Explore the appellation
Discover
Santa Lucia
Highlands
A narrow mountain bench above the Salinas Valley where sun, wind, and centuries of geology converge to create California's most compelling cool-climate wines.
The Santa Lucia Highlands AVA
Where the Mountains Meet the Sea
Since 1991, the Santa Lucia Highlands American Viticultural Area has earned recognition as California's premier cool-climate wine region. This narrow appellation produces world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that capture the essence of wind, fog, and ancient granite soils.
Our member vintners and growers are stewards of this extraordinary landscape, each bringing a unique perspective to our shared terroir of exceptional promise.
By the Numbers
22,000
1,400
1991
18
Featured Story
A Landscape Shaped by Wind
Every afternoon, cool Pacific air rushes through the Salinas Valley gap — a natural wind tunnel that has sculpted both the landscape and the character of the wines for millennia. This daily drama is the Highlands' defining feature, and it's what makes these slopes unlike any other vineyard land in California.
The wind thickens skins, concentrates flavors, and preserves the bright acidity that gives Santa Lucia Highlands wines their signature energy and grace.
Continue Exlporing
More to Discover
Terroir
The Wind Factor: How the Salinas Valley Shapes SLH Wines
The relentless afternoon winds that funnel through the Salinas Valley are the defining force behind the character of Santa Lucia Highlands wines.
Vintage Report
Vintage 2025: A Season of Patience and Reward
The 2025 growing season tested the resolve of Santa Lucia Highlands growers, but the resulting wines promise to be among the finest in recent memory.
Profiles
Meet the Maker: A Conversation with Dan Morgan Lee
Dan Morgan Lee founded Morgan Winery in 1982 with a singular vision: to produce world-class Pinot Noir from Monterey County.
Stay Connected
Join the Conversation
Occasional stories from the vineyard, news from our vintners, and events in your area.