“Don’t give Pisoni too much credit,” one vineyard manager told me. “There are lots of producers making amazing fruit along that ridge.”

One of them is Pisoni’s childhood pal, fellow converted farmer and equally-sought-after grape seller Gary Franscioni (above), who teams with Pisoni on Garys’ Vineyard, and has to turn away dozens of buyers begging to throw down $4,000 a ton. Now there are dozens of grower and winery members of the appellation, several of which Wine Enthusiast has described as among “America’s Grand Crus.” They’re listed here:

Bernardus

Bianchi

Boekenoogen

Cru

Escolle

Estancia

Fairview Ranch

Foghorn Wines

Gallo

Garys’

Hahn Estates Vineyards

Highlands Ranch

Hillside Vineyard

Hope & Grace

Kelly’s

La Estancia

La Reina

La Rochelle

Loring

Lucia Highlands

Kosta Browne

Manzoni

Martin Alfaro

McIntyre Vineyards Mer Soleil

Miura

Monterey Vineyard

Morgan Double L

Novy

Paraiso

Pessagno Vineyard

Pelerin

Pey – Lucia

R & D

River Road

Rosella’s

Siduri

Sequana

Six Strings

Smith – Lindley

Talbott

Tamayo

Testarossa

Tondre Grapefield

Tudor

Vina Monte Nera

Wrath

For a map of Santa Lucia Highlands, click here.