Gonzales is a city in Monterey County, California, United States. Gonzales is located 16mi southeast of Salinas, at an elevation of 135 feet (41 m). The population was 8,187 at the 2010 census, up from 7,525 at the 2000 census. Gonzales is a member of the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments.Wine-growing areaGonzales is an important wine cultivation area. Wineries located in Gonzales include Constellation Brands, Robert Talbott, Pisoni Vineyards, Boekenoogen Winery, and Salinas Valley Vineyards.GeographyGonzales is located at.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.0sqmi, of which, 1.9sqmi of it is land and 0.04sqmi of it (1.93%) is water.ClimateThis region experiences warm and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Gonzales has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps. Summer daytime temperatures average around 35C, but nights are cool year-round.HistoryGonzales was originally a depot for freight trains once the Southern Pacific Railroad laid tracks through the valley in 1872.The community was planned by Mariano and Alfredo Gonzales. The first Gonzales post office opened in 1873. The name honors the Gonzales family, owners of Rancho Rincon de la Puente del Monte, on which Gonzales was built. At that time, Gonzales was a cattle ranching and grain growers community.