Recently named one of the top ten wine travel destinations in the world by Wine Enthusiast, Monterey County is home to many of California’s best wineries. The only other two North American locations named in the list are in New York and Oregon. While Carmel and Carmel Valley have some very notable tasting rooms, River Road is where you’ll find a truly authentic experience. The string of wineries with onsite tasting rooms along the Salinas River has been branded the River Road Wine Trail. The Wine Trail runs South for roughly 15 miles from the edge of Salinas through the Santa Lucia appellation to its end at Arroyo Seco. Here is where Monterey county’s finest chardonnay and pinot noir is made, from vine to barrel to tasting glass at one location. The tasting rooms on River Road are adjacent to their vineyards and wineries, allowing visitors to explore the vineyards or get a winery tour. The Monterey county wine culture is relatively relaxed, and at these onsite tasting rooms it’s common to bump into the winemaker who’s usually happy to tell his story or answer questions.
River Road Wine Trail
Boekenoogen
33520 Fairview Road
Gonzales, Ca 93926
(831) 675-3549
By Appointment
Hahn
37700 Foothill Road
Soledad, Ca 93960
(831) 678-4555
Monday- Thursday 11am- 5pm
Friday- Sunday 11am-6pm
Manzoni
30891 River Road
Soledad, Ca 93960
(831) 675-3398
Friday- Sunday 11am – 5pm
Marilyn Remark
Making quality wines of varietals uncommon in the Americas.
645 River Road
Salinas, Ca 93908
(831) 455-9310
Weekends & Holidays 11am – 5pm
Paraiso
Charmingly appointed on a picturesque setting with delicious wines.
38060 Paraiso Springs Road
Soledad, Ca 93960
(831) 678-0300
Monday- Friday 11am- 4pm
Saturday- Sunday 11am-5pm
Pessagno
Pessagno’s “Four Boys” pinot noir voted Best Monterey County red wine by Monterey County Weekly. Consistent scores in the 90’s from WIne Spectator. The late founder Steve Pessagno was instrumental to establishment of the River Road Wine Trail.
1645 River Road
Salinas, CA 93908
(831) 675-9463
Monday- Thursday 11am- 4pm
Friday- Sunday 11am-5pm
Puma Road / Ray Franscioni Wines
32720 River Road
Soledad, Ca 93960
(831) 675-3548
Saturday & Sunday 11am – 5pm
Talbott
With production limited to pinot noir and chardonnay varietals as they are specially suited to the climate of Monterey County, Talbot makes a
consistently high quality product.
1380 River Road
Salinas, Ca 93908
(831) 675-0942
Thursday-Monday 11am- 4:30pm
Carmel & Carmel Valley
Bernardus
5 West Carmel Valley Rd
Carmel Valley, Ca 93924
(831) 298-8021
11am – 5pm Daily
Boekenoogen
24 W. Carmel Valley Rd
Carmel Valley, Ca 93924
(831) 659-4215
11am – 5pm Daily
Chateau Julien
8940 W. Carmel Valley Rd
Carmel Valley, Ca 93923
(831) 624-2600
8am – 5pm Monday – Friday
11am – 5pm Saturday & Sunday
Tours by reservation
Galante
Dolores Between Ocean Ave & 7th Ave
Carmel, Ca 93923
(831) 624-3800
12pm – 6pm Daily
Heller Estate
69 W. Carmel Valley Rd
Carmel Valley, Ca 93924
(831) 659-6220
11am – 5pm Daily
Manzoni
San Carlos Between Ocean Ave & 7th Ave
Carmel, Ca 93923
(831) 620-6541
11am – 6pm Sunday – Thursday
11am – 7pm Friday & Saturday
Morgan
204 Crossroads Blvd
Carmel, Ca 93923
(831) 626-3700
11am – 6pm Daily
Talbott
53 W. Carmel Valley Rd
Carmel Valley, Ca 93924
(831) 659-3500
11am – 4:30pm Daily
nick's guide 