Carmel
Wine Walk:
A Passport to Fun and Great Tastings
If
you are a wine lover, and looking to learn about the great wines
in the Carmel area, you should contact the Carmel Chamber of Commerce
to obtain a package of passport flight vouchers that will enable
you to visit any nine of the twelve tasting rooms in Carmel ...
your choice. The Wine Walk brochure provides a walking map to
help you find your favorite wine tasting destinations.
This
was such a fun experience because the people pouring in these
rooms, some of them actual owners and some employee's are so very
knowledgeable and entertaining. Many of the rooms provide snacks
or hors d'oeuvres to enjoy while you are sampling their many varietals.
Below you will find some tasting and sipping suggestions you may
want to try while on the Carmel wine walk.
Blair Pinot Gris
I
thoroughly enjoyed the silver haired cowboy who was serving Blair
Estate and Shale Canyon wines just down
the street from the Hofsas House Hotel, where I was staying. He
knew these wines and was having the time of his life telling everyone
about it. Meeting other tourists and locals in the tasting rooms
is always an added attraction, and everyone loves to share their
wine stories. This room is conveniently located across the street
from Neilsen Bros Market, a great place to grab
a delicious made-to-order sandwich and some fresh fruit to enjoy
on the way to your next destination.
The
staff pouring at Scheid Tasting Room are among
my favorites because they gave enthusiastic descriptions of the
wine being served and solid information regarding the growing
of the grapes. I also found this room a surprise from an interior
design point of view. It is laid out very well and artistically
so eye appealing. Scheid is pouring a port that is sensational
and their pinot and cabernet selections are also well worth a
sip. This is the place to visit just before a bowl of potato leek
soup with French bread at nearby Bistro Beaujolais.
Scheid Tasting Room Team
Vino
Napoli will take anyone back to their favorite places
in Italy via the exquisite travel video running while patrons
enjoy sips of their PEPE "Vesuvio" a blend of Cabernet,
Merlot & Syrah. The room is Viva Italia all the way with with
flags, photos and memorabilia. It's a nice place to stop before
or after an early dinner at Little Napoli.
Dawn's
Dream offers a feminine touch, and features a bath tub
that is part of the advertising branding. I was told that wine
lovers can do photo poses in the tub for laughs. Sips here can
be enjoyed with chocolates served in tiny bath tub candy dishes.
A nice prelude to Dawn's sips be The Hogs Breath Inn.
Wines being poured at Dawn's include 2011 Pinot Nicole, 2009 Carneros
Pinot Noir, 2011 Arroyo Seco Chardonnay, 2012 Arroyo Seco Chardonnay,
2009 Carneros Pinot Noir and 2011 Pinot Nicole.
Dawn's Dream Pinot
Silvestri
Vineyards are now pouring 2012 Pinot Noir, 2012 Pinot
Noir Rising Tide, 2012 Chardonnay, 2012 Chardonnay Bella Sandra,
2012 Chardonnay Due Bambine, 2012 Pinot Blanc, 2010 Syrah. Casanova
Restaurant, one that claims to be home of Van Gogh's
table would be a nice choice before visiting this wonderful venue.
Owner Alan Silvestri's grandparents were winemakers in the Piedmont
region of Italy, and the inspiration for him coming to Carmel
to begin his own wine making business.
De
Tierra Vineyard is a family-owned and operated winery
producing handcrafted, award-winning wines from the Monterey County.
They offer red, white, rose, dessert wine and also produce extra
virgin olive oils.
These
wines would pair nicely with any cheese from The Cheese
Shop in the Carmel Center. They include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay,
Pinot Gris, and Syrah. Guests in their adorable tasting room seemed
very pleased with their Pinot Gris and Syrah.
De Tierra Tasting Room
Le
St. Tropez might be an ideal stop over on your way to
Figge Cellars. This is a charming wine tasting
venue that specializes in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah. They
handcraft five wines: two Chardonnays, two Pinot Noirs and a Syrah.
Many people said that River Road Chardonnay was an obvious favorite.
Some
of the great wines offered by Galante Vineyards
include Wagon Wheel White 2013, Sauvignon Blanc 2012, Red Rose
1997, Olive Hill 2010, Merlot 2005. They welcome wine lovers to
come experience the rustic elegance of Galante Vineyards, a 700-acre
property nestled in the hills of sunny Carmel Valley. You might
like to start or finish this one out with a few Spanish tapas
from Mundaka Restaurant.
Wrath
wines would be a win-win with YAFA Mediterranean Restaurant
and a their wine tasting room pours site-driven Pinot Noir, Chardonnay,
Syrah, and Sauvignon Blanc from their estate vineyard in the Santa
Lucia Highlands. Wrath wines are available for tasting and purchase
at both the Carmel Tasting Room and the Winery Tasting Room.
Wrath Tasting Room
The
cost for the Wine Walk Passport for visits to nine of the twelve
tasting rooms is $65.00, and is a bargain at this price. You will
find that many of the tasting rooms you visit offer wine club
memberships that represent a great savings when buying wines.
For information visit: www.carmelcalifornia.org/.
By Bonnie Carroll