Carmel Valley Wine Tasting
Specializing in pinot and chardonnay, Carmel Valley Village has been described as “what Napa used to be like.” Charming rustic tasting rooms abound and the warm inland location keeps the weather delightful year-round.
Wineries
Most are within walking distance from us! We try our best to keep this information up to date however we always recommend calling to confirm times and availability. You may walk to these wineries by crossing Carmel Valley Road to the park and follow the trail to Carmel Valley Village.
Folktale Winery (4 min drive) – In 2015, a band of artists, craftspeople, and lovers of life brought their wandering imaginations and lofty aspirations to a magical piece of land in Carmel, California. Out in the sunny valley, they cultivated grapevines and gardens to craft beautiful wines and experiences to delight the senses. They named this place Folktale Winery & Vineyards.
Folktale was inspired by the idea that in every great bottle of wine, there is a story. It is filled with the uniqueness of place, a year of sun and rain, and the art and craft of winemaking. The story is about their people, guests, and passion. This is a love story, and the best love stories never end.
WINES: Albariño, Chardonnay, Falanghina, Grenache, Muscat, Pétillant Natural (Pét-Nat), Piquette, Pinot Noir, Red Blends, Rosé, Sangiovese, Sparkling Wines, Syrah, Viognier, White Blends
CONTACT: 831.293.7500. Advanced reservations are always recommended. Please contact them directly for hours, as they vary. Pet friendly – Staff notes: Sparkling wines are our favorites!
Cowgirl Winery (5 min walk) – Cowgirl Winery was started in 2012 by Walter and Sylvia Georis, who own nearby Georis Winery. They wanted to celebrate the unique ranch culture of Carmel Valley and pay tribute “to the women who ran ranches, rode horses, and tended to the herd – but most importantly raised families and built communities”. A perfect location to put your boots up and enjoy a glass of wine outside in the gardens.
WINES: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cowgirl Red, Malbec, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Albarino, Blush Rose, & Picpoul.
CONTACT: 831.298.7030. Please contact them directly for hours, as they vary. – Pet friendly – Staff notes: The Rose is our favorite and the outside seating is beautiful!
Georis Winery (5 min walk) – Soon after arriving in Carmel, Walter designed a family restaurant, Casanova, that would become internationally renowned for its cuisine and style, and its wine cellar. Remembering his childhood and the pleasures of country life on the family farms in Europe, Walter decided to combine his love of fine wines with the challenges and rewards of growing grapes. In 1981, after consulting with French experts on soil and wine making, he bought a ranch in Carmel Valley and soon planted the grapes that would produce the first crop.
WINES: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Pinot Noir.
CONTACT: 831.659.1080. Please contact them directly for hours, as they vary. Pet friendly.
Seabold Cellars (6 min walk) – Seabold Cellars focuses on cool-climate organic and sustainable vineyards to produce balanced wines that showcase their origin more than their winemaking. During the year, more time is spent in vineyards than in the winery. Our winemaking is as hands-off as possible, respecting traditional techniques and practices without being beholden to them. We produce non-interventionist, site-specific Burgundy and Rhône varieties, as seen through a California lens. Seabold Cellars was founded in 2014 by Master Sommelier Chris Miller. Located in the small town of Marina, the winery is at the epicenter of California’s Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz wine-growing regions. It is dog-friendly and child-friendly, and a perfect place to spend an afternoon.
WINES: Carignan, Chardonnay, Grenache, Grenache Blanc, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah
CONTACT: 831.659.6220 – wine@seaboldcellars.com. Please contact them directly for hours, as they vary. Pet friendly.
Twisted Roots Winery (7 min walk) – Twisted Roots is the work of five generations of family, dedicated to growing wine grapes following sustainable growing practices. While our family’s vineyard was established in 1918, it wasn’t until 2005 that we began producing our own wines. Our commitment to hand-crafted, Sustainable & Green, small-lot wines allows for the utmost care and attention to detail as we strive to produce premium-quality, consistently delicious wines.
WINES: Old Vine Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Hard Cider
CONTACT: 831.659.6220 – info@twistedrootsvineyard.com. Advanced reservations are always recommended. Please contact them directly for hours, as they vary. Pet friendly.
