Monterey County wine tasting rooms: The complete Carmel-by-the-Sea trail.

There's a single block in Carmel that plays home to 10 different wineries' tasting rooms.

In fact, there's a stretch tucked in a tiny courtyard that contains three within 20 feet, if that.

Check out the map at above right for other topographical insights into how deliciously dense the tiny city is getting for wine lovers.

Or just know that Carmel is a full blown tasting destination. Which is where this rundown comes in handy. 

Find this list and a wealth of other stories in the glossy Food & Wine issue, now out at 890 locations throughout the county with the normal print edition, and later this fall in tasting rooms, restaurants and hotels throughout the area.

(Also find more tasting room info, including a look at neighboring Carmel Valley's very own wine country and River Road's delightfully pastoral area, elsewhere on the blog.)

The key: + = another tasting room on River Road, E = estate wines, C = wine club, F = food available beyond bread or crackers

Albatross Ridge E C

Mission between Ocean and Seventh (inside Court of the Fountains), Carmel

(831) 747-7362 • www.albatrossridge.com

Noon-6pm Thu-Sun • $10/tasting; $25-$55/bottle

Albatross has earned enthusiastic affection from local sommeliers for mineral-driven Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. The space is petite and hip, tucked into the same courtyard as Anton & Michel’s fountain patio, with reclaimed barn wood, a shadowy Albatross signature along the back wall and seven retro, heavy-iron swivel stools along a stone-and-wood tasting bar. A little winery and tasting room with big capabilities, doing four single-vineyard tastes.

Alexander Smith-Paraiso E C

Court of the Golden Bough, Ocean between Lincoln and Monte Verde, Carmel

(831) 250-7123 • www.paraisovineyards.com

Noon-7pm daily • $15/tasting; $25-$65/bottle

Located on Ocean Avenue and totaling only 300 square feet, Alexander Smith’s room is comfortable despite its small size. Bench seating in all windows supplements front-and-center bar seating, and lots of white pillowy fabrics feed the opulent feel and couture appearance. Wines that brandish the Alexander Smith label are limited release—usually only 25-50 cases—and represent a higher-end spin-off from Paraiso Vineyards, named after owner Richard Smith and his wife, Claudia Alexander. Both the Pinot Noir and Syrah are memorable.

Blair Estate E C

Paseo San Carlos Courtyard, San Carlos between Ocean and Seventh, Carmel

(831) 625-9463 • www.blairwines.com

11am-7pm daily • $15/tasting; $25-$65/bottle

Blair splits space with Shale Canyon in the same courtyard as Basil Seasonal Dining. The no-frills room with an L-shaped bar focuses attention on the grape juice, and the Delfina’s Vineyard Pinot stands out among a range of wines born of Arroyo Seco cobblestone soils. Most every offering is small batch (500 cases or fewer) and single vineyard, and include a nice Alsatian-style Pinot Gris and a Roger Rose Vineyard Chard.

Caraccioli Cellars E C F

Dolores between Ocean and Seventh, Carmel

(831) 622-7722 • www.caracciolicellars.com

2-7/8pm Mon-Thu; 11am-10pm Fri-Sat • $10$15/tasting; $29-$125/bottle

Caraccioli delivers a classy place to match high-end, carefully crafted bubbles, a true rarity in Monterey County. An elegant riddling rack, glass shelves and a thick-slab bar rank among the tasteful accents. The internationally awarded Brut Rosé, lean Burgundian-style 2007 Pinot Noir and powerful, long-finishing 2008 Pinot shine among the tastes. Tastings include four or six wines. All in all, it’s a uniquely pretty place for uniquely pretty wines at the heart of Dolores, boosted by another rarity: a snack menu featuring charcuterie plates, olives, spiced almonds, cheese and fancy chocolate.

