Arbolitos
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2026
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
grilled ribeye steak, slow-roasted lamb shanks, wood-fired mushroom pizza
✨ Technical Specifications
Scheid Vineyards' 'Arbolitos' is a proprietary red blend that captures the diverse terroir of California's Monterey County. The name 'Arbolitos,' meaning 'little trees' in Spanish, pays tribute to the scenic oak-studded hillsides that frame the Salinas Valley. In this unique microclimate, cold winds from the deep Monterey Bay sweep through the valley, creating a dramatic temperature gradient. While the north is cool, the southern estate vineyards receive ample warmth to fully ripen robust red grape varieties. Scheid's winemaking team crafts this blend to emphasize rich, dark fruit flavors, structured tannins, and the signature bright acidity imparted by the region's cool nights. The wine is aged in a combination of French and American oak barrels to add complexity, yielding a smooth, approachable red that reflects the family's commitment to sustainable wind-powered estate farming.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1972 by pioneer Al Scheid, Scheid Vineyards began as an ambitious viticultural venture in southern Monterey County, initially supplying fruit to major California wineries before evolving into a vertically integrated estate wine producer. Spanning more than 3,000 acres across a 70-mile expanse of the Salinas Valley—encompassing microclimates across the Monterey, Arroyo Seco, and Hames Valley AVAs—the estate leverages thermal diurnal shifts driven by maritime winds off Monterey Bay. Viticulture balances alluvial gravel, decomposed granite, and clay-loam soils across twelve distinct ranch sites, farmed under SIP Certified and Certified California Sustainable standards, with the winery fully powered by an onsite wind turbine. Winemaking prioritizes varietal clarity, tension, and texture across an eclectic portfolio, celebrated for vibrant Sauvignon Blanc Reserve, aromatic Viognier, racy Dry Riesling, and rare regional white bottlings such as Petit Manseng and Roussanne.