About Monterey County

This exciting region on the central coast of California is a fairly new hot spot for wines in America. Inside Monterey County is the Salinas Valley, which runs from Monterey Bay in the north to San Luis Obispo County to the south. It’s along this valley that most of the viticultural areas sit. Conditions in the Salinas Valley are typically windy and cool. This is due to the ocean canyon in Monterey Bay that renders the water colder than areas to the north. In addition, fog is often channeled into the valley, which helps cool the vineyards.

These conditions, along with low rainfall in the area, results in one of the longest growing seasons in the world. This is the perfect environment for varieties such as Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc, which thrive in cooler climates. Further inland and to the south of the valley, the wind diminishes, resulting in richer, more fuller-bodied wines. To the west are the Santa Lucia Mountains, which are home to a number of sub-AVA’s. Here, the altitude has a bigger impact on growing conditions. The warmer days and cooler nights cause grapes to ripen slowly and retain acidity while developing. This makes the area more suited for Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah.

A Rich Wine History

The first wine grapes in the Monterey region were planted by Franciscan friars over two hundred years ago. Unfortunately, no trace of those original vines exists today. Modern winemaking didn’t start to flourish in the area until the 1960s. This happened after reports were published outlining the regions optimal conditions, which were said to be comparable to Sonoma, Napa, Bordeaux, and Burgundy. This, along with rising demand for a wider variety of table wines, led to the first modern vines being planted in Monterey County. Today there are over 40,000 acres of vineyards of varying sizes throughout the Salinas Valley. In fact, this area is now one of the biggest premium growing regions in the state, with an estimated worth of over $200 million.

What Makes Monterey County Unique

In Monterey County, every single grape that’s grown is a wine grape. None are sold as table grapes or made into juice. The wines produced in the vineyards throughout the county are all distinguishable from those produced in other areas of the state and around the world. Each wine has a bold, varietal flavor, which means the unique, natural taste of the grape is echoed in the wine. Vines throughout the region typically bud in the spring, a few weeks before those in other areas. Furthermore, fall harvest usually starts a few weeks later than in other areas. This means the grapes in Monterey County remain on the vine one month longer, which allows them to develop the intense flavor wine drinkers have come to love. In addition to the climate and soil, winemakers in this region continue to use a combination of traditional and forward-thinking methods to produce exciting, high-quality wines.

Meta: Monterey County, which boosts the Salinas Valley, provides a unique environment for bold, high-quality wines. Learn more about this beautiful wine region.