Monterey County is quickly earning a reputation as California’s newest prime wine area. Great wine has been produced here for decades, but the area was hard to navigate and lacking in services folks enjoy after a day of wine tasting, like a place to stay for starters! All of that is changing.

It is easy and convenient to stay and dine in downtown Monterey, scenic Pacific Grove, or tony Carmel, but now options are opening up right along the wine trail in the Salinas Valley. For trip-planning tips and lodging/dining recommendations, visit www.montereywines.org.  If you prefer to stay on the coast and kayak or or sightsee after winery visits, Cannery Row’s A TASTE OF MONTEREY is a great way to begin. This warm, inviting and very large waterfront space has murals and vineyard maps, and a tasting room overlooking the Bay. From there, drive about 30 minutes into the Salinas Valley, visit any of the twelve tasting rooms open to the public, and try delicious limited production wines like these:

 - 2007 Ventana Vineyards Rubystone Grenache/Syrah Arroyo Seco $18 

 - 2006 Manzoni Family Estate Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands $24

 - 2007 Paraiso Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands $28

 - 2006 Scheid Vineyard Petite Sirah Hames Valley $35

 - 2006 Marilyn Remark Grenache Wild Horse Road Vineyard $45

Enjoy your visit!

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Two former students of mine, Aran Healy and David Grega, graduates of the Professional Culinary Institute of Silicon Valley’s Sommelier Certification program, have partnered to produce artisanal, small lot wines from great vineyards throughout the state. They just released their 2008 Carlotta La Reverie Grenache Rose Mendocino $22, made with 50-year old grenache vines from the Talmage Bench south of Ukiah, Mendocino. This is not your typical rose. It doesn’t fall into either of the current styles – fruity and off-dry or fruity and bone dry. It is dry, but notes of strawberry and honeydew melon mingle with wax, tar, carne cruda (Piemontese steak tartare) , and porcini dust. It is full and round due to partial barrel fermentation, and has white floral and peach notes on the finish. Only 75 cases produced. Nice job guys!