Touring Monterey County Wineries

Monterey County wineries can be divided up into three sections: Monterey, Carmel Valley and Salinas (including points south along the 101). This listing will help you plan your wine country tour. The following are tasting rooms of Monterey County wineries, which are not always necessarily located at the winery or vineyards.

Monterey is most well known for Cannery Row, Fisherman's Wharf and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The downtown has a walking tour of historic buildings. A few wine tasting rooms are conveniently located right on Cannery Row.

A Taste of Monterey
700 Cannery Row, Ste. KK, Monterey
831-646-5446, 888-646-5446
Daily 11-6

Bargetto Winery
700-L Cannery Row, Monterey
831-373-4053
Daily 10:30-6

Baywood Cellars
381 Cannery Row, Suite C, Monterey
831-645-9035
Daily 11-7

Meador Estate
2999 Monterey-Salinas Hwy., #10, Monterey
831-372-7415
Daily 11-5
Historic old stonehouse.

Silver Mountain Vineyards Tasting Room
381 Cannery Row, Suite Q, Monterey
831-644-9609
Daily until 6 Ventana Vineyards
2999 Monterey-Salinas Hwy., #10, Monterey
831-372-7415
Daily 11-5

A short drive inland from unbelievably charming Carmel-by-the-Sea is Carmel Valley, a small, almost rural village in the hills. Along the way is Garland Regional Park, a beautiful place to hike and explore. Up in the village are some fine eating establishments where you can get some lunch, and some wine tasting rooms to visit. Others are further outside of town.

A relaxing way to go wine tasting in Carmel Valley is to take the Grapevine Express wine tour bus. You can pick it up at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and for about $4.50, it will take you to Carmel Valley Village. Call 888-678-2871 to find out more.

Here are the wineries of the area.

Bernardus Vineyards and Winery
5 West Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley
831-659-1900
Daily 11-5
Tasting fee $5. Reserve tasting $10 includes wine charm.

Chateau Julien Wine Estate
8940 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley
831-624-2600
Call to reserve a complimentary tour.
Mon-Fri 10:30 and 2:30, Sat & Sun 12:30 and 2:30
Wine tasting Mon-Fri 8-5, Sat & Sun 11-5

Galante Vineyards
18181 Cachagua Rd., Carmel Valley
831-659-2649
Tours and tasting Mon-Sat 11-3 by appointment only

Georis Winery
4 Pilot Road, Carmel Valley
831-659-1050
Daily 11-5
Lush gardens.

Heller Estate
69 W. Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel Valley
831-659-6220
Mon-Thurs 11-5:30, Fri-Sun 11-6
Organic vineyard.

Joullian Vineyards
2 Village Dr., Suite A, Carmel Valley
831-659-8100
Daily 11-5, Closed major holidays.

San Saba Vineyards
19 East Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley
831-659-7322
Tues-Sun 11-5
(see also Soledad for new vineyard tasting room)

Talbott Vineyards
530 West Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley
831-659-3500
Daily 11-5
Sunny garden patio.

The agricultural heritage of the Salinas Valley has been immortalized by writer John Steinbeck. More Monterey County wineries are popping up here and there in amongst the farms. In addition to tasting wine at any of these, you may want to stop in at the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas to learn more about Steinbeck's work and the Salinas Valley.

A Taste of Monterey / Salinas Wine Cellar & Tasting Room
127 Main Street, Salinas
831-751-1980
Daily 11-5
Next to National Steinbeck Center.

Chalone Vineyard
Highway 146 & Stonewall Canyon Rd., Soledad
831-678-1717
Sat & Sun 11-4, weekdays by appointment.
Oldest producing vineyard in the county.

Cloninger Cellars
1645 River Rd., Salinas
831-675-9463
Mon-Thurs 11-4, Fri-Sun 11-5

Hahn Estates / Smith & Hook Winery
37700 Foothill Road, Soledad
831-678-2132
Daily 11-4

Paraiso Vineyards
38060 Paraiso Springs Road, Soledad
831-678-0300
Mon-Fri 12-4, Sat & Sun 11-5

San Saba Vineyards
35801 Foothill Road, Soledad
831-678-2992
Tues-Sun 11-5
(also Carmel Valley tasting room)

Scheid Vineyards
1972 Hobson Avenue, Greenfield
831-386-0316
Weekdays 12-4, Weekends 11-5
Great views over valley.