Dawn’s Dream E C F

Seventh between Dolores and San Carlos, Carmel 

(831) 659-2649 • www.dawnsdreamwinery.com

1-6pm Sun-Fri; noon-6pm Sat • $10/tasting; $30-$35/bottle

The relaxed tasting room at Dawn’s Dream is a place to exhale and focus on five different wines, like the dry, fruit-forward Pinot Noir Rosé, or the “Nicole” Pinot Noir, a delightful blend of Carmel Valley and Santa Lucia Highlands grapes that lingers on the palate with notes of blueberry. Founder Dawn Galante released her first vintage in 2011, but her Pinots already pull in awards. Cheese plates available.

De Tierra Vineyards E C F

Mission and Fifth, Carmel

(831) 622-9704 • www.detierra.com

2-8pm Tue-Thu; noon-8pm Fri-Sun; until 6pm October-April • $10-$15/tasting; $20-$50/bottle

De Tierra’s lovely Carmel tasting room opened last year, but already feels like a fixture, and for good reason: The place combines friendly atmosphere, spacious seating, occasional live music and knock-your-socks-off wines. Like the buttery Russell Estate Chardonnay—made from 100-percent Corral de Tierra grapes—with just a hint of oak in its creamy finish. Or “The Puzzler,” a beguiling blend of Merlot and Syrah with soft notes of blackberry and a peppery finish. It’s a popular spot that gets crowded, but impeccable service keeps the wine pouring for all. Discount Friday night flights ($5) and live acoustic music add to the swirl of stimuli.

Figge Cellars E C F

Dolores between Ocean and Seventh, Carmel • (831) 384-4149 • www.figgecellars.com

Noon-6pm Thu-Mon • $5-$10/tasting; $25-$40/bottle

A small and minimalist spot echoes the small-scale production of the handcrafted operation (1,800 cases each season, tops). On Figge’s impressive slab of wood, all of its wines—two Chardonnays, two Pinot Noirs, a Syrah and a new Rosé—flow. The sibling Chards and Pinots are so delightful and distinct, you really must try them all to pick a favorite. Owner-winermaker Peter Figge is often the friendly soul leading the experience.

Galante Vineyards & Winery E C

Dolores Street between Ocean and Seventh, Carmel

(831) 624-3800 • www.galantevineyards.com

1-6pm Sun-Fri; 12-6pm Sat • $10/tasting; $25-$150/bottle

Pioneering winemaker Jack Galante’s roots as a cattle rancher show everywhere, from the ubiquitous Western design to the leather-and-silver concho accents on the 3-liter bottles. You might even spot a 10-gallon hat in the simple tasting room, which reflects the straightforward wine philosophy, “Grow the finest grapes and let the fruit express itself in wine.” There are nine different varietals to choose five tastings from; one to keep an eye out for is the Blackjack Pasture Cabernet Sauvignon, their signature varietal which brings statewide fame to Galante, whose grandfather cofounded Carmel.

Manzoni Vineyards + E C

Paseo Courtyard, San Carlos between Ocean and Seventh

(831) 620-6541 • www.manzoniwines.com

11am-6pm Sun-Thu; 11am-7pm Fri-Sat • $10/tasting; $26-$60/bottle

Manzoni is quaint in size, with a chest-high bar that predominates the space and seats four. The winery is a family-owned operation, located in the Santa Lucia Highlands on River Road where the Swiss-Italian family grows its own grapes on 5 acres. Steve Pessagno was the inaugural winemaker; in 2008, former Chalone winemaker Dave Coventry assumed duties and started producing Burgundian treasures for Manzoni. Manzoni’s best is a fruity and spicy 2012 Pinot, one of four pours in the current tasting lineup. If it is overcast in Carmel, you can seek out the sun on River Road, where the Manzonis have transformed a corner of their barrel room into a wine-tasting space. The estate-winery dogs—a Yorkshire Terrier named Keila and Shih Tzu named Vina—might even make a cameo.

