We will be driving from Napa to Orange County (attending a tradeshow) in early March, and I’m wondering if anyone has favorite wineries they like to visit between San Francisco and Paso.
Years ago we visited Ridge Monte Bello and the Big Basin and Cinnabar tasting rooms in Saratoga. We are open to revisiting but are looking for something new. We know Paso pretty well (and South of Paso), so no need for Paso recommendations unless something new and fabulous has opened since Covid started.
Bonus points for a great Italian restaurant in Napa to carb-load for a race. Who has the best pasta in Napa?
I was going to post this in travel, but I always get the most suggestions in Wine Talk. Feel free to move this post if there is an issue.
Pisoni (if you’re a mailing list member).
I got the tour from the legend Gary himself, and it was probably the most memorable wine tour I’ve EVER had.
Just absolute madness. Jesus Christ. Not fit for print here.
That and Saxum. Justin and Don are just the nicest guys ever too.
Ian Brand and family out in Carmel Valley
Calera and Eden Rift out in Cienega Valley - you can take HWY 25 south as well which is a great drive to get back to 101.
Chalone Vineyard is also a fun drive off HWY 101
I live in Napa. I’d say Oenotri is the most reliable pasta purveyor in town. Bistro Don Giovanni does a good job as well. They’re on 29 just five-ten minutes north out of town. Not a bad detour.
There’s so many great wineries to visit in Paso. Hitting up Tin City gives you access to many of them.
If I were making the same trip I think the one place I would go out of my way to visit would be Mount Eden.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is worth a diversion if you’ve yet to go there - a trip in itself, but worth stopping by for lunch since it’s on the way. Several great restaurants with good wine lists. Many Santa Lucia Highland wineries are located in Carmel as well (and Carmel Valley) given that there’s ton more foot traffic on the Monterey peninsula than in the Salinas valley. (Windy Oaks from the Santa Cruz Mountains are there too). From Carmel you can cross over on the 68, then take the 101 south to Paso Robles (which will drop you off in downtown). The 68 to 101 route will take you by Pisoni and other wineries (like Wrath - which also has a tasting room in Carmel).
Alternatively you could do some tastings in Carmel, head south on the PCH then have a later lunch around Big Sur at Nepenthe (which has an excellent wine list) and simply enjoy the view while driving down to Cambria then taking the 46 over to Paso. This would honestly be my recommendation (especially if you’ve yet to drive the Pacific Coast Highway!). There’s many wonderful wines between the Santa Cruz Mountains and Paso Robles, but outside of Carmel and Carmel Valley, they’re going to be quite spread out. If you’re already driving quite a few miles, you might enjoy exploring and tasting more when you can get out of the car for a while and take an extended break.
We love Paso! We’ve been visiting almost every year for the last 10 years. We’re looking to mix things up a little bit this year since we’ll only have 2 1/2 days between Napa and OC.
We’ll probably still stop there for a tasting or two.
Santa Cruz has a variety of wine tasting options depending on your preferences- Birichino, Storrs, Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyards and many others. Even more down in Corralitos such as Windy Oaks. Big Basin will be opening a tasting room downtown in the near future. McHenry is also a great tasting.
We have been to Carmel and surrounding area, but it’s been awhile. It’s beautiful, and we are definitely considering this as an option. Big Sur is one of my favorite places, and I don’t think I can be that close and not drive through. We may even stay in Big Sur for one night or Cambria. I think we’re going to wing it and decide as we go.
I second the Birichino and SCM Vineyards in Santa Cruz. Sante Arcangeli in Aptos is excellent. And so is I Brand in Carmel Valley.
McHenry in Bonny Doon is brilliant but the winery burned down in the CZU fire and they are working on plans for a rebuild. But the good news is that their vines were mostly spared and they are currently making wine over at Beauregard so there will be a new chapter.
Thanks! Santa Cruz is on the list. I’ve never been. I’m not familiar with the wineries (tasting rooms), so I need to do some research. I did see that Sante Adairius opened a tasting room downtown. We love their beer.
Sure thing. I’m a local winemaker in the Santa Cruz Mountains so feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions or would like to be pointed or connected to particular wineries.