A Taste of Monterey is not necessarily hidden, perched as it is overlooking the bay on busy Cannery Row. But for those interested in Monterey County’s smaller labels, it is quite a gem.
The 2025 Pinot Gris from Carys and the 2023 Reflection Ridge Sauvignon Blanc are both produced through Scheid Family Wines’ private label program, two of 15 wineries they assist in bringing grapes to the bottle.
The latter presents a confounding aromatic swirl – impressions of stonefruits, whole melons, sharp gooseberry and green apple greet your nose, leading expectations toward something brisk and naturally sweet on the palate. Yet a sip reveals a drier wine with a purposeful acidity. Bright tropical fruit zips through more placid notions of apple crisp and parched herbs.
Meanwhile, the Pinot Gris from Carys is a more gentle offering, with soft wisps of pear, peach and orange blossom drifting from the glass. This cozy sensation of fruit drapes the palate, landing with a trace of bittersweet zest. It’s a light wine, but with a foundation of minerality that lends depth.
Both bottles are ready for the summer months – if and when they come.
It’s easy in Monterey County to tour the tasting rooms to explore wines. As both Scheid’s partnerships and A Taste of Monterey’s shelves suggest, however, there are many labels without such homes that can also be worth seeking out.
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