Carmel by the sea wine tasting
Updated April 2023
Carmel by the sea wine tasting is a dream come true: The setting has a true storybook feel with its fairy-tale-looking cottages and cobblestone streets nested under canopies of cypress trees. You’ll come for the art galleries and dog friendly beaches, but stay for the restaurants and wine.
Wine tasting in Carmel California couldn’t be easier, with a walkable wine route with over fifteen tasting rooms. Here you can taste a collection of nearby AVAs, all with different terroirs influenced by their unique geography and winds from the Pacific Ocean.
We were fortunate to live here part time and work a harvest at Windy Oaks. Therefore, we have some firsthand experience in the beautiful region.
Best wineries in Carmel California
To kick off the Wine Walk, start at Blair Winery in the Carmel Plaza to pick up a wine passport for discounted tastings at multiple wineries. While in the Plaza, make sure to stop by Wrath and the Carmel Cheese Shop before you continue on your tasting journey.
Blair Winery:
Blair is traditional in its focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (ala Burgundy), but is untraditional as they tend to harvest as late as end of November. As a comparison, wineries in Texas start picking around July. We think this late harvest is responsible for the vibrant caramel, nutty, molasses and spice flavors in their pinots.
Jeffrey Blair, the winemaker, has an interesting background and philosophy on winemaking, so hopefully you can catch him in the tasting room for a fun story and tasting experience.
Wrath Winery:
Wrath’s winery is located in Santa Lucia Highlands, but you can taste their wine portfolio in Carmel by the sea wine tasting. Wrath’s winemaker, Sabrine Rodems, creates some incredible Pinot Noir, ranging from extremely bold in-your-face style to more delicate and soft.
The wines tend to lean a little bigger in terms of tannin and ABV, which provides a nice contrast to Sabrine’s private lable, Scratch Wine (see below). Chardonnay also makes an appearance on the menu from vineyards are sprinkled across Monterey AVA and we appreciate the high acid to balance the big mouthfeel.
Carmel Cheese Shop:
After a few tasters, you’ll likely be hungry for a snack. Luckily, our favorite cheese shop in the world right next to Wrath.
From the moment you set foot in the shop, the employees are set on ensuring you have the ultimate cheese tasting experience. So give them some hints on what you enjoy, or let them take you on a wholly unexpected cheese journey as they saw off unlimited samples for you to peruse.
You can also taste the olives and sausages, but do try to make some purchases to return the generosity for the free samples! [UPDATE: As of November 2020, The Cheese Shop is no longer offering tastings as a preventative measure for COVID). However, if you know the types of cheeses you like, we still recommend visiting.
Windy Oaks Estate:
Windy Oaks produces some of our favorite pinots in California and is our favorite wine tasting room in Carmel-by-the-sea. The owner, Jim Schultze, has owned the winery since 1996 and runs it with his wife Judy and sons Spencer and James.
Windy Oaks offers many different types of Pinot and Chard (plus a few others) and most] are available for tasting. These include interesting takes on Pinot Noir such as barrel fermented, wood tank, proprietor’s reserve and whole cluster. We recommend splurging for the reserve tasting to try the best of breed; your nose and taste buds will thank you.
Alvarado Street Brewery:
A brewery and restaurant specializing in mixed fermentation beers, some of which are aged in wine barrels and with local grapes. We enjoy sampling the perpetually rotating menu as we wait for to-go orders (soup and harvest salad!).
Don’t miss the happy hour menu for those that want to enjoy the ambiance of the indoor/outdoor dining areas.
Where to eat
- Smashburgers and Pizza at Alvarado Street Brewery
- Breakfast at Cafe Luna
- Fresh Donuts at Dutch Door
- Lunch at La Bicyclette
- Upscale dinner at Foray
- Casual dinner at Dametra Cafe
- Spanish tapas at Promesa
- Cocktails and Steak at Seventh and Dolores
- Special Occasion meal at L’Aubergine
- Dessert at Casanova
Other Activities
- Gorgeous hikes five minutes away in Point Lobos
- Ride a bike along the 17 mile drive
- Enjoy a morning walk down to the Carmel beach
- Hiking in Big Sur, stopping at Nepenthe for lunch
- Monterey Bay Aquarium is a must-stop especially with the kids
- Carmel Valley offers a collection of wine tasting rooms, golf courses and horseback riding
Carmel by the sea wine tasting, is a truly magical experience. Very few places on earth combine tasting rooms, great restaurants, epic cheese shops and beautiful beaches within walking distance.
We highly recommend spending a weekend in Carmel California to get the full experience. Just make sure to check dates ahead of time; booking a trip during a PGA tour weekend can turn this into one very expensive weekend!
