Best hidden gems/wine lists in Monterey?

WINE TALK
1

My wife and I are headed down to the Monterey Peninsula in a few weeks. I’ve been going there with my family for decades, but they were never into wine like we are now. I’m finding myself at a loss for good restaurants with a solid wine list, or potentially even good tasting rooms.

Does anyone have any recommendations for wine bars, restaurants with a solid wine list, or even tasting rooms? For context, some recent favorites in Napa have been DiCostanzo, Kinsman Eades, Accendo, Vérité, Vice Versa, (the Pinot and Chardonnay included) As well as Aubert, Kutch, Joseph Swan, and Littorai for PN and Chardonnay. We also been exploring Barolo (I’m really green when it comes to Italian wine. We recently had a 2013 Renato Corino Riserva that we liked)

Thanks!

2

Lots of threads on this, but Passionfish in Pacific Grove has a very solid and well-priced list. I was there in August and this continues to be the case. Also lots of, pricier, places in Carmel–even maybe a 2 or 3 Michelin star joint.

3

Check out Jennini Kitchen in Pacific Grove. Thiamin Saleh knows wines and usually has a great and interesting BTG selections.

And hit Alvarado Street Brewing in Carmel . . .

4

If you’re up for sparkling, we have enjoyed Caraccioli’s tasting room in downtown Carmel.

1 Like
5

Second that. Depending on when/where you are going, consider calling ahead to see if you can get reservations. The last time we were in the area during the Spring, we had to wait almost everywhere, except for that one roadside Chinese place whose name escapes me. (That place was very busy with takeout)

6

Don’t bother with passionfish, nothing left on their list. At least not after we go there next week [wow.gif]

7

I would concur with the Passionfish recs.

If you go south to Big Sur a somewhat hidden but really good wine list is at Nepenthe. The restaurant is famous for its views and atmosphere. The food is… But the wine list is fantastic. And they almost always have some really great selections by the glass.

8

Or … Sierra Mar (Post Ranch Inn) or The Sur House (Ventana), both in Big Sur.

Also, don’t miss Fandango, Pacific Grove.

9

really glad to hear Passionfish is still on top of their game, it’s been many years since we’ve visited.

10

The Sur House is only available to those staying at Ventana now sadly.

11

We were in Monterey just a few weeks ago. Second the Fandango rec, they have excellent food and a fantastic list.
Too many great restaurants around Carmel to list…
Nepenthe is a must go. Average food, very good wine list. Spectacular views.

12

Never been a big Passionfish fan.
Recommend The Pocket Restaurant in downtown Carmel.
Expensive, but worth it.
Fine wine list.

TTT

13

+1, as an example, they were pouring Tempier Pour Lulu by the glass last time we went.

14

Passionfish has been repeated here where you have good food + not a crazy mark up. Poppy Hall down the street is a bit more casual, great food and a smaller but typically interesting wine list.

Stationaery in Carmel-by-the-Sea is great for food anytime of the day. They do half priced bottles & oysters Wed-Sun from I think 3-4 or 4-5pm. They have an interesting wine list plus a little bottle shop next door (wines on the menu but just at retail prices). Disclosure: I went to high school with the owners but I’ll say I went there 3x when they first opened and was raving about it before I had known that.

Elroy’s is a new grocery store in Monterey that is owned by a local family who used to have a cafe called Carmel Belle (still there, new owners) - they have a great selection of interesting wines, smaller producers, some natty stuff, some fun stuff.

Aubergine is the 1* spot in town and is amazing if you want to do an upscale dinner. I haven’t seen the wine list since the March 2020 but at the time you could get back vintages of local (Pisoni) or 1st growth or hipster Chablis or Montrachet.

Star Market in Salinas I would say is the best 1 stop for local producers. The owner Victor, old school grocer as it gets (stocking his own shelves on a Sunday), carries the broadest selection of producers with and without a tasting room. You can go there and get a mixed case Monterey County wineries without having to visit 4-5 tasting rooms. The Cheese Shop in Carmel I would say is a mix of Elroy’s & Star in the sense it has some local but an interesting mix as well but doesn’t go all in on either.

Lucia at Bernardus Lodge is a great place to have an upscale dinner (or weekend lunch/brunch) that isn’t a precious as Aubergine but they have a good wine list (local + intnl) and wine crew there are into wine as well.

Farmer’s Market - If you are here on a Friday please stop by our local farmer’s market which has moved to Del Monte Mall during the pandemic (no longer at Monterey Pen College which was horrible to park).

Villa Aztec - Not wine related (great cocktails) but I think it is worth the trip to oldtown Salinas for their food. Incredible plating, unique ingredients, great food - when I first saw the photos on Instagram I was like there is no way this is in Salinas, this has to be in LA or New York. You can go to Star Market as well - you literally have to drive past it on 68 into town.

I won’t go into specific wineries/producers here but if you want info on that you can message me. Some of them don’t have tasting rooms so Star, Elroys etc is where you’d have to go. Similarly everyone can go on about Big Sur but frankly unless you are spending all of your time down there/staying there or really, really want to go I think you are amiss in not exploring more of what the actual Peninsula has to offer.

15

You have to eat at Passionfish. Their wine list is at retail cost rather than higher marked up restaurant pricing. Huge bonus, plus they have a very eclectic list of wines from all over the major growing areas of the world.

Casanova in Carmel by the Sea is a must stop as their list is more a book than a list.

On the bar side of things, one of the best spots is the Sunset Lounge inside the Grand Hyatt Carmel Highlands resort. Incredible views while sipping handcrafted cocktails or wines by the glass. Or grab a bottle from the wine book with about any wine you’d ever want domestically or internationally. For a beachier feel, the bar at the Inn at Spanish Bay is always fun. Really good mixed cocktails and wines by the glass. You can also ask for a wine list with about any wine in the world you want. You can enjoy some drinks at their outside lounge area with fire pits and all. A cool bonus too if you’re there at sunset to watch the Scottish bagpiper play alongside the gold course.

Talbott Vineyards has a tasting room in Carmel by the Sea as does Wrath, Albatross Ridge and Hahn. You can always call Pisoni Vineyards and ask if they can do a tasting for you out at their property, but that may be hard to facilitate. It’d be worth it to ask as they are the Grand Cru site in that area.

Your best bet for scenery, food and an expansive wine list for $$ is by far Nepenthe down in Big Sur. Love, love, love this place.
Your best bet for scenery, food and an expansive wine list for $$$$ is by far Sierra Mar at the Post Ranch Inn down in Big Sur. If you have the money, go here. You’ll never forget it…