Approximately 200 miles south of San Francisco, a vineyard unlike any other stretches 1,850 contiguous acres through both warm and cool climate regions with a distinctive soil that gives meaning to the term terroir. This place is San Lucas Vineyard which has been home to Lockwood Vineyard, producers of fine wine in Monterey, California since 1989.
San Lucas Vineyard’s unique soil began its formation under an ancient sea, where microscopic sea creatures lived and died creating a sedimentary layer of seashells. Over time, this layer was crushed and became fossilized creating “shale,” a form of calcium similar to chalk or limestone.
This shale layer was transported by the movement of plate tectonics to what is now San Lucas Vineyard. Slowly the shale was integrated into the loam soil, forming a unique and geologically recognized “Lockwood Shaly Loam.” This soil was recognized by the U.S. Geological survey in 1946 and is only found in two small areas of Central California, San Lucas Vineyard and a coastal cliff region near Big Sur. The distinctive soil, unique climate (classified to grow and mature both warm and cool climate grapes) and a commitment to estate grown and bottled wine, makes Lockwood Vineyard’s wines stand out from the crowd.
