Monterey County wine is a appellation that designates wine made from grapes grown in Monterey County, California which lies entirely within the expansive multi-county Central Coast viticultural area. County names in the United States automatically qualify as legal appellations of origin for wine produced from grapes grown in that county and do not require registration with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). TTB was created in January 2003, when the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, or ATF, was extensively reorganized under the provisions of the Homeland Security Act of 2002.[8]
Monterey County is known internationally for its scenic splendor with the California Coast Ranges forming the mountainous shoreline and wind-swept evergreens on coastal cliffs outlined by the cinematic Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) along Big Sur, the white-sanded beaches in Carmel, the quiet tide pools at Pebble Beach and fertile soils of the Salinas Valley caressed by the maritime California weather. These elements provide ideal terrain, climate, and soil creating unique microclimates throughout the county for a vibrant viticulture economy.
This historic region is one of the popular bastions of cool-climate viticulture because of its proximity to the Pacific coast. The majority of Monterey's cultivated 69,000 acres (27,923 ha) resides in the 80 miles (129 km) elongated, fertile Salinas Valley framed by the central inner Coastal Range, continuously defined on a southeast to northwest axis by the Santa Lucia Range to the west and the Gabilan Range along its eastern boundary. As of 2024, the county is resident to ten established American Viticultural Areas (AVA), each with distinct viticultural personalities. They are Chalone, Arroyo Seco, San Lucas, Santa Lucia Highlands, San Bernabe, Hames Valley, Carmel Valley, San Antonio Valley, Gabilan Mountains and the large Monterey viticultural areas.[1][2]
- ^ a b c d "Monterey County: Appellation Profile". Appellation America. 2007. Archived from the original on June 8, 2018.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
Monterey_Establishwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Kettmann, Matt (May 9, 2023). "Is the Carmel Coast California's Next Pinot Noir Star?". Wine Enthusiast. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Arroyo_Seco_Establishwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Monterey County, CA". NACo. National Association of Counties. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ a b "AVAs" (AVA’s (American Viticultural Area)). Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association. 2021.
- ^ "About". Monterey Wine Country. Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
- ^ "The TTB Story". TTB.gov. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Treasury. 2002.
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