Monterrey - Carmel

Monterrey - Carmel

Sylvester Winery

grape cluster - ai generated - Pixabay

Silvestri Vineyards began in the Piedmont region of Italy as an immigrant's dream of a better life. The year was 1908 when a young girl from Castell'Alfero, and a young boy from Novara prepared to leave home and travel to America. Joseph (Joe) Silvestri and Eugenia (Jenny) Martinetto would later meet and marry in New York's 'Little Italy' where they worked in the restaurant business. With the arrival of their children, they moved across the Hudson River to Teaneck, New Jersey, with the hope of building a life and a business of their own.

In 1950 a grandson would be added to their legacy and it was in this grandson that the Silvestri family would once again feel the wanderlust that had brought them to this land of dreams and opportunity. Finding his voice in music, Alan Silvestri traveled to Los Angeles in search of his dream through the pursuit of his art. Music was his vehicle for expression but food and wine, the staples of life at home, were never far from his heart. After meeting his wife Sandra in 1978, they would often travel back east where family events and occasions were always marked by wonderful food served with Jenny and Joe's homemade wine.
 

Calera Wine Company

grapes

Calera Winen Company is a winery with vision and that vision is expressed so well in the wines that are produced there. Rather than follow the recommended path, Josh Jensen became a pioneer in American Pinot Noir. Taking his cue from the great domaines of Burgundy, which have grown grapes in limestone soil for centuries, he set out in search of the perfect spot in California to create wines that are truly unique, yet in the style of the greatest wines of France. In his search he ventured off the grid to plant on the site of an old limekiln in the Gavilan Mountains of California's Central Coast. Today Calera Wine Company still express that pioneer spirit and are revered the world over. We are happy to say that not just California Corks has taken note of this winery but that even Robert Parker is convinced: "Calera is one of the most compelling Pinot Noir specialists of not only the New World, but of Planet Earth." Why not stop in and enjoy some a really wonderful Pinot Noir experience with the wines produced by Winemaker Mike Walker. You will be glad you did.*

Hours:

Open Daily: 11:00am - 4:00pm
Tasting Appointments: 11am - 3:30pm
Reservations are not required, but always appreciated.

Taste Morgan

wine glasses by the fireplace - Pixabay

Very impressive Pinot vintages. The ever so delicate grapes are grown right in the St. Lucia highlands where the cool coastal air enters through an inlet in the valley and keeps the berries cool and mild. The result is an amazing explosion of flavors that hints of fruit varietals suitable for any occasions. The sommelier on attendance was particularly witty and knowledgeable, a fine value of entertainment for $5. The tasting room's ambiance looked affluent but nothing pretentious, we felt welcome and greeted with smiles and laughter...well, a bottle of good Pinot Noir will always produce a smile.

ROAR Wines

glass of wine

Gary and Rosella Franscioni founded ROAR Wines with the conviction that Pinot Noir had a bright future in the Santa Lucia Highlands, coupled with the aspiration that their farming expertise would translate into exceptional grapes and wines. In 1996, they planted Rosella’s Vineyard on their home ranch, followed by Garys’ Vineyard in 1997 in partnership with the Pisoni family. The inaugural vintage of ROAR was released in 2001, crafted from these two vineyards. From the outset, the couple’s mission was to create wines they themselves would enjoy drinking, a vision that garnered critical acclaim almost immediately. About a decade later, they expanded their endeavor by planting two additional vineyards: Sierra Mar and Soberanes. Today, Gary and his sons continue to enhance and innovate in both the vineyards and winery, striving to produce the highest quality wines their land can offer.

McIntyre Tasting Studio

red wine swirling in the glass - Pixabay

Originally planted in 1973, the 80-acre McIntyre Estate Vineyard (with 60 acres planted) is home to some of the oldest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Another estate property, the 81-acre Kimberly Vineyard in Arroyo Seco, complements the winery’s holdings. Proprietor Steve McIntyre, a highly knowledgeable viticulturist, also owns and operates Monterey Pacific, overseeing 16,000 acres of vineyards in Monterey County. The McIntyre Estate Vineyard was one of the first in the Santa Lucia Highlands to earn SIP (Sustainability In Practice) Certification.

The Santa Lucia Highlands AVA has quickly risen to prominence, with 6,000 acres of vines—primarily Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah—thriving on the terraces below the Santa Lucia mountain range. The region benefits from a unique climate shaped by daily morning fog and strong winds channeled through the Salinas Valley from Monterey Bay. This combination gives the Santa Lucia Highlands one of California's longest and coolest growing seasons.

