Wine Along The 101
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    • 2023 Articles >
      • Simply Italian Great Wines US Tour 2022, A Brief Look at the Complex World of Italian Wine
      • A Night of Sicilian Wine, Spotlighting Cambria and Madaudo Wineries
      • Yealands Wines, “Think Boldly, Tread Lightly”, Leading the World Toward Sustainable Winemaking
    • 2022 Articles >
      • Further Defining the Single Vineyard Cru Wines of Barolo and Barbaresco, the Rise of the MGA
      • The Barolo Cru Wines of Beni di Batasiolo
      • Pyros Wines Sparks World-Class Malbec
      • AlloraVino Imports, a Love Affair with Italian Wine
      • Maisons Marques & Domaines Wine Portfolio: Prestige, Glamour and Good Taste for the Holidays
      • The Original Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PGI, a Condiment and a Culture
      • Rocca delle Macìe, Taking Chianti Classico to New Heights
      • Alluring and Iconic, The World of Chianti Wines
      • Paso Robles Weaves a Thrilling Tapestry of World-Class Wine
      • LXV Wines, The Spice of Paso Robles
      • The Mouthwatering Sauvignon Blancs of Chile
      • The Wines of Portugal, Discover a World of Difference
      • Domaines Albert Bichot, An Exceptional Approach to Burgundian Wine
      • The Wines of Abruzzo Undergo a Renaissance of Quality
      • Ketcham Estate, Exceptional Wines From The Heart of the Russian River Valley
      • La Rioja Alta, S.A., Innovation and Tradition That Stands the Test of Time
      • Vega Sicilia Celebrates 40 Years of Winemaking Excellence
      • Planeta of Sicily Embraces the Past While Reaching For the Future
      • The Spirit of Renaissance is Alive and Well in “South of Somewhere”
      • Gambero Rosso Returns to LA, With the Best of Italian Wines
      • Falanghina and Aglianico del Taburno, Sannio's Ancient Wine Stars
      • Tablas Creek Vineyard Embraces Regenerative Organic Farming
    • 2021 Articles >
      • Make Merry With Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Wines
      • Discover These Enchanting Italian Wines, From the Fog of Piedmont to the Island Breezes of Sardinia
      • Rodney Strong Vineyards and Winery, Revitalizing an Iconic Brand
      • Thanksgiving Tips for the Best Wine and Food Pairing
      • Escape to Paso Robles, a Wine Country Oasis
      • Escape to Paso Robles, a Wonderland of Wine
      • Smith-Madrone Wines, a Napa Valley Pioneer Celebrates Fifty Years of Excellence
      • Oregon’s Willamette Valley, the Land of Pinot Noir
      • Irvine & Roberts Vineyards, Exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Southern Oregon
      • BARRA of Mendocino Wines, an Original Organic Wine Play
      • The Opulent and Thrilling Wines of Denner Vineyards
      • L’Ecole No. 41, Expressive Wines That Pass the Test of Time With Flying Colors
      • France's Loire Valley, a Fairytale Land of Storybook Castles and Magical Wines
      • Craft Wine, Shining the Spotlight on America’s Small Wine Producers
    • 2020 Articles >
      • Margerum Wine Company, the Nexus of Sublime Santa Barbara County Wines
      • Catena Zapata, Malbec on High
      • Long Meadow Ranch, the Circle of Life in a Glass of Wine
      • Fontanafredda Barolo Forges a New Future
      • Bordeaux Wine 2017, Surprises in a Challenging Vintage
    • 2019 Articles >
      • The Rising Wine Country of Southern Oregon's Rogue Valley
      • Discover Ashland and the Rogue Valley, Southern Oregon's Serenade to the Good Life
      • Napa Valley Grille, New Fall Menu Paired with European Wines
      • Embrace Your Wine Geek with PRIE Winery & Vineyards
      • Castello di Albola, Chianti Classico on High
      • Nicolas-Jay Wines, the Journey of a Lifetime
      • The Expanding Complexity of New Zealand Wine
      • Prosecco DOC, Splendor in the Glass
      • On the Oregon Wine Trail
      • Albariño and Rioja Star in Spain’s Great Match
      • Exciting and Eclectic, the Wines of Alentejo
      • Blaufränkisch Propels the Red Wines of Austria Into the Spotlight
      • Fascinating Greek Wines of the Cava Spiliadis Collection
      • Revolution In Rioja Wine
    • 2018 Articles >
      • Temecula Valley Celebrates 50 Years of Winemaking