Pelio Estate (8 min walk) – Experience the genuine hospitality of Pelio Estate Wines. Their portfolio of wines is fresh, compelling, and uncompromising in quality, sourced from their vineyard that is sustainably and organically farmed and encompasses the spirit of Carmel Valley. Relaxing tasting experience at the indoor-outdoor tasting lounge as the hosts guide you through a curated flight of three Pelio estate wines. They pride themselves on making wine from sustainably and organically farmed grapes from their Estate vineyard in Carmel Valley, California. Soil type and ocean influence are key ingredients in making great coastal wines.
WINES: Rosé, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.
CONTACT: 831.298.7402 – contact@pelioestatewines.com. Advanced reservations are always recommended. Please contact them directly for hours, as they vary. Pet friendly – Staff notes: The pinot noir is our favorite, and the ambiance is welcoming!
Blue Fox Cellars (7 min walk) – Enjoy sweeping views of the mountains above from our outdoor tasting patio during a fun and educational tasting experience. From the winemaker, “After making wine for 20 years for others as a winemaker and a consultant, I was interested in making wine without the constraints of winery owners. As an owner-winemaker, I get to make decisions based on what is best for the wine. I love talking about my wines and sharing them with people. When not making wine, I can be found in the tasting room!”
WINES: Grenache, Syrah, Zinfandel, Rosé, and Chenin Blanc.
CONTACT: 831.298.7457. Advanced reservations are always recommended. Please contact them directly for hours, as they vary. Pet friendly.
Big Sur Vineyards (8 min walk) – Big Sur Vineyards is a family wine business that is growing with each vintage. With a firm understanding of the terroir, and with evolving, more sophisticated wine-making goals, constantly seeking the next level. The first vintage was in 2013. Winemaking started as a hobby. For many years, they picked Grenache, Syrah, and Petit Sirah from neighboring vineyards. The kids stomped the grapes in small batches and blended those three varieties together. One wine, Big Sur Red, embodied all things we love and value about Big Sur. The wine is bold, with big flavors and yet a bit mysterious. Choose from two different locations, Redwood Bar or Panorama Patio, to enjoy your wine tasting and learn from the owner or friendly staff about the uniqueness of the wine. In the Panorama Patio, one can enjoy the view of the Santa Lucia mountain range and soak in the warm sun.
WINES: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Grenache, Rosé, Syrah, and Petite Sirah.
CONTACT: 415.686.4550. Please contact them directly for hours, as they vary. Pet friendly – Staff notes: The Big Sur Red is our favorite!
Boekenoogen Winery (8 min walk) – Nestled atop the foothills in the heart of the Santa Lucia Highlands in Monterey County, lies family-owned and operated Boekenoogen Vineyards and Winery. In the heart of the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation, Boekenoogen Winery is one of only a few wineries that grow, produce, and bottle on-site.
WINES: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Petite Sirah, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Zinfandel
CONTACT: 831.574.3042 – taste@mcintyrevineyards.com. Advanced reservations are always recommended. Please contact them directly for hours, as they vary. Pet friendly.
Holman Ranch Tasting Room (9 min walk) – Holman Ranch cherishes the old ways of growing and making wine. All harvesting is done by hand. No pesticides are used in growing. All sustainable practices are done by hand in the Burgundian style. They are a true estate winery, only making wine with what we can grow. They give our wine the freedom to be distinct year-to-year, combining French techniques with holistic agriculture in a state-of-the-art wine cave. A visit to Holman Ranch is an invitation to venture off the beaten path. The tasting room is in the Carmel Valley Village, and just beyond that is an exquisite 750-acre estate of rolling hills and ancient oaks that hosts unparalleled views that, for a brief moment, make you feel as if you’re the first person to see them. A vineyard tour with tasting among the vines is also available and is a magical experience.
WINES: Chardonnay, Pinot Gris/ Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Rosé, Sparkling Wines, Syrah
CONTACT: 831.659.2640 – wines@holmanranch.com. Advanced reservations are always recommended. Please contact them directly for hours, as they vary. Pet friendly – Staff notes: The red flights are our favorite and we enjoy them with the cheese board!
Rombi Wine (10 min walk) – Rombi Wines is Passionate about winemaking and committed to producing the highest quality wines. Salvatore Rombi crafts exceptional wines that reflect the unique terroir of our region. He leads a hands-on process that includes sustainable tending of the vineyard, the careful selection of grapes, and traditional winemaking techniques that help produce a delightful range of elegant, beautifully crafted red wines. Stop by the intimate yet lively tasting room and meet Salvatore Rombi (call him Sal), a gracious host always behind the bar to share a sip or a story. As both vigneron and vintner, Sal puts his hands on every detail of the growing and winemaking process and offers a unique perspective within the tasting experience.
