Located southwest of the Salinas River at the base of the Santa Lucia Mountains, the San Bernabe AVA (designated in 2004) is located within the larger Monterey AVA. Mission San Antonio de Padua is situated nearby and grapes have been grown in the area since the late 1770s. Modern commercial vineyards were planted in the early 1970s and in 1988 the Indelicato family purchased 11,000 acres of land which included vineyards as well as many acres of undeveloped land. Today, there are approximately 4,000 acres under vine in the AVA and all vineyards are owned and farmed by the Indelicato family. Several climatic and geologic systems come together at San Bernabe including fog at the northern end of the AVA influenced by Monterey Bay to a warmer, Mediterranean climate to the south. Soils range from alluvial sandy loam, to sand to limestone; each reflecting a different geographic influence. Due to the wide range of micro climates, the AVA is home to 20 varietals with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling planted at the northern end and Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the warmer, southern vineyards.