      • The Stellar Wines of Sardinia
      • Italian Wines Prescribed by Doctor Wine
      • The Alluring Wines of Tunisia
      • Gambero Rosso’s Top Italian Wines for 2018
      • Velenosi Wines, From Le Marche to the World
      • Sauvignon Blanc, a Rising Star in Napa Valley
      • Frank Family Vineyards Celebrates 25 Years
      • Markus Wine Co., Sleek New Red Wines Up the Ante for Lodi Reds
      • Lodi Wine, Over 100 Varieties Strong
      • Ramona Valley Wine Country, an Up and Coming Wine Region
      • Hertelendy Vineyards, the Pursuit of Excellence
      • Napa Valley Wine, Nirvana in a Bottle
      • Wine Stroll: Explore Downtown Paso Robles Wineries
      • The Beautiful Shades of Lodi Rosé Wines
      • Doubling Down on Gold Medal Wines: The San Francisco International Wine Competition
      • The Exotic Wines of Lebanon
      • Australian Wines, Rediscover the New Frontier
      • New Zealand Wines, Expanding beyond Sauvignon Blanc
      • Visit France in 2018, a Feast of Food, Wine, Culture and History
      • Bordeaux Wine 2015, A Very Good Year
      • Portugal's Treasure Chest of Wines
      • Livermore Valley, California’s Original Wine Country Reborn
      • Concannon and Wente Vineyards, California’s Pioneers of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay
      • Livermore Valley Wine Country, the Future Looks Bright
    • 2017 Articles >
      • Viña Ardanza Rioja Turns 75, an Enchanting Wine Gets Even Better
      • The VIP Sparkle of Prosecco Superiore
      • Lodi Wine Country, Seriously Good Wine From A to Z
      • Lodi Wine Country, Old Vines and Great Wines
      • Lodi Wine Country, Winegrowers and Winemakers Focused on the Future
      • Lugana White Wine, Better With Age
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip to LA
      • Sweetzer Cellars, a Life Changing Journey of Wine
      • Lugana and Valpolicella, the Yin and Yang of the Veneto
      • Three R’s of Summer Wine, Rosé, Riesling, and Ramato
      • Familia Martínez Bujanda, Wines Without Borders
      • Codorníu Cava, the Ars and Anna Collection
      • New and Exciting Wines from the 2017 Santa Barbara Vintners Spring Weekend Celebration
      • Sensual Delights on Display at Savor Italy Los Angeles
      • Pizza and Franco Pepe, Italy’s Best Comes to LA
      • Montes Wines, Wisdom in Wine From Father to Son
      • Passionate Pinot Noir Lovers Unite at the 2017 World of Pinot
      • Vignalta, Wines of the Highest Order
      • Santa Lucia Highlands Sensational Wines
      • Gambero Rosso’s Top Italian Wines for 2017
      • Law Estate Wines: Quality by Design
      • Taittinger and Calvisius: Champagne and Caviar Dreams
      • Riding High on American Rhone Wines, The Rhone Rangers LA Tasting
      • Discover Monterey Wine Country, wine and so much more
      • Wines of Portugal, the Perfect Dinner Companion
      • Gruet's Enchanting Sparkling Wines
    • 2016 Articles >
      • The Art of Italian Living, SoCal Style
      • Wines of Alsace: Perfect for the Holidays
      • Oso Libre Winery; Vines, Wines, and Angus Beef
      • Best Wines for Thanksgiving
      • Simply Italian Great Wines US Tour Sweeps Through Los Angeles
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Chardonnay
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Pinot Noir
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Rhône Varietals
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Bordeaux Varietals
      • Achaval-Ferrer, Exceptional Wines from Argentina
      • Celebration of Harvest Grand Tasting 2016 Highlights
      • The Celebrity Sparkle of Ferrari Trento Wines
      • Santa Barbara Wine Country’s Celebration of Harvest 2016
      • The Garagiste Festival, Off the Beaten Path Wines
      • Explore SLO Wine Country, Central California’s Hidden Gem
      • Byron Winery, The Grand Pinot Noir Experiment
      • Crocker & Starr Wines, Organically Elegant
      • Escape to Santa Maria Wine Country
      • The Elegant White Wines of Domäne Wachau
      • Champagne Palmer: The New Champagne on the Block
      • Holman Ranch & Vineyards: Making Memories & Wine at Romantic California Hideaway
      • Luminous Wines of France's Loire Valley
