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Did you know that just 25 minutes from Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea, you could find yourself in the charming wine destination of Carmel Valley? Carmel Valley is a serene part of Monterey County, and the little town of Carmel Valley Village is dotted with numerous highly-rated wine tasting rooms. The area is quiet and rustic, which makes it entirely suitable for a laid-back wine tasting excursion.
In my opinion, Carmel Valley feels like a Northern California wine region that has yet to be discovered.
In the summer, I can envision this being a more bustling destination with visitors coming in from Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea. But in the fall and winter as the weather gets colder, you’re likely to have a leisurely visit without any crowds (speaking from experience!). I love a slower-paced wine adventure because it means more personal attention from tasting hosts without ever feeling rushed.
This post is dedicated to helping you plan your own wine escape to Carmel Valley, including notes on my own personal experiences at the wineries and what my favorite wines were when visiting. As I continue to visit the area, I’ll be sure to expand on this guide!
Be sure to also check out my full Carmel, Monterey & Big Sur Guide for more recommendations!
Where to Stay in Carmel Valley
While pairing a visit to Carmel Valley with a trip to Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea, or Big Sur is easy to do, you could also make a weekend out of it and stay a night or two in one of the many local accommodations. Some relatively affordable options (for this area) to consider are the Carmel Valley Lodge or the Hidden Valley Inn.
Carmel Valley Lodge is relatively close to all of the wine tasting rooms in the village (within a 15-minute walk). If I wanted to have an easy weekend getaway where I could just park my car and be on foot without having to worry about a designated driver, that would be my pick!
For a more luxurious experience, you could also check out Carmel Valley Ranch by Hyatt (use Hyatt points!) or the Bernardus Lodge and Spa.
Please note that I haven’t stayed at any of these accommodations in Carmel Valley, but would definitely consider them if I was staying in the area for a weekend.
Wine Tasting in Carmel Valley
In Carmel Valley, Cabernet and Merlot reign supreme and make up the bulk of varietals grown in the AVA (about 70%). You’ll likely see a lot of Chardonnay and Pinot Noirs on wine tasting menus here as well.
Most of the wineries have tasting rooms in Carmel Valley Village, with the exception of Folktale which is located along the road into Carmel Valley Village. The tasting rooms in the village are all conveniently located within a small three-block radius, which makes it easy to get around on foot!
Do keep in mind that most wineries are only open Thursday through Sunday, so mid-week travelers may need to make special arrangements for tastings.
Need a designated driver?
If you don’t want to worry about having a DD while visiting Carmel Valley wineries and are not staying close by in the village, the Grapevine Express bus (Line 24) runs from Monterey to Carmel Valley Village. We have not tried this yet, but I will definitely test it out in the future!
Visitors staying in Monterey can hop on at the Monterey Transit Center, while visitors staying in Carmel-by-the-Sea can take the 4 or 22 bus from Mission and Sixth to Taste Morgan at The Crossroads shopping center. From there, you’ll connect to the Grapevine Express on 24.
Be sure to check out the Monterey-Salinas Transit website for schedules! Just be sure to catch a ride back before the last bus leaves.
Folktale Winery
8940 Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923
https://www.folktalewinery.com/
As you enter the Folktale Winery property, you’ll feel instantly transported to the French countryside as the Chateau-style winery comes into view. Make a reservation for the outdoor wine garden where you can enjoy a guided wine tasting and delicious lunch and you’ll be setting yourself up for one relaxing visit!
Folktale is actually located on the way to Carmel Valley Village, so it’s not quite within walking distance to the other tasting rooms in the area. But it makes for a great first stop on your trip, and the Grapevine Express also has a stop right at Folktale!
Folktale Wine Tasting
Wine tasting in Folktale’s wine garden is currently offered in three tasting flights: Signature Flight at $45, Le Mistral Flight at $45, or the Reserve Flight at $65. The tasting fees at Folktale are way pricier than I normally go for (when I went, prices were much cheaper too). If you are really into wine, a flight can be worth it for a special occasion trip, especially if you want to enjoy an array of wines with lunch.
Wines by the glass are also available for purchase, ranging from $13 to $28 per glass depending upon the selection.
