Monterey Wine Country

Glorious sunshine, gentle sea breezes, rich soils - this beautiful part of the Californian coast has all the ingredients you need to make damn fine wine. Cheers!

Monterey Wine Country is Southern California's answer to the famous Napa Valley, with over 150 wineries producing some of the best wines around. If you love your wine, it's basically heaven on earth.

Wine-tasting in Monterey is an absolute must. There are plenty of scenic wineries offering tasting sessions, so why not tour a few? With over 50 varieties of grape grown in the region, there's plenty of interesting sampling to be done.

Going along to a wine festival is also a fun way of celebrating all things wine. But you don't need a special event to go to; Monterey's fantastic wine bars pour glasses and glasses of wine every day of the year.

Here are some of our fave places to go in Monterey Wine Country:

Wineries

  • Think wineries are a bit stuffy? Think again with a visit to the Folktale Winery. From outdoor Jenga to live music, they know how to show visitors a good time.
  • For a taste of traditional wine-making, we love the pretty Carmel Ridge Winery with its hand-made French-style wines and romantic tasting room.
  • Learn about modern wine-making at the rolling Scheid Vineyards, where they embrace the latest tech to produce sustainable - and delicious - wines.

Wine Festivals

  • The end of May sees the arrival of the Monterey Wine Festival - the biggest in the area. Wine-makers, chefs and musicians come together to put on an unforgettable weekend.
  • If you fancy four days of world-class wine and food served with spectacular sea views, don't miss the luxurious Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival in April.
  • For a family-friendly festival, head along to August's Salinas Valley Food & Wine Festival, which has a cute farm vibe and plenty of entertainment.

Downtown Monterey Wine Bars

  • Sovino Wine Bar is a trendy boutique spot run by an up-and-coming sommelier. Their wine list is constantly evolving, and they love putting on fun events like wine bingo.
  • For excellent local wines and culinary treats, the ocean-front A Taste of Monterey Wine Market & Bistro is a beautiful venue.
  • The Wine Experience is more than a wine bar - you'll have the chance to taste and blend wines to create your own personal tipple.

Created in partnership with SeeMonterey.com