Central California Coast

The Central California Coast Region begins at San Francisco Bay, encompasses Livermore Valley and Contra Costa and Alameda counties to the east, and runs down the California coast via Monterey to Santa Barbara.  The six-hour meandering drive down El Camino Real or the “royal road,” as early Franciscan monks called California Highway 101, is one of the best ways to experience many of California’s most appealing features: rolling golden hills and valleys patchwork-quilted with dark green coastal scrub, native oak groves and stands of madrone, and glimpses of blue water, surging waves and towering cliffs.

The Central Coast American Viticultural Area (AVA) hugs roughly 250 miles of coastline, totaling some 6.8 million acres, of which nearly 100,000 are planted to vines that produce approximately 12 percent of the state’s total wine grapes.  More than 600 bonded wineries lie tucked away in the numerous and diverse sub-appellations with the region: Livermore Valley, the Santa Cruz Mountains, Monterey County, Santa Clara Valley, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County, San Benito County and Santa Barbara County.

In addition to the world-class wineries and vineyards, this region is also home to the Salinas Valley, recognized as one of the most fertile farming areas in the U.S. Attractions include Pebble Beach Golf Course on the Monterey Peninsula, the rugged coastline of Big Sur and Hearst Castle in San Simeon.  Click on our event planner for a memorable visit to this storied region!
Central Coast Winegrowers Association: www.ccwga.com