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.

[2] Despite conflicting accounts, the first recorded New World vineyard was probably in 1683 by the Spanish Jesuit missionary Eusebio Francisco Kino, at Misión San Bruno in Baja California, planting the first variety named "Misionéro."

[9] In 1779, Franciscan missionaries, under the direction of the Father Junípero Serra, established Alta California's first vineyard and winery at Mission San Juan Capistrano.

"[10] In 1919, French immigrant and entrepreneur, Charles Tamm, traveled through California searching for the terroir with limestone soil similar to his native Burgundy.

On the limestone-based elevated 1,800 feet (550 m) topography, Tamm planted Chenin Blanc sourcing for wineries even during Prohibition, when the grapes were used to make sacramental wines.

[14] At the legendary Judgement of Paris on 24 May 1976, Chalone Vineyard's 1974 Chardonnay ranked 3rd in the white wine category scored by renown French oenophiles.

[2][7][16] Monterey County is distinguished by the composition of its soils, elevation, topography, and the marine influences from the Pacific Ocean, specifically, wind, rainfall, fog and climatic variances.

The Salinas River is the state's largest in the Central Coast geologically creating the fluvial valley and is vital for various methods of agricultural irrigation by growers in the area.

However, the watersheds of the Santa Lucia, Gabilan, and Diablo ranges provide adequate water through underground aquifers to enable irrigation of the grape acreage as well as to satisfy other agricultural requirements.

The inland valleys which open to the Pacific Ocean between the parallel mountain ranges (Gabilan, Santa Lucia, and Diablo) form corridors of cool air which contributes to a longer growing season than surrounding areas.

Unlike neighboring highlands above the 1,000 feet (300 m) contour line, the land within the viticultural area is subjected to variable winds which sweep inland in a southeasterly direction from Monterey Bay through the Carmel and Salinas River valleys.

This area is surrounded by the higher Santa Lucia range to the west and south and a lower ridge averaging 1,500 feet (460 m) elevation to the north and east.

The lower humidity levels significantly reduce mildew pressure which allows growers to use less fungicide and pursue more organic practices during the growing season.

These features include a long period from bloom to harvest, mild daily high temperatures during most of the fruit development period, fog in the morning (in the northern portions of the viticultural area), a quick rise to the daily maximum temperature with a simultaneous precipitous drop in humidity and regularly occurring southeasterly winds from the Pacific Ocean beginning in the early afternoon.

The high temperatures common to the Central San Joaquin Valley are rare in the Monterey viticultural area but do occur during the Indian summer period.

Comparisons to weather records from neighboring grape-growing areas show that the combination of morning fog and afternoon wind produces a unique temperature and relative humidity pattern.

They agreed with ATF's proposal to exclude the established Chalone viticultural area on the basis that its elevation placed it in a different climate zone.

[20] Cooler weather, ocean breezes, and fog characterize the northern section of the Monterey County, produces cool-climate grapes like Riesling and Pinot Noir.

The lack of annual rainfall made it necessary to have a predictable supply of water to the grapevines to ensure that they would thrive and produce a quality harvest with higher yields per acre.

In addition to the ideal climate, the lack of abundant rainfall allows Monterey County grape growers to control the amount of water the vines receive.

A mechanical harvester vibrates the vines dislodging the fruit onto a conveyor belt transporting it to a bin to be either crushed/pressed immediately in the vineyard or trucked to the winery for fermentation.

The primary benefit of mechanical harvesting is targeting the ripen grapes at the proper sugar-acid balance to pick and deliver them quickly to the winery.