Monterrey - Carmel

Monterrey - Carmel

VENTANA

Great little find! We were looking for a winery to go to in Monterey, when we found this one. We thought we would be going to an actual winery (vineyard), and were surprised when we ended up in a shopping center along a main road. However, don't let that discount their credibility. They still offer great wines and tastings are only $5 (for all of their wines), unless you buy a bottle valued at $15+, then the tastings are free.

All of us ended up walking out with 2 bottles each. We all really enjoyed the Chardonnay, hands down, and then we each had a different opinion about our favorite red.

Additionally, Ventana has a great patio if you want to take your tastings outside or have a picnic.

DeRose Vineyards

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:

Mon-     11:00 to 5:00pm
Tues-     11:00 to 5:00pm
Weds-     11:00 to 5:00pm
Thurs-    11:00 to 5:00pm
Fri-         11:00 to 5:00pm
Sat-        11:00 to 4:00pm
Sun-       11:00 to 4:00pm

Bernardus Winery

The dynamics of Bernardus Winery's tasting room showed their unique personalities with ALL that work behind the bar! I was belly laughing over Greg's one liners while he poured, and as Philip explained the informative part of the wines we were tasting. Great combo!!!! All of us tasters on the other side of the counter had sooooo much fun!!
They have a couple of Sauvignon Blancs, several Chardonnays, a few Pinot Noirs, and a couple of blends. They're all well-made wines, but none impressed me until the 2006 Signature Marinus. It's full of tannins and spice and ages well. If you're in Carmel Valley, Bernardus is a must-stop.

Heller Estate

This place was recommended by the tasting room where we were unable to have a picnic. I was so very glad that I had discovered it!! Tasting fee is $8. The wines were really good. The pourer was very friendly and knowledgeable. The tasting room was cozy and inviting with some olive oil and Meyer lemon marmalade samples. This place is also like an art gallery inside out. The picnic area in the fenced garden setting was very comfortable and we also enjoyed many interesting looking art objects. We were informed that this place is the first one of the series of wineries in the area

Mer Soleil Vineyards

The Wagner family legacy of winemaking has been carried on for three generations. The family’s deep roots of farming grapes and producing wine began in 1915 in the Napa Valley. Charlie F. Wagner and Lorna Belle Glos Wagner, along with their son, Chuck, established Caymus Vineyards in 1972. Chuck saw great potential for producing quality wines outside of the Napa Valley as well, and by 1988, Chuck began planting land in the Santa Lucia Highlands. This appellation, located in Monterey County, is along the cooler coastline, yielding early ripening for Chardonnay. Mer Soleil Chardonnay became the product of this quality chosen site, and has been run by Chuck’s eldest son, Charlie F. Wagner II, since 2001.

Georis Winery

Lovely wine tasting experience. We knew nothing about Georis but had it on our list of possible stops on a recent visit to the Carmel Valley. Sometimes the best experiences are surprises.
We shared a flight of five red wines which were served with a small plate of cheese and freshly baked bread from the Corkscrew Cafe. $20 seemed very reasonable for what was served.

We lingered over our wine for probably 40 minutes or so as we sat in the garden which is in front of the adobe (circa 1930) which serves as the tasting room. The charming garden had a European feel with an eclectic mix of seating areas. Colorful tablecloths and brightly painted metal chairs added to the ambiance.

The place mat and a small printed menu gave brief descriptions of the wine. We could drink at our own pace and didn't miss having a server rushing us on to the next pour.

Georis is a "keeper" on our list of Carmel Valley tasting rooms. We'll be back.

Manzoni Vineyards

Carmel:
A quaint little tasting room that have big wines.
Manzoni wines have a great selection of wines for every palate.
The staff is knowledgeable and have great dining recommendations.
I especially enjoyed the Pinot Gris and Syrah (Home Vineyard).

Soledad: Manzoni turns out to have been a good stop. The valley and wine trail (aptly named River Road Wine Trail) that parallels a lazy river, offers a beautiful view of the rich agriculture in the area. The east facing vineyards overshadowed by golden Central California hills/mountains, fall colors, rich soil, framed by a peaceful farming community makes it unique and special.Small estate vineyard tasting room a few miles from the main 101 road. Gravel parking lot is next to their converted garage tasting room.
Quaint, yes, but their wines speak for themselves.

Hahn Winery

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.

Chalone Vineyard

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

Figge Cellars

Alan was a great host! He was friendly and kept us entertained while we tasted our wines. The place also has a great selection of tasting wines. The two pinot's, one from santa lucia highlands and the other from carmel, were both wonderful wines. The chardonnay from carmel was a very enjoyable one, and the syrah was great too. My favorite of the four probably being the santa lucia highlands pinot. Tastings are 3 for $5 or all 5 for $10. There's a little art gallery in the back as well. It's a very quaint little place and I thoroughly enjoyed my visit here!
A great little tasting room.
Good wine, good owner, good location.

And he is also willing to help you find a place to eat and how to get to his competition, gotta love Carmel.

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