Napa and Sonoma may be the first names you think of when wine tasting is mentioned.  Yet, Carmel Valley, southeast of Monterey and Pebble Beach, may be the area’s best kept secret, as it is home to dozens of amazing wineries.  Surrounded by the picturesque Santa Lucia Mountains and just inland from beautiful Monterey Bay, it features a climate of warm days and cool nights just right to produce some pretty outstanding wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay.  I am fortunate to live just over the hill from Carmel Valley Village.  Here is my list of the best wine tasting venues in Carmel Valley. All of the wineries I have listed are located within walking distance from each other, with the exception of Folktale.

 1.  Folktale Winery.  Originally, this estate was called Chateau Julien Wine Estate, but in 2015 it became Folktale Winery.  While it is more than a stone’s throw west of the quaint Carmel Valley Village, Folktale Winery is not to be missed.  You can visit their fairy tale castle and also listen to fabulous bands while sipping on wine in their rustic barrel room.  There are awesome food and wine pairings at their events as well.  Some of the performers I have seen here include Anderson East, Chris Cab, and Iyla.  Can I say more?

2.  Cowgirl Winery.  Want to sip wine in the midst of clucking free range chickens and a cute vintage pick up truck?  Would you like to belly up to a bar with rustic cowboy boots lined up above it?   This place has so much character I dedicated an entire blog post to it, see: Cowgirl.

3.  Talbott Vineyards Tasting Room.  

You will love Talbott’s not only for their wine but also their spacious and elegant ambiance.  They are located just south of Cowgirl Winery.

4.  Georis Winery, located across from the Corkscrew Cafe, showcases exquisite mosaic artwork at their entryway, and is surrounded by beautiful floral landscaping and both indoor and outdoor tables. They often feature live music on the weekends as   well.

5.  Big Sur Vineyards.  I first visited this a few years back with my buddy Lauryn, and I have never forgotten.  What I love most is not only the wine, but the exquisite hand-painted labels featuring iconic Big Sur images.

6.   Testarossa Winery,  & 7.  Joyce Wine Company.  Joyce and Testarossa are connected by a series of rooms.

8.  Bernardus Winery.   This winery was started by Ben Pon, who was a race car driver for Porsche for many years as well as a participant in the Olympics in 1972 in skeet shooting.  The crest on the Bernardus wine label represents Mr. Pon’s Dutch Heritage.  This has an intimate indoor tasting room as well as a more expansive patio with comfy seating.

9.  Boekenoogen Vineyards and Winery.  This tiny tasting room is packed with pizazz.  Many folks are keeno for their pinot.

10.  Joulian looks like a petite French Chateau, showcasing beautiful decor in addition to their award winning wine.

11.  Cima Collina.  Like Cowgirl, Cima Collina has a super cute old truck, this one complete with wine barrels.

Helpful Tips:

• Most flights cost around 15.00-20.00 and involve 4-6 tastes.
• During the summer and early fall months Carmel Valley can get warm; dress accordingly.
• Parking can be challenging to find, I recommend getting there before 2 pm when most of the wine tasting begins.  Most tasting rooms are open between 12 and 5:30 pm.
• If you don’t want to deal with parking, a Wine Trolley is available from Monterey, or you can hop on  Tractor Pete’s rustic wagon to visit local wine tasting rooms.
• Most of the wine tasting rooms are dog friendly.
• There are several notable restaurants and cafes interspersed between the wine tasting rooms, including the Corkscrew Cafe, Roux, Cafe Rustica, and Holman Ranch Tavern.
• If you have time left for shopping, there are some cute shops in the area. I highly recommend Quail & Olive, just north of Georis. It features delicious olive oils, vinegars, kitchen items and lovely gifts.

Thank you for visiting my blog.  Wishing you peace, love, happiness, and beautiful vistas!