Had an excellent time here. The gentlemen doing the tasting was very personable and informative, I highly recommend.

Manzoni Vineyards

Painting, enjoying wine on the patio - agata

Tasting Room
Note that the Manzoni Cellars tasting room in Carmel-by-the-Sea has moved. The tasting room is now located in Hampton Court on 7th Ave between San Carlos and Dolores. Enjoy the spacious Courtyard. The new tasting room is spacious and inviting. You can always visit the tasting room in the vineyard on weekends. Located on the beautiful River Road Wine Trail in the Salinas Valley with wonderful views of the Santa Lucia Highlands. 

Hours:

CARMEL:

#4 Hampton Court on 7th Ave, between San Carlos & Dolores St.
Daily 12pm - 6pm.
(831) 620-6541

OPEN NEW YEARS EVE & NEW YEARS DAY
We will then be closed all Tues & Wed in January & February.

RIVER RD:

30981 River Rd, Soledad CA 93960
Saturday & Sunday 11am - 5pm
(831) 675-3398

We will be closed for Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas at the Vineyard.

Local Restaurants:

Mission Bistro: Mission St. 2 SW of Ocean Ave, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Ca. 93921 (831) 574-8344
Enzo Carmel: San Carlos St, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Ca. 93921 (831) 624-6545
Luigis: 346 Alta St, Gonzales, Ca. 93926 (831) 675-7800 / Open Mon-Fri Lunch & Dinner, Sat-Sun Dinner
4th St. Tap House: 25 4th St, Gonzales, Ca. 93926 (831) 675-5095 / Open Sun 12-8pm, M-T 3-9PM, TH-SA 3-11pm, Closed Wed.

Chalone Vineyard

glass of wine with vineyard in the background - Pixabay

While the grapes for Chalone Vineyard Estate come from their high mountain estate, the grapes for the Monterey County wines come from distinct vineyards in the 75-mile long Salinas Valley, which begins in Monterey Bay and runs southeastward. Ancient volcanoes, active faults and tectonic plate movement created the Santa Lucia and Gavilan Mountain ranges, which flank the valley. The mountains form a wind tunnel, drawing cool ocean breezes off the Pacific Ocean into the valley. The cool air causes the vines to shut down and delays ripening of the grapes, leading to a longer growing season and hang time that results in intense fruit flavors. Not open to the Public

DeRose Vineyards - Hollister

Grape Clusters

DeRose Vineyards has the single best Negrette I have ever had. Pat DeRose not only has one of the coolest moustaches on the planet, but he and Al (his son) are wine purists, not necessarily in the "Wine Spectator" since, they simply love great wines. Al DeRose search for new endeavors took him to central Chile where he produces and imports his Chilean wines. De Rose VIneyards is one of the oldest operated wineries in the US - 1854. At De Rose VIneyards they are not concerned about anything other than wine... nada. The DeRose family doesn't care about wine spectator's points, they don't care about who endorsed what, and I find that not simply amuzing, but delightful! Their style is very much like the old world where the people of the community get together. The winemakers, the farmers, the butcher and the candlestick-maker all living together, drinking together, eating together and enjoying the celebration of life. At DeRose Vineyards it is,"Good friends, good food and good wine.*

Hours:

Hollister Tasting Room
9970 Cienega Road
Hollister, CA
Hours:
Thursday - Friday: 11 AM – 5 PM
Saturday - Sunday: 11 AM – 4 PM

San Martin Tasting Room
255 Fitzgerald Avenue
San Martin, CA
Hours:
Friday: 4 PM – 8 PM

Marin Wines

grape cluster - ai pixabay

Natural winegrowing for us means producing the finest quality wines while working in harmony with nature and protecting the health of the earth and its people. As a CCOF - Certified Organic winery, we encourage environmentally friendly practices at many stages, from conserving soils and water, managing pests and using a natural approach in winemaking

Hahn Winery

vineyard at sunset - Pixabay

This is a great vineyard and they make fantastic wines! The view from the deck is beautiful. The tasting room itself is nice. The drive up to the tasting room is beautiful and they have a lovely estate with rows of roses and trees, next to the vineyards. The service is fantastic and they are generous with the pours! I highly recommend going for a visit and enjoying the nice weather and scenery. They make a number of really nice wines and bottle under a number of labels. You may be surprised just how many different labels they have. They have some nice little snacks in the fridge there, but they are just enough to stave off hunger, so don't plan on getting stuffed with their snacks before tasting. I recommend getting a bottle and sitting on the deck with your own salami and cheese assortment.

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