WINES: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, and Petit Verdot.
CONTACT: 831.659.7200. Advanced reservations are always recommended. Please contact them directly for hours, as they vary.
Bernardus Winery (10 min walk) – Bernardus focuses on creating wines that flatter the palate and stimulate the imagination, curating “Wine and Memories.” Widely traveled and endowed with impeccable taste, Founder Bernardus (Ben) Pon could have chosen anywhere in the world to establish his namesake Bernardus Winery, intending to cultivate premier-class wines. He selected Carmel Valley, with its west-facing orientation, hot days and chilly nights, and stunning beauty, confident his vineyards there could produce wines to rival the greatest on the globe. Bernardus has three estate vineyards — Marinus, located in Cachagua (deep Carmel Valley), Featherbow, and Ingrid’s Vineyard, located 10 miles west of Marinus. They are managed by Matt Shea, a champion of sustainable practices that ensure vine and soil health while reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. His goal is to produce the best possible fruit while caring for the land on which it grows.
WINES: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Red Blends, Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc
CONTACT: 831.298.8021 – tastingroom@bernardus.com. Advanced reservations are always recommended. Please contact them directly for hours, as they vary. Pet friendly.
The Wine House (11 min walk) – The Wine House has a small, carefully curated menu of beer and wine, along with seasonal small bites with a focus on artisanal California wine producers and small craft breweries. Two large fire pits encompass the expansive outdoor patio, along with cozy indoor bench seating and community tables.
CONTACT: 831.298.7438. Please contact them directly for hours, as they vary. Pet friendly.
Scratch Wine (11 min walk) – Scratch is a project of Winemaker Sabrine Rodems producing small-lot Chardonnay Sparkling, Riesling, Grenache, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet from Monterey, Arroyo Seco, Santa Lucia Highlands, and Santa Cruz Mountains AVAs. Per Sabrine, “What I love most about Monterey, the Arroyo Seco, Santa Lucia Highland, and the Santa Cruz Mountains is that I have four geologically different sites at my fingertips. Getting to work with bench Pinot Noir and river bed Riesling, Grenache, and Coastal Cabernet makes my work exciting, and the wine exciting as well. Winemaking is the best of both worlds, the amalgamation of science and art.”
WINES: Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sparkling Wines
CONTACT: 831.320.0726 – tastingroom@scratchwines.com. Advanced reservations are always recommended. Please contact them directly for hours, as they vary. Pet-friendly – Staff notes: Sipping the amazing flights and chatting with the winemaker makes a fun experience!
Joyce Wine (11 min walk) – Joyce Wine Company started in the vineyard. In 1986, 4 acres were planted on the hillside behind the Joyce family home in the quiet village of Carmel Valley. Now owner and winemaker Russell Joyce was just a kid, learning his work ethic from tending to the vines and racking barrels to hand bottling and hand labeling in his family’s shop. It was more work than pay, but a passion was sparked. In 2010, Russell Joyce stepped up production to an industrial winery in South Salinas. Over the next decade, Joyce Wine Company established a tasting room in the heart of Carmel Valley Village, known for its comfortable atmosphere and a community that loves a good time. As the business and family grew in 2021, Russell and his wife Charlotte moved out of the industrial winery with the purchase of the historic Ventana Winery in the Arroyo Seco AVA. Here, Russell and his young son foot-tread grapes and explore the vineyards in a whole new chapter of Joyce Wine Company.
WINES: Albariño, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carbonic Red, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gamay Noir, Grenache-Syrah, Merlot, Mourvèdre, Piquette, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Vermentino, White Blends
CONTACT: 831.659.2885 – info@joycewineco.com. Advanced reservations are always recommended. Please contact them directly for hours, as they vary. Pet friendly – Staff notes: The Pinot Noir & Rose are our favorites!
Corral Wine Co (12 min walk) – A family-owned operation that is not too fancy, but makes good wine. In 2017, in a barn in Corral de Tierra, California, they barreled their first batch of estate Pinot Noir and have been there ever since. Over time, they have made more varieties from some of the best grapes on the Central Coast.
