 Big
Sur. Carmel. Pebble Beach.
Cannery Row. Millions of
tourists make the pilgrimage
to Monterey County to enjoy
the region’s picture
postcard scenic beauty. And
when visiting, many are
surprised to find that
Monterey also boasts a
thriving wine industry,
producing some of
California’s best vintages.
Close to 40,000 acres of
wine grapes are now under
cultivation here; almost
fifty different wine brands
call Monterey home.
No longer a well- kept
secret, Monterey’s vintners
are taking their rightful
place on the world stage,
winning more than their
share of accolades. From
Chardonnay to Cabernet, from
Riesling to Pinot Noir, a
bottle of wine with Monterey
on the label is synonymous
with quality. Taken as a
whole, the wines of Monterey
County tend to exhibit a
wonderful “fruit forward”
character, balanced by just
enough acidity. This
“Monterey Balance” makes the
local wines incredibly
versatile for pairing with
food.
ON CALIFORNIA’S CENTRAL
COAST…
Warming sun, cooling fog,
and complex soils are
components essential to the
winegrower’s art. The
Franciscan missionaries and
Spanish conquistadors found
these key factors in
abundance when they arrived
in Monterey in the 1700’s.
Since that day, Monterey has
been holy ground to the
vintner. The single most
important factor in the
region’s makeup is the close
proximity
of Monterey Bay. This
extremely cold body of water
provides fog and winds
throughout the area,
allowing Monterey County the
gentlest, longest growing
season in California.
Monterey’s grapevines tend
to produce buds in early
spring (about two weeks
earlier than other regions)
and the fall harvest
typically begins two weeks
later than other regions.
The grapes remain on the
vine approximately one month
longer than elsewhere in the
state, resulting in mature,
vibrant fruit, with ideal
varietal flavors and
balance.
LOCATION, LOCATION,
LOCATION…
Through four decades of
trial, error, and
inspiration, Monterey
winegrowers have learned
what the French have known
for centuries – when talking
about wine, it ’s all about
“place.” Appellation is the
term that refers to the wine
grapes’ place of origin. A
vineyard’s “sense of place”
is a synthesis of geography,
climate, soil, and
viticultural practices.
These elements combine to
create characteristics that
make the grapes and the wine
from that locale unique.
The Monterey County Vintners
and Growers Association (MCVGA)
represents over 85 vintners
and growers. The Association
has been instrumental in
helping tell the “Monterey
Message,” a simple statement
of fact: California wines
from Monterey
County are among the best in
the world. The quality and
value inherent in every
bottle from Monterey makes
it an evermore attractive
choice for savvy world
consumers. Additional
details on the Monterey wine
industry and wine events
that occur in Monterey can
be obtained at
www.montereywines.org
or 831.375.9400.
by Dave Muret |