    • Examiner.com Articles >
      • Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards: Wines Without Compromise
      • All Stars of Pinot Noir Rock the 2016 World of Pinot
      • Ampelos Wines' Biodynamic Brilliance
      • Artisan Uprising: Blood Into Wine
      • Bodegas Beronia Rioja: The Magic of Oak
      • Crawford Family Wines: Unlocking Varietal Flavor
      • Dolin Malibu Estate Vineyards' Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs Shine Bright
      • Hahn Family Wines: Santa Lucia Highlands' Sweet Spot
      • Kimmel Vineyards: Good Wine Flows from Challenging Times
      • Larner Vineyard: Sweet Spot for Syrah and Grenache
      • LOCA for Lodi Wine
      • Lompoc Wine Ghetto
      • Sanford Winery & Vineyards, Delicious Wines That Tell a Tale
      • The Diverse and Divine Wines of Santa Barbara County
      • Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail
      • The Stellar Wines of California's Sta. Rita Hills
      • Skinner Vineyards, Destiny and Determination
      • Wines of Portugal, The Art of the Blend
  • Wine Reviews
    • The Dynamic Lavico Etna Wines of Duca di Salaparuta
    • The Sangiovese Stars of San Felice Wines
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, in Can and Bottle
    • Coen Malbec Reserve 2019, a New World Wine with Old World Sensibilities
    • Sangre de Toro Rosé, A Light and Bright Summer Thirst Quencher
    • Summer and Sauvignon Blanc, Lucky Rock Wine Co. Style
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. County Cuvée Pinot Noir 2019
    • Monte Velho, Fascinating Wines and Value-Priced
    • Grassl Glasses Add Depth to Wine Enjoyment
    • Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Rosé Brut Makes Everyday a Holiday
    • Festive Ferrari Trento Sparkling Wines For All Occasions
    • Bodegas CARO, the Best of Both Worlds
    • Kosher Wines For the Jewish High Holidays Are Highly Recommended Anytime of Year
    • Oak Farm Vineyards, a Rainbow of Delicious Lodi Wines
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc 2019
    • Ron Rubin Wines, The Dream Series
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. County Cuvée Pinot Noir 2018
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc 2018
    • Crus Bourgeois Bordeaux, Expressive Wines at Everyday Prices
    • Légende Collection of Bordeaux Wines
    • Five Contemporary California Wines To Try
    • Alternative Sparkling Wines For a Celebration
    • A Toast to Prosecco Superiore
    • Celebrate with this Pair of Spanish Red Wines
    • A Quartet of Summer Red Wines
    • Spanish Albariño, a Wine For All Seasons
    • Ciù Ciù Wines, Quality That Shines Through
    • A Trio of Red Wines for Holiday Merrymaking
    • Terre de la Custodia Montefalco Rosso 2012
    • The Sultry Arnaldo Caprai Collepiano Montefalco Sagrantino
    • Pop the Cork on Charles Heidsieck Champagne and Bisol Prosecco
    • Garnacha Wines from DOP Cariñena, Beautiful Bang for the Buck
    • A Pair of Greek Wines for a Spring Feast
    • A Dynamic Duo of Sassy Spanish White Wines
    • Anderra Carménere
    • Artesa Chardonnay/Pinot Noir
    • Avignonesi Grandi Annate
    • Château Saint-Maur Rosé
    • La Miranda de Secastilla, Old Vine Garnacha Gems
    • Intriguing Israeli Wines
    • Leviathan
    • Domaines Paul Mas Wines Trio
    • Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc, intensely refreshing and delicious
    • Perticaia Trebbiano Spoletino
    • Stay Cool With These Two Charming White Wines
  • Events
    • Garagiste Wine Festival: Urban Exposure 2022 Highlights Hidden California Wine Gems
    • Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival 2019
    • World of Pinot Noir 2019, A Magical Mystery Tour
    • Journey to Planet Pinot at the 2018 World of Pinot Noir
    • Great Wines of Italy Comes to LA
    • Wine Along the Beach at Garagiste Wine Festival 2017
    • Santa Barbara Vintners Spring Weekend Celebration 2017
    • Orbit the World of Pinot Noir at the 2017 World of Pinot
    • Rhone Rangers Los Angeles 2016
  • Wine Travel
  • Videos
    • Celebration of Harvest
    • Feliz Noche Wines
    • Terravant Custom Crush
    • Que Syrah, Shiraz!
