Monterey County Wine Country Nominated For '10 Best' In USA Today

MONTEREY COUNTY, CA — Congrats, Santa Lucia Highlands wine country!

The Monterey County, grape-growing community is among 20 nationwide to be nominated by USA Today as a contender for 10Best Readers’ Choice for “Best Wine Region.”

The 20 nominees, selected by wine-industry experts, will be whittled down to the top 10 via readers' online voting, which ends Monday, Aug. 2 at 9 a.m.

"The Santa Lucia Highlands is a small, but mighty, wine-growing appellation in Monterey County that cultivates California’s best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay," according to the Santa Lucia Highlands Wine Artisans trade group, representing more than 50 growers.

The Monterey County area faces stiff competition in the USA reader poll, particularly from other California wine regions. Also in the running for "Best 10" from the Golden State: Anderson Valley; Lodi; Mendocino; Napa Valley; Paso Robles; Russian River Valley; Sonoma Coast; and Temecula Valley; along with Valle de Guadalupe in Baja California.

Other wine regions selected from across the U.S. are in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, New York, Oregon, Texas, Virginia and Washington, plus one from Canada.

The Santa Lucia Highlands trade group is planning its annual Sun, Wind & Wine festival in 2022, with 40 vintners pouring their bottlings, paired with bites by chefs from Monterey Peninsula restaurants. Keep up with the event here.

Follow this link to cast an online vote with USA Today. As a reminder, voting ends Monday.

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