône blends.