WINES: Highlands Ranch Chardonnay, SLH Pinot Noir, KW Ranch Pinot Noir, and Canyon Springs Pinot Noir
CONTACT: 831.298.7646– info@corralwine.com. Please contact them directly for hours, as they vary. Pet friendly.
Parsonage Winery (12 min walk) – Parsonage is a boutique, family-run vineyard and winery. The Parsons Family planted the seven-acre Parsonage Village Vineyard in June 1998. The south-facing hillside vineyard is 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean and a half mile east of the Village on Carmel Valley Road. The Parsons were the first to plant Syrah in Carmel Valley. Over 20 years later, Parsonage is still very much a family-run vineyard and winery. Ali’s husband, Frank Melicia, has been the winemaker and vineyard manager for many years.
WINES: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Syrah
CONTACT: 831.659.7322 – tastingroom@parsonagewine.com. Reservations Recommended. Please contact them directly for hours, as they vary.
Lepe Cellars (12 min walk) – A boutique winery, owned by Miguel Lepe, who combines Old World and New World winemaking techniques. Sourcing from organically farmed vineyards and producing wines with minimal intervention. The winery’s tasting room offers a personal and intimate experience, and they also provide private events, custom crush services, and a wine club. Lepe Cellars stands out for its commitment to organic, vegan, and sustainable wines, and Miguel’s journey as a Latino winemaker adds a unique cultural depth to the brand.
WINES: Pinot Noir, Blends, Grenache, Petit Verdot, and Syrah
CONTACT: 831.597.2029 – lepecellars@gmail.com. Please contact them directly for hours, as they vary. Pet friendly – Staff notes: The ambiance is welcoming, and the staff is friendly!
Chesebro Wines (13 min walk) – With lots of 300 cases or less, and a penchant for offbeat, as well as mainstream varietals, Chesebro’s production may be small, but the effort is prolific. They are passionate about true varietal expression, as well as preserving the unique voice of each vineyard site, from soil to glass. All of our wines are made solely from our vineyards in the Arroyo Seco and Carmel Valley AVAs. Find out what artisan wines, lovingly farmed and made by hand, truly taste like.
WINES: Sauvignon Blanc, Albariño, Vermentino,Rosé of Grenache / Gamay Noir and Pinot Noir
CONTACT: 831.298.7680. Reservations are required for weekday tastings. Please contact them directly for hours, as they vary.
Windy Oaks Tasting Room (13 min walk) – Windy Oaks Estate’s premium wines are grown in unique terroirs in Monterey and the Santa Cruz Mountains. Winemakers Jim and Judy Schultze have been offering fine wines with a sense of place since 1999. According to Founder and Winemaker Jim Schultze, “Our goal is to create wines which elegantly reflect their terroir — wines with balance, complexity, and harmony.” One wine writer described their approach as “extreme minimal intervention,” where they do as little as possible in the winery to manipulate the grapes. Windy Oakes wants their vineyards to speak for themselves.
WINES: Chardonnay, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Pinot Noir, Viognier
CONTACT: 831.786.9463. Advanced reservations are always recommended. Please contact them directly for hours, as they vary. Pet friendly.
I. Brand & Family (13 min walk) – A small family-owned local winery featuring Old World-style wines that truly express the best of the Monterey Bay area. Initially, their goal was to discover great vineyards on the edge to bring them to the light. The farther they looked, the more they found – remote, challenging vineyards with hard-depleted soils and intense sunlight tempered only by the coastal breeze. Their winemaking goal is to polish the roughest edges and leave the idiosyncrasies intact lightly. It is here in the back country, filled with individual character, where I. Brand & Family wines come to life. Ian Brand was the San Francisco Chronicle’s “Winemaker of the Year” in 2018. Their wide array of lesser-known varietals can be tasted at their tasting room in Carmel Valley.
WINES: Albariño, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Petite Sirah, Red Blends, Rosé, Viognier
CONTACT: 831.298.7227 – hello@ibrandwinery.com. Advanced reservations are always recommended. Please contact them directly for hours, as they vary. Pet friendly.
Austin Harlow Winery (13 min walk) *not on the map* – A new and welcoming tasting room in the village offering a unique experience with a selection of 10 diverse wines that are crafted with care from California’s best vineyards. Discover these affordable wines with exceptional taste and exciting history.
WINES: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Zinfandel
CONTACT: 831.308.9034. Please contact them directly for hours, as they vary. Staff notes: Games are offered, and the staff is very knowledgeable.