Carmel Valley in California has the ideal temperature for producing wine grapes and, as a result, here you will find many vineyards and wineries. Perhaps you live in the area or are just visiting, but if you enjoy a glass or two of wine, why not head out to one or more wineries for a tasting?
You will find some delicious wines on offer which you can purchase after the tasting, and you can even join their wine clubs for deliveries, discounts, and other benefits.
If you are unsure about which winery to visit, we have collected what we feel are among the best in Carmel Valley. We are sure that you will find one or more to suit your tastes.
1 – Joullian Vineyards
Joullian Vineyards produces wines that are Bordeaux-inspired, and they offer both red and white blends.
You can visit them for a tasting or, even better, for a vineyard tour during which you will learn about their winemaking process, have a tour of the vineyards, and taste four estate wines, as well as taste wine straight from the barrel.
It is interesting to compare wine still in the barrel to that which has been bottled.
They have an event hall which you can hire for special events such as weddings and anniversaries. As well as their wines, they offer catering for these occasions.
They have four wine clubs to choose from.
2 – Big Sur Vineyards
Big Sur Vineyards were established in 2013 but, although they are fairly new, they have already established themselves as a winery to be watched.
They offer red, white, and sparkling wines which you can accompany with food. A tasting flight consists of six pours, and you can sit either inside or out to enjoy your wines.
Wherever you sit, you will have an amazing view of the vineyards and the surrounding valleys.
3 – Bernardus Winery
The specialties of Bernardus Winery are their red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, as well as more up-market varieties like Petite Verdot and Malbec. They grow grapes to produce these wines on 36 acres of land.
The tasting room is a blend of rustic and natural and is based in a building that used to be the old Bank of America. It is open every day for tastings. You will be presented with four 2 oz pours of their single vineyard and reserve wines.
If you like to eat while you drink, a cheese and charcuterie board can be purchased. Also on offer is a wine and food pairing experience where the wines will be paired with small bites that go well with the wines.
Join one of their wine clubs for shipments, discounts, complimentary wine tastings, and more.
Try their Cabernet Sauvignon 2018. You won’t be disappointed. It has aromas of dark red fruits with a hint of spice, while the flavors remind you of black cherry and plum.
4 – Boekenoogen Wines
For over twenty years, the Boekenoogen family have run this winery which is nestled in the Santa Lucia Highlands. They focus on red wines such as Pinot Noir and Shiraz but also produce some whites such as Chardonnay.
They grow the grapes and produce and bottle all their wines on site. The vineyards are a lovely backdrop for your wine tasting as you can sit on the outside patio to enjoy your wine.
They offer a choice of two flights, the first with five pours and the second, with seven. You can also order wine by the glass.
Boekenoogen Wines will host private tasting parties for up to 60 people.
Join their wine club for shipments, discounts, complimentary tastings, invitations to exclusive private tastings, and more.
5 – Georis Winery
Georis Winery produces sparkling whites and roses as well as red and white blends. Their tasting room is not at the vineyards but on Pilot Road. You will find the tasting room attractive with adobe-style architecture.
On a nice day, you can enjoy a tasting in their beautiful gardens overlooking a small symbolic vineyard. You can order food to-go to accompany your wine from the Corkscrew Cafe across the road.
Try their 2017 Cabernet Franc. It is soft and acid-driven with flavors of cherry, leather, and roasted pepper.
Georis Winery has a range of wine clubs to choose from.
6 – Holman Ranch
Holman Ranch covers a massive 750 acres. Not only do they have vineyards and a winery, but they have guest accommodation and offer food. While the vineyards are at Holman Road, the tasting room is in Carmel Valley.
The tasting is a flight of five wines including the 2018 Heather’s Mill Pinot Noir. It has a memorable bouquet of pomegranate, strawberry, red cherry, and the forest. Flavors include star anise, cranberry and cinnamon.
Join their wine club for deliveries of boutique wines, year-round discounts, and access to the ranch for special events.
7 – Joyce Wine Co.
This winery is family run and features 4 acres of vineyards growing wine grapes such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc. As well as red and white wines, they produce rose wines. Their tasting room is open from Wednesday until Sunday.
Try their 2022 Alberino which has aromas of tropical fruits, white flowers, and the ocean. It has a citrusy flavor with a hint of salt and is bright and refreshing.
Join their wine club for quarterly wine shipments, 10% off merchandise, 20 -25% off all Joyce wines, and complimentary weekly wine tastings.
8 – Cowgirl Winery
This winery has a southern vibe with a barn and tractors that suit the cowgirl name. The tasting room is rustic with wooden furniture. You would almost think you were at a ranch.
Cowgirl Winery offers a good range of red and white wines. You should try their Cowgirl Red and Cowgirl White which are original blends. The red has aromas of plum and slate with flavors of cherry and plum, while the white has aromas of melon, pineapple and pear.
9 – Folktale Winery & Vineyard
Folktale Winery and Vineyard has been around since 1982. They have 5 acres of land all devoted to growing wine grapes. They are very concerned about the environment and farm their grapes organically and sustainably.
Visit their tasting room for a flight of six pours. Wine is also available by the glass and the bottle. Food is available to purchase such as different flatbreads, a cheese and charcuterie board, and fire roasted beets with candied pork belly.
They have a special Sunday Brunch menu as well.
The Folktale Tour Experience is worth taking. You are taken on a tour of the vineyards and production facilities and have an exclusive tasting of unreleased wines.
10 – Parsonage Carmel Valley Family Winery
This family winery was established in 1998 by Bill and Mary Parsons who still run it together with their children. It covers 7 acres and here they grow grapes that produce bold red wines.
Their tasting room is arty and decorated with wooden furniture. The tasting includes five premium wines or three reserve wines. If the weather is good, you can enjoy your wine on their outdoor patio.
Join one of their clubs for deliveries and 20% discount.
11 – I. Brand & Family
This winery makes wine from different vineyards in the area. The head winemaker, Ian Brand, is always looking for sustainable vineyards to source the grapes so that they can continually produce excellent wines.
The main focus of this winery is on red wine such as Pinot Noir but they currently have two white wines and a rose. They are open from Thursday to Monday for tastings and wine purchases.
Join their wine club for regular wine deliveries and discounts.
12 – Rombi Wines
Rombi Wines is owned by Salvatore Rombi. He has just an acre of land with vineyards from which he produces high-quality wines. The vineyard is situated at a height of 1650 feet and has cooling marine influences at night.
The well-drained rocky soil creates balanced vines and superior fruit.
The winery makes 100 cases of wine a year and they all sell out. If you enjoy red wine, this is a good choice of winery for you. They produce excellent Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, and you can visit their tasting room to try these excellent wines.
13 – Twisted Roots Wine
The owners, Julie and Josh, named this winery after their 100-year-old Zinfandel vines which twist and turn in all directions.
Their grapes come from sustainable farming, resulting in top-quality wines. They specialize in red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Syrah but they also have white wines and alcoholic cider. They are open for tastings from Thursday to Sunday.
Join the wine club for access to their most exclusive wines, invitations to events, discounts, complimentary tastings, and more.
Final Thoughts
We hope that you have enjoyed reading about some of the best wineries in Carmel Valley and feel inspired to visit and try out some of the wines. We assure you that you won’t be disappointed.
