74 The Best of Monterey Bay ® 2024-2025 wine the flat-screen TVs. 8049 San Miguel Road, Prunedale. (831) 272-3025, 101winepress. com Pebble Beach Stave Wine Cellar Part wine lounge, part wine shop, all refined, Stave features 50 wines by the glass, over 200 bottles for purchase, craft beers and sommeliers to help your selection. Part of the Inn at Spanish Bay. 2700 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach. (831) 644-7997, pebblebeach. com Salinas Amapola Kitchen & Wine Merchant The collection of international, domestic and local wines is put together by the owner, a sommelier. The restaurant has been lauded by locals for its exquisite plates and budget-conscious wine club. 32 W. Gabilan St., Salinas. (831) 262-0075, amapolakitchenandwine.com South County Chalone Vineyard See listing under Carmel. 32020 Stonewall Canyon Road, Soledad. (707) 933-3235, chalonevineyard.com Crü Winery Immerse yourself in the Santa Lucia Highlands, one of the state’s famed appellations. Crü focuses on the Burgundy and Rhone varietals that flourish here. 37500 Foothill Road, Soledad. (831) 678-0300, cruwinery. com Manzoni Estate Vineyard This is the kind of airy, sun-warmed tasting room that encourages you to linger. They grow their own Pinot and Syrah in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Tastings on weekends in the vineyard, daily in Carmel. 30981 River Road, Soledad. (831) 675-3398, manzoniwines.com Mesa Del Sol A farmhouse retreat for guests more than a tasting room. Still, with Grenache, Sangiovese, Syrah, Chardonnay and other wines to try, it’s worth a call. By appointment. 45803 Arroyo Seco Road, Greenfield. (858) 692-4115, mesadelsolvineyards.com Michaud Vineyard The vineyard turns out memorable Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that proves cellarworthy. Expect wines in the 90-point range. By appointment. Four miles northwest of Stonewall Canyon Road and Highway 146, Soledad. (831) 744-5143, michaudvineyard. com Odonata Perched on the western end of the River Road Wine Trail, the small family operation makes a range of single varietals and blends, including a Sangiovese, Santa Lucia Pinot and a GSM. 645 River Road, Salinas. (831) 566-5147, odonatawines.com Pessagno Winery The late, great Stephen Pessagno’s acclaimed, limited-production wines live on, as do the outstanding Four Boys Vineyard Pinot Noir and Intrinity Chardonnay, both grown in the Santa Lucia appellation. 1645 River Road, Salinas. (831) 675-9463, pessagnowines.com Puma Road See listing under Monterey. 32720 River Road, Gonzales. (831) 675-3548, pumaroad.com Rustiqué Wines The Silacci family-run winery is named after the beloved matriarch Rusti Silacci, who died in 2019. They specialize in Monterey County’s grape specialties: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. 1010 River Road, Salinas. (831) 320-8174, rustiquewines.com Scheid Family Vineyards See listing under Carmel. 1972 Hobson Ave., Greenfield. (831) 386-0316, scheidvineyards. com Taste of the Pinnacles This wine bar right in downtown Soledad brings together many of the wineries found elsewhere on this list, celebrating Salinas Valley grapes (alongside an assortment of draft beers). 148 Main St., Soledad. (831) 237-5321, tasteofthepinnacles.com Wrath Wines See listing under Carmel. 35801 Foothill Road, Soledad. (831) 678-2212, wrathwines.com Wine tours Behind the Scenes Wine Tours What is it like to walk the vineyards during growing season? What can you learn from a barrel tasting? The company offers packages that can answer either or both. (831) 5964495, behindthesceneswinetours.com Carmel Valley Wine Tours A five-hour tour of Carmel Valley and its many red, white, pink and bubbling charms. A picnic lunch is included. There are different modes of transportation available, including a trolley. (831) 624-1700, toursmonterey.com Kombi Tours The tour vehicle is a 1970 VW Bus, so it’s for small groups. The tours last between four and five hours, with a boxed lunch provided. (831) 747-7441, kombitoursmonterey.com Monterey Guided Wine Tours Several different packages to choose from, with options you can add. Tours span the Monterey Peninsula and Carmel Valley. And there’s a walking tour of Carmel’s many tasting rooms. (831) 920-2792, montereyguidedwinetours.com Wine Flights VIP An indulgence, certainly. Take a helicopter to select tasting rooms, or the crew can customize your luxury experience (from limos down to vintage bicycles). Lincoln and Ocean, Carmel. (831) 521-0200, wineflightsvip.com Dave Faries Massa Estate
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