For more than two centuries, the Santa Lucia Highlands primarily grew vegetables. It wasn’t until the 1970s that a few pioneering families ventured into grape growing. Slowly, but surely, more families planted grapes, and now the Santa Lucia Highlands (SLH) AVA, officially established in 1992, encompasses 5,750 acres of prime vineyard mostly planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The total AVA is 18 miles long, stretching as high as 2,330 feet above sea level. It is listed as Cool Region 1 ...