PETITION TO ESTABLISH

'Alisos Canyon American Viticultural Area’

Informal Appendix: 1

Formal Appendices 1-2

Wesley D. Hagen, Viticulturist, Winemaker, AVA Petitioner, WSET 2

Voice: (805) 450-2324 Email: [email protected]

Informal Appendix 1, Petition to Establish Alisos Canyon AVA: Submitted 4/14/2017

Narrative on Climatic Uniqueness: Alisos Canyon vs. Ballard Canyon.

As described within Page 11 of the Petition to Establish the Alisos Canyon AVA, both (proposed) Alisos Canyon and Ballard Canyon AVA’s are correctly identified as Winkler Climate Zone II. It is noted that Ballard Canyon is marginally warmer, historically, than Alisos Canyon, and that is supported by the PRISM data sets from 1981-2015 as shown in Exhibits 8-9 (Santa Barbara County Degree Day Data, PRISM generated, 1981-2015). Averaging both stations in both areas, Ballard Canyon would average at 2979 GDD, and Alisos Canyon at 2804, a statistical variation of 6.24%.

Formal Appendix 1, Petition to Establish Alisos Canyon AVA: Submitted 4/14/2017

Similarities and Distinguishing Factors of Proposed Alisos Canyon (micro) AVA and the Central Coast (macro) AVA.

From: DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms

27 CFR Part 9[T.D. ATF-216; Re: Notice No. 532]

Establishment of Central Coast Viticultural Area

AGENCY: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury.

ACTION: Final rule; Treasury decision.

“The Central Coast viticultural area is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the east by the California Coastal Ranges. The Coastal Ranges form a barrier to the marine influence on climate, causing precipitation, heat summation, maximum high temperatures, minimum low temperatures, length of the frost-free season, wind, marine fog incursion, and relative humidity to be significantly different on opposite sides of these mountains. The area inland of the Coastal Ranges is typically arid or semi-arid. This difference in climate causes harvested grapes to be significantly different from grapes grown farther inland.” Final Rule, Notice 532, Page 43128

The proposed Alisos Canyon AVA, contained within the larger Central Coast AVA in California, shares proximity/geology/geography as defined between the California Coastal Ranges and the Pacific Ocean.

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Climate, heat summation, wind and fog patterns are fully compatible with many of the ‘marginal’ climates that lie between the cooler, coastal areas of the Central Coast AVA (e.g. Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Maria Valley, Edna Valley) and the warmer areas such as Paso Robles AVA’s east of Highway 101 (Paso Robles Highlands District, Creston District and San Juan Creek AVAs. The marginal climates similar to the Proposed Alisos Canyon AVA in climate, heat patterns and marginal (but measurable) coastal influence would include Ballard Canyon AVA, Adelaida and Templeton Gap AVA’s on the cooler side of the Paso Robles micro-AVA firmament, and the Foxen Canyon subarea contained within the AVA.

The most important definition within the Central Coast AVA Final Rule is this: “The Coastal Ranges form a barrier to the marine influence on climate[, etc.]” This definition puts the proposed Alisos Canyon AVA perfectly within the definition of the greater Central Coast AVA, and the ‘Goldilocks Rhone Zone’ defined in the Petition to Establish Alisos Canyon AVA: Map of the Major Watersheds in northern Santa Barbara County further defines the relationship (Exhibit 7: Map: North SB County Major Ocean watersheds) and shows clearly and distinctly that the Alisos Canyon AVA would both perfectly fit the (Central Coast AVA) definition of being influenced by both Coastal Ranges (east side of the proposed AVA warms as Coastal Ranges trap heat), as well as representing the profound cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean (26 miles west of the proposed boundaries).

In summation, the Pacific Coast influence (cooling) along with the proximity of the Coastal Ranges to the Proposed Alisos Canyon AVA, is compatible and well within the perfected definition of the greater Central Coast AVA, but Proposed Alisos Canyon AVA also shows a high degree of definition/distinctiveness that will be apparent in Alisos Canyon AVA wines and varietal viability.

Climate, soil, wind, precipitation and geologic data within the Petition to Establish Alisos Canyon AVA all show the variations and similarities to adjacent viticultural areas in Santa Barbara County and within the sprawling and highly diverse Central Coast AVA.

Formal Appendix 2, Petition to Establish Alisos Canyon AVA: Submitted 4/14/2017

Support for claim that ‘Alisos Canyon’ is locally and nationally known and support for our claim that: (1) the region, and not just the actual canyon, is called Alisos Canyon, and (2) the name is also in general use by people outside the wine industry.

Alisos Canyon is a historic and well known bicycling/motorcycle-riding area in Northern Santa Barbara County, and both locals and visitors know the route as the ‘Alisos Canyon Loop’. The Santa Barbara Independent newspaper defines and recognizes it as one of the major bike routes in the North County for at least the last 10 years (article dated 2007): http://www.independent.com/news/2007/dec/03/alisos- canyon-loop/

A motorcycle riding website defining the Alisos Canyon Road area for a great ride: http://sbc- rides.goption.com/StreetRides/hwy101/alisos/hyw101_alisos.html

“Alisos Canyon Equine Center” also uses the ‘Alisos Canyon’ appellation to define its proximity to the area, showing non-wine related commerce and promotion using the ‘Alisos Canyon’ name. http://alisosequine.com/

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