Otter Cove Wines

Ocean and Lincoln (inside Constance Wine Room), Carmel

(831) 320-3050 • www.ottercovewines.com

1-10pm • $15/tasting; $28-$65/bottle

Otter Cove appropriately occupies an alcove off Treehouse restaurant, on the second-story San Carlos spot. All the grapes are Santa Lucia Highlands sown and grown. The results are approachable, versatile and fruit-forward Pinots, an off-dry Riesling and tropical-fruity Chards. Insiders can sometimes talk winemaker Richard Oh into pouring a taste of his upmarket Oh Pinot Noir, too.

Puma Road + E C

Dolores between Ocean and Seventh, Carmel

(831) 622-7000 • www.pumaroad.com

2:30-7pm daily • $8-$15/glass; $20-$50/bottle

Puma Road is Ray Franscioni’s label for limited-release wines from the Santa Lucias. His team pours from a tidy and minimal spot next to the iconic Tuck Box in Carmel, but without a tasting room license. That means it’s classified as a wine bar instead, does no 1-ounce tastings and instead offers a choice of 10 rotating wines from the vast reservoir of varietals by the glass. Those include all estate grapes—the Franscionis keep only 1 percent of what they grow and sell the rest—a range of Bourdeaux varietals and every single Burgundy.

Scheid Vineyards + E C

San Carlos and Seventh, Carmel

(831) 656-9463 • www.scheidvineyards.com

Noon-6pm Sun-Thu; noon-7pm Fri-Sat • $10-$20/tasting; $16-$65/bottle

PR folks have told Scheid it needs a better origin story: Al Scheid, a Harvard Business School grad, founded the vineyard in 1972 with the idea of turning it into a tax shelter. (It’s complicated.) But those same folks aren’t complaining about the wine: Decades later, Scheid ranks among the class of the county, which is all the more remarkable given the volume the winery puts out. And their swanky tasting room in Carmel—which rotates the many vintages and varietals Scheid makes—is a wonderful place to experience firsthand what a beautiful accident life can be, where the pursuit of riches can lead to luscious wines. Which, for visitors, is where the riches are. The Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir Reserve and Claret stand out for their inspiring finish, rich mouthfeel and lingering depth, respectively. Estate flights, Pinot flights and reserve flights available.

Shale Canyon Wines

San Carlos between Ocean and Seventh

(831) 625-9463 • www.shalecanyonwines.com

11am-7pm daily • $10/person; $20-$35/bottle

The basic L-bar in the back corner of Paseo San Carlos plays host to two upstart wineries so small, it only made sense to partner in one tasting space where you can try both Shale and Blair. The two wineries rotate pouring duties and can even do side-by-side tastings. Shale Canyon is the uncommon Monterey County label that dabbles in bigger red varietals, with a formidable Arroyo Seco Syrah and excellent estate Cabernet Franc.

Silvestri E C

Seventh between San Carlos and Dolores, Carmel

(831) 625-0111 • www.silvestrivineyards.com

Noon-7 daily • $10-$15/tasting; $25-$45/bottle

The double-arch motif on the Silvestri wine label is a metaphor, a symbol of Italian ancestors who came to America in search of a better life, and their descendents finally finding it in Carmel Valley. For everyone else, that good life can be found at Silvestri’s compact, often-packed tasting room, which offers more wines on the menu than spots at the bar. But a bigger tasting room would get packed all the same: Silvestri’s wines, made from estate-grown grapes in Carmel Valley, sing on the palate. Like the full-bodied Rosé, with hints of strawberry and a long, slightly acidic finish, or the Barbera (a varietal rarely grown in the region), which leads with bright fruit and a licorice bouquet and smooths out with a lingering finish, enjoyed as part of the standard or premium tasting flights.

