(Wine-Searcher) - Atmospheric conditions are keeping vines free of smoke taint so far as harvest inches closer.

A huge fire in Monterey County keeps getting bigger, but so far growers of the county's best-regarded wine grapes say the wind is keeping their vineyards safe.

However, the Soberanes Creek fire, which has blazed through 57,000 acres is not yet close to being brought under control. The state declared it 45 percent contained as of Sunday morning. On Monday night, US Highway 1, a major coastal road, was to be closed in both directions near the epicenter of the blaze in Big Sur.

Monterey County is an important grapegrowing area, with much of its fruit ending up in bottles labeled Central Coast. Monterey has the most white-wine grapes of any county in California, according to the US Department of Agriculture. It also has the second-most Pinot Noir grapes of any California county, behind only Sonoma, and is fifth overall in red-wine grapes.

The most prized grapes come from the Santa Lucia Highlands, which is due east of the fire. So far, winemakers and vineyard owners say that southerly winds have mostly kept the smoke away from their grapes.

"The majority of the smoke is headed to the southeast or out to sea, depending upon the winds," said SLH grower Steve McIntyre. "In the Salinas Valley, the same dynamics that create the wind and fog have provided a protective inversion that keeps any smoke trapped on top of the inversion layer, just as the fog forms and sits on top of a ceiling. In the afternoon, our infamous winds off the bay clear out the air under the inversion."

But that doesn't mean there hasn't been any smoke at all. Scott Caraccioli, vice president of Caraccioli Cellars, told the Monterey Herald: "Our vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands has experienced minimal exposure to smoke and when it has been exposed, it’s only been for short time periods." Caraccioli said he expects to begin harvest in 10 to 14 days and is excited about the fruit.