Consisting of only 18,240 acres, the Arroyo Seco AVA is one of the smallest, but one of the most diverse, AVAs in the state of California. Literally meaning “dry riverbed,” the AVA has extreme variations in topography and soil types. Deep in the canyon, vineyards are shielded from characteristic afternoon winds, but then as the canyon opens to the valley floor, the afternoon breezes off the Monterey Bay cool the grapes, regulating their growth and intensifying their fruit flavors.