    • Paso Robles Wine Festival
    • L'Aventure Syrah Harvest
    • Clos Pepe's Prince of Pinot
  • Photos
  • Who We Are
    • About Patricia Decker
    • About Fabian Rodriguez
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Monterey County, renowned for its rugged natural beauty, is nirvana for the wine tourist.  Without the hustle and bustle of superstar regions Napa and Sonoma, Monterey’s low key and laid back wine scene has slowly evolved, but is now poised for explosive growth. Vistas of vineyards, with almost 50,000 acres planted, and 30 wine grape varietals grown, keep 82 wineries busy.  And if you pour it, they will come.  Wine Enthusiast has recognized Monterey wine country as one of the world’s top ten wine destinations, California’s premier sweet spot where Pinot Noir and Chardonnay shine bright.  With so much to offer, from outdoor adventures, sightseeing, world class golf courses, and art, in addition to excellent food and wine, Monterey County is incredible bang for your buck, and should be on your must visit soon list. 
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"Carmel-by-the-Sea", the quaint European-style hamlet that overlooks the Pacific Ocean, offers something for everyone.  Rated as a top 10 US travel destination, Carmel's compact town center, one mile square, is a cornucopia of shops, art galleries, wine tasting rooms, spas and salons, restaurants and cafes, and hotels.  No street lights, parking meters, or numbered addresses confine its bohemian nature.  This "village in the forest", surrounded by pine trees and a white sand beach, is free form and enchanting.  You'll want to spend at least three days here, making it the hub for many wine adventures.
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The Hofsas House, family owned for over 60 years, offers relaxation in a retreat setting.  The Theis family, who operate the hotel, continue a tradition of hospitality handed down by the original founders, Donna and Fred Hofsas.  Grandchildren Carrie and Scott, along with their mother Doris, work hard to ensure travelers feel right at home, weaving modern conveniences into a tapestry of European charm.  The Bavarian motif is a nod to the Hofsas’ German roots, welcoming guests with artist Maxine Albro’s mural across from the office, along the driveway.  This pink, Bavarian themed hotel, offers many amenities, from a heated swimming pool and dry saunas, to complimentary continental breakfast and free WiFi.  Thirty-eight spacious rooms, all uniquely decorated, are cozy, many with fireplaces to stay toasty by.  The Pacific Ocean adds to the ambience, Dutch doors on all the rooms can be opened, ushering in the cool ocean breezes. Because the hotel is on a hillside overlooking the Pacific, many rooms on the backside have great ocean views, framed by the village pine trees.  For the rooms without their own balcony, outdoor decks encourage guests to linger, over morning breakfast or sunset wine and cheese.  Family and dog friendly, larger suites are available, comfortably furnished, many with a kitchenette.  The Hofsas House offers several packages, from romance to golf, including a popular Carmel Beach Fire and S’Mores Bundle, and perks for additional nights.  Located just three blocks from the center of town, the Hofsas House is a good jumping off point for touring all of Monterey County.  Their staff helps guests navigate the myriad choices, arranging everything from sightseeing, wine tasting, or just leisurely strolling the village streets, with a map in hand.  Hofsas House is a popular choice for visitors, many who come again and again, to enjoy this home away from home. 
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For the wine tourist, the beauty of staying in the village of Carmel is convenience, and not having to worry about a designated driver. Fourteen Monterey County wineries have tasting rooms within easy walking distance of most of the village hotels.  The Carmel Wine Walk-by-the-Sea Passport is the perfect introduction, it is your ticket to tasting wines at your choice of 9 of the 14 tasting rooms that are open daily.  You can purchase it for $65 from the Carmel Chamber of Commerce, or, as in my case, the Hofsas House concierge can arrange to have the passport waiting for you upon check-in.  The Wine Walk passport doesn’t expire, so no rush, you can linger with a glass, and return again to pick up where you left off.  An additional perk, some local restaurants waive corkage on bottles purchased at a Carmel Wine Walk tasting room, but there is a limit of one bottle per visit. 
