The Wandering Wino Blog
Wine Trip to Carmel By The Sea and Monterey
Written by shawn on date 30 November 2015 in Central Coast, Food , Wine Dinners, Wine Pairing , Wine Regions, Winemakers
When wine travelers are asked for what they look for in a wine trip, the response is typically interest in: beautiful locations, education, and good wines. For those feeling a bit adventurous and willing to break out and discover something new, consider Carmel Valley, Monterey County, and the Santa Lucia Highlands region of California's Central Coast.
After a recent trip to this region, I found fantastic discoveries that I would suggest are highly recommended. Here is a suggested guideline to use for planning your next trip to wine country.
Day 1:
Plan your stay in Carmel by the sea, at Hofsas House over looking the ocean. This unique and long time family run location has a charm in a warm setting, and one of the very few accommodations that also has a pool. With so many places to see in walking distance, it makes Hofsas House an ideal location.
Once settled, consider walking to Carmel Wine Walk By The Sea. There are nearly 15 tasting rooms all in walking distance and surrounded by small shops, art galleries, book stores, Lula's Chocolates, and gourmet shops... like the 5th Avenue Deli where you can get great sandwiches, soups, tacos, tamales, and so much more.
A personal favorite on the wine walk included Caraccioli Cellars. These Carmel tasting rooms primarily get their fruit from Monterey County, and dominate in both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Caracole Cellars does both varietals very well, but they specialize in Sparkling wines that are a real treat to start or finish you on the wine walk.
Wrath Wines just a short walk away, is SIP certified, aka sustainable in practice and offers nice wines adjacent to one of the best cheese shops around. If you are a cheese lover, this just might be your new toy store.
Consider the cheese package at Hofsas House, or pick some up at The Cheese Shop to bring back to your room and watch the sunset over the ocean. The sunsets are a treat, and what better way to soak it up then with local cheese and a local bottle of wine/bubbles.
Consider a slower pace and a local dinner, perhaps the Beach House in Pacific Grove or walk across or down the street from Hofsas House.
Day 2-3 coming soon......
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