Lime Kiln Climate & Grape Growing The Impact of Climate on Lime
Kiln Grape Growing The temperature of the Lime Kiln AVA
fluctuates tremendously from day to night. This variation is
well suited to full bodied varietals that need a lot of sun to
ripen but cool nights to retain acidity. Warm weather grapes
often develop a lot of sugar and make high alcohol wines.
Without enough acidity, these wines would taste hot and
unbalanced. Summer days usually see a high of 85 to 95 degrees
Fahrenheit. Temperatures routinely drop to under 50 degrees at
night. This is not only because of the characteristic
northwesterly evening winds in San Benito County, but also
because fog often moves in. Mornings can still be a bit hazy,
but the fog has usually completely burned off by late morning.
Rainfall varies dramatically based on elevation. The lowest
parts of Lime Kiln only get about 15 inches while more elevated
areas get about 40 inches of rain a year. Winters are very cold
in the AVA. > San Benito Wineries