I had the Signature Flight back when they offered a more guided tasting experience and the following wines were included:
- NV Sparkling Rose (this was my favorite wine pick here!)
- 2021 Le Mistral Viognier
- 2017 Folktale SLH Chardonnay
- 2019 Folktale “The Creator” Pinot Noir (my second favorite, with a beautiful bottle design)
- 2019 Le Mistral “Joseph’s Red Blend”
- 2019 Le Mistral Brosseau Syrah
Lunch at Folktale Winery
Lunch at Folktale is a must, and I highly suggest reserving the first timeslot of the day. That way, your bellies will be full and ready to explore the rest of Carmel Valley for the day.
While Folktale states reservations are mandatory, you might be able to drop in and get a seat if you come right when they open. I noticed plenty of open tables around us at that time. We did visit in the low season in December, however, so you might be pressing your luck in warmer months.
Not wanting to fill up too much, we only ordered two dishes:
- Charred Spanish Octopus with Harissa and Bean & Chorizo Stew: The octopus was delicious and cooked well, and the portion size was actually quite generous.
- The Pioneer Flatbread, which came topped with short rib meat, blue cheese, mustard seed jam, and fried onions. It was delectable! Pizzas are cooked in an outdoor pizza oven as well!
Both dishes were very filling and I’m glad we didn’t go overboard so we could save plenty of room for dinner. Next time we visit, I want to try the hummus and Caesar salad which come highly recommended in reviews.
Twisted Roots
12 Del Fino Pl, Carmel Valley, CA 93924
https://www.twistedrootsvineyard.com/
Twisted Roots has a lovely tasting room in Carmel Valley Village with cozy seating indoors and a spacious outdoor patio for those who want some fresh air.
Their grapes are actually grown in Lodi rather than Carmel Valley and their vineyard dates back to 1918! Got to love those old vines. Lodi is one of my favorite California wine regions so I was not mad about this.
Wine Tasting at Twisted Roots
Even though we visited in December, it was sunny enough to enjoy the outdoor patio with a nearby gas heater going to keep us nice and toasty. Since we visited on a Friday afternoon in the offseason, we also had the patio to ourselves to enjoy our tasting in peace and quiet!
We each did a separate tasting so we could try all of the wines they had, which included:
- 2021 Chardonnay
- 2021 Albarino
- Brut Rose (My favorite of the tasting – I am on a bubbly kick right now)
- 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon (Our second favorite – so luscious! Can’t wait to pair it with a steak)
- 2017 Petit Syrah (A big contender against the Cab for our second fav)
- 2018 Old Vine Zinfandel (is it even Lodi wine without a Zin?!)
- Hard Apple Cider (So interesting and love that they offer something different here)
The current tasting fee at Twisted Roots is a reasonable $15, which includes your choice of four wines from the list provided. One fee is also waived per two bottle purchase.
Joyce Wine Co.
1 E Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel Valley, CA 93924
https://www.joycewineco.com/
Also located in the village, Joyce Wine Co. was on my list since they are right next to The Wine House where patrons can also order beer! Since my husband isn’t a big wine drinker, this stop was tailored just for him. You can get your tasting inside at Joyce or enjoy it out in the courtyard on a nice day, and your fellow beer-loving travelers can enjoy their beer wherever you are at.
Wine Tasting at Joyce
Wine tasting at Joyce was a leisurely experience, and I made my way through five wines while sitting in their cozy back room, staring at the picturesque mountains out the window.
For my tasting, I enjoyed the following:
- 2021 Arroyo Seco Vermentino
- 2019 Gabilan Mountains Pinot Noir
- 2019 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
- 2019 Monterey Grenache-Syrah
- 2019 Carmel Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
The crisp Vermentino was my favorite, and I went home with two bottles of it. I also really enjoyed both Pinot Noirs which is no surprise as the Monterey region grows a lot of this varietal!
Tasting here was $25, which was refunded with a two-bottle purchase.
Winery Wish List
Of course, it’s always good to have a wish list (mine are never-ending!). On our next visit, here are three additional wineries that I’d love to taste at:
Have you had the chance to explore Carmel Valley wineries? Will you be putting this on your travel list?
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