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Scott Caracciolo is proud of his family's sparkling wines, Caracciolo Brut Cuvée
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This Wine Walk famously stars Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, mostly from the Santa Lucia Highlands.  Caraccioli Cellars is unique, producing sparkling wines as well as still, setting themselves apart from the crowd.  Scott Caraccioli says they have “a complete commitment to making bubbles”, painstakingly crafting their Brut Cuvée and Brut Rosé, controlling the process from beginning to end, starting with only estate grown fruit as of 2015.  “It really showcases the place and the year through sparkling wine” Scott observes, “that’s really the majority of our production, and the majority of our focus”.  Winemaker Michel Salgues works to keep the quality high, with extended aging, on the lees and in bottle.  Both wines sparkle with a cascading stream of tiny bubbles, the Brut Cuvée is aromatic with Meyer lemon, pineapple, and brioche; the Brut Rosé redolent of citrus and ripe apple, laced with a subtle yeastiness, and both wines linger on the finish.  The still wines are good, especially the Chardonnay, the 2011 vintage is aromatic, with lemon, pear, pineapple, and hints of butterscotch, it’s creamy, with good acidity, and a round finish, very nice! 
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Winemaker Sabrine Rodems
Wrath Wines, tucked into the lower level of the Carmel Plaza, also specializes in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, yet is a study in clones. At Wrath, three separate collections of wines are made, the Ex Anima, Winemaker Series, and Single Vineyard Series.  Winemaker Sabrine Rodems crafts the wines like a chef, she has numerous clones, single vineyards, and several winemaking techniques, like whole cluster and malolactic fermentation, to choose from.  Clones become the spice rack, blending different clones of the same grape makes for a more complex wine.  Because Mother Nature is kind to the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, near perfect grape growing weather happens every year, allowing ripe, concentrated, well balanced wines to be made on a consistent basis.  When the usual challenges to winemaking aren’t an issue, it frees the winemaker to tinker.  According to Sabrine, it’s the experimentation that is exciting, finding out what works and what doesn’t.  “You have to have an open mind, look outside your assumptions, think beyond what you think is right.  How can you understand farming completely unless you go to all the corners of the square?  In the vineyard, we crank it to the right, and see how the vineyard behaves, then crank it to the left, and see how the vineyard behaves, early pick, late pick, high concentration of whole clusters, low concentration of whole clusters, and everything in between, that is the key to figuring out what your vineyard’s about”.  It’s a real education to taste through the Pinot clones, from Pommard 4, Swan, 828, 115, 667, 777, you start to discover which ones appeal to your individual palate.  For example, two very good wines that are as different as cherry and earth; the 115/667 Pinot is very cherry, spicy, and with a touch of wild herbs, whereas the Pommard 4/777 is earthy and spicy, less fruity.  Both are delicious, yet different. 
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It's difficult to choose from the almost 200 cheeses and other delectable goodies at The Cheese Shop of Carmel.
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The Cheese Shop, adjacent to Wrath’s tasting room, has the most incredible selection of cheese I’ve ever seen. Over 200 artisanal cheeses from all over the world, including a concentration of spectacular local cheese, are piled high on the counters. Passionate, knowledgeable, and helpful, Kent Torrey and his “Cheesehead” staff are quick to offer a slice of this, a morsel of that, along with tidbits of information, where it came from, or how it was made. The enthusiasm is infectious, you want to hang around and learn, and before you know it, your bag is full of cheese and all its accompaniments. A large selection of wine is stacked high at the back of the store, along with a small tasting bar, making The Cheese Shop a one stop shop for a picnic, on the beach or in your room. 

5th Ave Deli caters to locals and travelers on the go, fueling the day's adventures with an assortment of delicious soups, salads, and sandwiches.  This tiny shop packs a culinary punch, starting with breakfast and continuing on throughout the day.  Strictly a take-away spot, create your own sandwich or choose from several picnic lunch boxes.  Noted for their Harris Ranch Tri-tip and Tarragon Chicken salad, 5th Ave Deli also carries snacks and drinks, including wine and champagne, making it easy to pack a gourmet picnic for the beach or the vineyard.
