By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Travel Blogger
One of the biggest drawbacks to wine tasting is either having to find a designated driver (good luck!) or join a tour or hire a driver, both of which can be expensive ($100 and up, per person).
But in Monterey, CA, you can go wine tasting while walking. Sampling while strolling. And while not only being within the width of a wine glass from beautiful Monterey Bay, but in one case actually see its waves crash below you.
These are the fine wine finds of Monterey, the tasting rooms that you can walk to in the city. There are four in Cannery Row – Bargetto, Carmel Ridge, Pierce Ranch and A Taste of Monterey – and two downtown, Terranova Fine Wines and Wines From the Heart.
PubClub.com looks at each in terms of view, value, the wines and the social scene, a vital part of the true wine tasting experience. We then rate our Best of Monterey Wine Tasting rooms in different categories.
CANNERY ROW WINE TASTING ROOMS
A TASTE OF MONTEREY
This marvelous wine tasting room is big enough to host group outings.
It also has the best view, of crashing waves into the building and big picture windows looking out onto Monterey Bay. It’s on the second floor of the Cannery Row souvenir shop building next to the Fish Hopper restaurant. You would never know there’s a wine tasting room in the place unless you walk into the building. Or read this article.
Unlike some of the other tasting rooms, A Taste of Monterey is not a winery. Instead, it features wines from several wineries throughout Monterey County. So the variety is the best of the tasting rooms.
And because of the view, it’s easy to spend an hour or even two here.
There are, however, a couple of drawbacks to the Taste of Monterey. The first is that the pours are so thimble-small, it’s hard to actually taste the wines of Monterey.
And the second is that if you want to buy a bottle and take it to a table to enjoy, the least expensive ones are around $40.
Somehow, you soon forget about that, though, as the mind wanders from the wine to the conversation among friends (or strangers seated next to you) and, eventually, out to sea.
Price: $10 for six wines, $20 for five reserve tastings. Wines by the glass, $7 and up.
Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Address: 700 Cannery Row (upstairs)
BARGETTO
One of three wine tasing rooms within a popped cork of one another on Cannery Row, Bargetto has a great deal in a good location.
Price: $7 for five wines or $12 for a reserve tasting.
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m.- 7 p.m.
Friday: 11 a.m.- 7 p.m.
Saturday: 10:30 a.m.- 8 p.m.
Sunday: 10:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Address: 700 Cannery Row
CARMEL RIDGE
With a great location in Steinbeck Plaza, Carmel Ridge is right in the centerpiece of Cannery Row activity. The area is a gathering place of tourists with ocean-view restaurants. It doesn’t have the view of the Taste of Monterey above it, but it’s perfect for people watching out its windows.
As far as the wine, it’s Pinor Noir has won several awards and is the prize of the winery.
It’s also open until 8 in the evening, a bonus for those not in a hurry to rush off to dinner.
Price: $10 for five samples. Wines by the glass, $7 and up.
Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Address: 700 Cannery Row
PIERCE RANCH VINEYARDS
Pierce Ranch’s tasting room is not on “the Row,” but a block up on Wave Street. The winery is located in the small towns of Bradley and Lockwood, between Monterey and Paso Robles.
It’s in an old house from one of the Cannery executives and its wooden floors creak a bit when you walk on them, which frankly is kind of cool. PubClub.com went to a nice (but small) pre-wedding reception here.
Otherwise, the place is pretty quiet because it’s away from most of the tourists.
Piere Ranch offers tastings for $5 and specializes in Portuguese style of wines. If you want a small, family-run winery, this is it; Pierce Ranch produces just 2,000 cases a year.
Price: Tasting menu each day for $5. Glasses $7-9.
Hours: Sunday, Monday & Thursday: Noon – 6:30pm
Friday & Saturday: Noon- 8 p.m.
Closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Address: 499 Wave Street
TERRANOVA FINE WINES
This is most casual of all the wine tasting rooms. It’s on a main downtown street, directly across from the Portola Hotel & Spa and around the corner from Alvarado Street.
At Terranova, you don’t even have to have the flights; it’s also a kind of a wine bar where you can get a glass from a dispenser that has about a dozen selections (prices per glass vary, of course).
No one from the store will bother you or try to sell you anything, either. Unless you approach them, and don’t be afraid to do so because they are quite friendly to talk to and can enhance your experience.
A cool thing about Terranova is that wine makers frequently are in the place, and you can meet them as they visit with the owners.
Price: $10 for four to five wines.
Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Closed Mondays.
Address: 315 Calle Principal
WINES FROM THE HEART
This cozy wine tasting room is tucked into a building next to a deli and across the side entrance to the Portola Hotel & Spa between downtown and Fisherman’s Wharf. It’s so discreet, it has to put a small sandwich board on the sidewalk.
It’s worth going into because the staffers are extremely knowledgable about the wines in the store, customers get good pours and there are charis and a couch so comfortable you don’t want to get up and go back to the counter for the next wine. Well, you do, but it takes a moment to move.
A big plus about Wines From The Heart is that while they have pre-determined flights, they ask customers what kind of wines they prefer, and then start pouring selections. It’s almost like having a sommelier in a restaurant.
Price: $10 for a flight of three to four wines.
Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and 7 on Tuesdays after the Farmer’s Market.
Location: Portola Plaza, 241 Alvarado Street
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