74 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® 2025-2026 WINE The Wine House Wines by the glass, beer on tap and a selection of small bites in an inviting space, both inside and out. This is a fun scene, but they also have a lot of wine knowledge. 1 E. Carmel Valley Road #A, Carmel Valley. (831) 2987438, thewinehousecv.com Tira Nanza See listing under Carmel. Carmel Valley tasting room by appointment. 18181 Cachagua Road, Carmel Valley. (831) 250-0584, tirananza.com Twisted Roots The tasting room hosts live music and other events on a regular basis. Their old vine Zinfandel is from gnarly vines planted in 1918. They also produce cider. 12 Del Fino Place, Carmel Valley. (831) 594-8282, twistedrootsvineyard.com Windy Oaks The team here set out to do things the oldschool, Old World, Burgundian way. What they accomplished is a line of remarkable Pinot Noirs. They produce old-vine Chardonnay and old-vine Viognier, too, as well as other varietals with a focus on—you guessed it—Burgundy. 19 E. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley. (831) 786-9463, windyoaksestate.com MONTEREY A Taste of Monterey More than 90 Monterey County wineries are represented in an on-the-water spot with floor-to-ceiling windows. And there’s also an option to taste onsite here, so you can make informed decisions about which bottles to take home. 700 Cannery Row #KK, Monterey. (831) 646-5446, atasteofmonterey.com Albatross Ridge Winery & Kitchen See listing under Carmel. This location adds tapas and light bites. 316 Alvarado St., Monterey. albatrossridge.com Blue Fox Cellars See listing under Carmel Valley. 499 Wave St., Monterey. bluefoxcellars.wine Comanche Cellars The winery breaks from the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay mold (although they produce both), adding old-vine Zinfandel, Tempranillo and other varietals, along with blends. 412 Alvarado St., Monterey. (831) 747-2244, comanchecellars.com Hellam’s Tobacco & Wine Shop You can pair wine with a fine cigar or pipe tobacco. Or you can buy a bottle from their curated selection. 423 Alvarado St., Monterey. (831) 373-2816, hellamstobaccoandwineshop.com Puma Road The tasting room in Monterey offers the range of wines from Monterey County’s Puma Road Winery. Coming from the Santa Lucia Highlands and Paicines AVA, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the specialties for the familyowned brand. 281 Alvarado St., Monterey, (831) 747-1911, pumaroad.com Sovino Wine Bar It’s quantity and quality at this sommelierowned-and-operated shop, where you can choose from 100 different bottles by 80 wineries from all regions of California, with a lot of Monterey County in stock. 241 Alvarado St., Monterey. (831) 641-9463, sovinowinebar. com NORTH COUNTY 101 Wine Press The wine list at this barbecue-sports bar features their own label, as well as other area wines (and there is beer). 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 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 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 Folktale Winery
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