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Just 10 minutes away by car, the town of Monterey offers many different dining options, here are a couple of intriguing spots. Restaurant 1833, considered the best restaurant in Monterey, is located in a historic adobe house with a checkered past.  Formerly known as Stokes Adobe, the house has a spooky vibe that channels lots of ghost stories. Starting with James Stokes in 1837, a self-proclaimed doctor whose medical misdiagnoses and failed elixirs resulted in some scandalously fatal mistakes, to early 1900‘s socialite Hattie Gragg, whose ghost is said to haunt the building, waiters regale diners with accounts of paranormal sightings. Salt block candleholders burn on every table, to keep Hattie away, since according to the staff, she mischievously adds salt to diners’ wines to announce her presence.  There are seven lounge and dining areas that are strikingly outfitted in dark woods, leather booths, and marble-topped bars, all accented by dim lighting.  Award-winning seasonal cocktails, table-side martini cart concoctions, and a full-blown Absinthe service compliment the esoteric wine list, where local gems from Monterey’s neighboring wineries are found alongside international legends.  Seattle transplant, Chef Jason Franey, has created an exciting farm-to-table menu, innovative and totally out of the box.  From the baby back rib appetizer, whose shredded meat is presented in a crunchy egg roll, served with a Vietnamese fish dipping sauce, to crisp skinned salmon, surrounded by mussels, clams and baby artichokes in a saffron broth, the food is sophisticated yet playful.  After dinner, lounge around one of four fire pits in the front courtyard under the canopy of three huge trees, including a 150-year-old mighty oak, that represents the essence of California. 
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Abalonetti Bar & Grill, located on Monterey’s Fisherman’s Wharf, is not just any tourist seafood spot.  Here, calamari is the specialty, and super fresh, as Abalonetti is one of the few restaurants locally to serve squid right out of Monterey Bay.  It seems that all the squid caught by local fishermen is shipped to China for processing, to save on labor costs, and then shipped back to Monterey’s restaurants.  Abalonetti has cut out the middle man, and employs a one man dynamo, Faustino Perez, who cleans roughly 1,000 pounds of squid every week, practicing a lost art here in the “Calamari Capital of the World”.  Abalonetti’s menu has a section dedicated to calamari, in all its incarnations, offering many variations on this very fresh squid, from classic flash fried to simmered in marinara.  The Marty Special, a popular combination of both techniques, is a fried eggplant/calamari dish, smothered in spicy Sicilian marinara, and topped with Parmesan and Mozzarella cheese, extremely delicious yet very filling.  The wine list is populated with local Pinot and Chardonnay.  This is casual waterfront dining, with rustic wooden tables, adorned with a large carved wooden squid that hangs from the ceiling.  A large outdoor patio, protected from the wind, is pleasant, and even caters to man’s best friend.  Dog friendly isn’t even the half of it, Abalonetti even has a special dog menu, served in a keepsake Frisbee!  Friendly and welcoming, Abalonetti is perfect for family dining or even a romantic dinner for two. 
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The Santa Lucia Highlands nurtures 46 mountainside vineyard estates, and while many vintners choose to display their wines in Carmel tasting rooms, almost a dozen wineries are open for exploration along Monterey’s River Road Wine Trail.  Winding along the base of the mountains just west of Salinas, River Road is at the heart of the region’s agriculture, surrounded by crop fields, orchards, and vineyards of three separate AVAs, Santa Lucia Highlands, Arroyo Seco, and Monterey, the cradle of spectacular Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  Breathtaking vistas, picnic grounds and friendly tasting rooms bring the wine tasting experience to new heights, where you can walk among the vineyards and get a tour of the cellar.  Before setting out, check with the wineries you’re interested in visiting for their hours of operation.  Some, like Hahn and Scheid, are open daily, where others are strictly a weekend venture. 
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Nestled in Carmel Valley, about 15 minutes inland from Carmel-by-the-Sea, over 20 wineries, tasting rooms, and wine bars are clustered along the main drag, with a large number concentrated in a small Old West-style town, making for a walkable wine tasting. Another option for exploring the tasting rooms is the Happy Trails Wagon, a 10-passenger wagon pulled by an antique tractor, operated by local legend “Cowboy Pete” Azevedo.  Protected from the marine layer that blankets the Highlands, it’s warmer here, allowing Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to fully ripen.  Bordeaux blends reign here, of note are Bernardus, Georis, and Heller Estate Organic Vineyards.  Holman Ranch operates a special event guest ranch, a tasting room that spotlights their Jarman and Holman Ranch wines, and a restaurant, Will’s Fargo Steakhouse + Bar, nothing like a steak to enjoy with your big red at the end of a day of wine tasting!

Monterey Wine Country, home to top-notch food and wine, sophisticated shopping, upscale art galleries, stunning scenery, world class golf, and lots of outdoor activities, is a great value.  It’s been relatively undiscovered as a wine getaway but the word is out, get here before the crowd does.