The rugged beauty of Big Sur, the charm of Carmel, the challenge of Pebble Beach all part of beautiful Monterey. Monterey is also home to 38,200 acres of wine grapes and about 75 wineries and growers and part of California’s Central Coast Wine Country. You will find fine wines from cool climate grapes such as Pinot Noir, Riesling and Chenin Blanc in a little spot just a short drive south from San Francisco. The Monterey Wine Country is on the central California coast and is served by San Francisco International Airports and local airports in Monterey and San Jose. On California Central Coast you will find contrasting wines from the hot and dry Paso Robles wine region with fine Cabernets and Zinfandels cooler coastal wines from San Luis Obispo with Chardonnays and some fine sparkling wines. Los Angeles. California’s Central Coast is geologically different from other California wine growing regions. So let’s start our visit to the part of the California Wine Trails.
Here are a few suggestions to make the most of your California Wine Trail visit.
If at all possible, bring a designated driver along. Each area you might visit along the California Wine Trails has a number of qualified and friendly limo and touring companies who can take care of the driving for you!
Many of the wineries you will visit generally pours 4-5 tastes; each about an ounce of wine which can quickly add up! By law, a winery cannot pour wine for anyone who is intoxicated, so do as we do what some many of the wine makers and their staff do through-out the day? Swirl, sniff, sip and spit. It doesn’t hurt your host’s feelings at all if you take full advantage of dump buckets at the tasting bars.
Most of the areas mentioned on this site have a number of really great places to get a picnic lunch, and many of wineries you will visit have picnic grounds. Pack a lunch and snacks and have some food along with the wines. Some wineries offer wines by the glass or the bottle, so you can relax over a leisurely picnic – the most perfect way to enjoy your trip along the California Wine Trails!
Most of all enjoy the peace and serenity of the wine country. Take it easy, take it slow and plan to come back vintage after vintage.
Good Wine, Good Fun and Good Friends to all!