Trió Carmel + E C F

Dolores between Ocean Seventh, Carmel

(831) 250-7714 • www.triocarmel.com

11am-6pm Sun-Thu; 11am-8pm Fri-Sat • $15/tasting; $14-$48/bottle

Trio presents triple plays, two ways. First, it offers visitors engaging contemporary art, olive-oil sampling and wine tastings. The featured wines include three superb, small-plot Monterey County vineyards: Le P’tit Paysan, Mesa Del Sol and Pelerin, which do brilliant white blends, Grenache and Pinot, respectively, among other carefully crafted wines. This place is a cool concept, well executed and enjoyable across all of the senses.

Windy Oaks Estate + E C

Dolores between Fifth and Sixth, Carmel

(831) 574-3135 • www.windyoaksestate.com

2-7pm Mon-Thu; noon-7pm Fri-Sun • $10/tasting; $15/tasting Pinot Noir; $15-$95/bottle

Windy Oaks’ wine tasting room, in a courtyard directly across from Jack London’s, is the latest, and perhaps last, wine tasting-room to drop roots in Carmel. Unlike many others, though, it is generous in size and can accommodate larger parties. Its modern yet earthy appearance rises from wide plank flooring and an impressive rough-cut stone bar. Behind the bar is a big panoramic photograph of the winery, which sits on a 16-acre perch of the South Santa Cruz Mountains east of Watsonville, the only non-Monterey County winery with a tasting room in Carmel proper. The family-owned operation is the outgrowth of management-consultant-turned-winemaker Jim Schultz; the room is manned by his son James. The flagship wine is a 2011 estate reserve Pinot Noir, and the Sauvignon Blanc is a nice value at $15.

Wrath Wines + E C F

Carmel Plaza, Ocean and Junipero, Carmel

(831) 620-1909 • www.wrathwines.com

11am-6pm Mon-Sat; 11am-5pm Sun • $10-$20/tasting; $19-$49/bottle

If there’s any space that epitomizes the recent tasting-room renaissance in Carmel, it just might be Wrath, the upstart winery that seems to put almost as much work into their classy decor—which is magazine-ready—as they do their wines. Key word: almost. Wrath’s wines, rich in Santa Lucia Highlands’ character (though their estate vineyard is just across the road from the appellation’s border), have quickly established a reputation for being among the region’s best. Whether it’s the Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir or Syrah, Wrath just never seems to miss. This is the place to drink stylish wines in a stylish seat. The new 2012 Pinots are wines to earmark for your mouth.

CROSSROADS

While technically not Carmel—the Crossroads is part of the unincorporated surroundings—it's close enough, and offers its own mini "trail," with two high-quality pioneers across the street from one another.

McIntyre Vineyards E C F

169 Crossroads Blvd., Carmel

(831) 626-6268 • www.mcintyrevineyards.com

9am-6pm Sun; 9am-7pm Mon-Thu; 9am-8pm Fri-Sat • $10/tasting; $19.50-$50/bottle

McIntyre opened its new space in October after years of doing estate-grown sustainable Santa Lucia wines and decades growing major tonnage for bigger brands through Monterey Pacific. Steve McIntyre, California Association of Winegrape Growers’ Grower of the Year for 2013, does excellent estate Pinots and Chardonnay. He also crafts a nice Merlot, Pinot Rosé and sparkling L’homme Qui Ris.

Taste Morgan E C F

204 Crossroads Blvd., Carmel

(831) 626-3700 • www.morganwinery.com

11am-6pm daily • $10-$15 tasting; $15-$58/bottle

One of Monterey County’s trailblazing wine labels brings a similarly ambitious approach to the tasting room calendar, with various pairings, pizza nights, rib-cooking throwdowns and even a Hawaiian luau. The tasting room enjoys a relaxed atmosphere and a charming, flower-adorned front patio that beckons to passersby, plus lounge seating in front of a long, two-part black bar with integrated shelving. The Double-L Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands is one of its most fruitful Pinot sources and a star in the yummy, four-Pinot reserve tasting, an alternative to the classic flight of five.