Odonata is already my favorite wine tasting place in River Rd, very friendly and welcoming must try…read moretheir brut, you can come here and sit and apréciate the beautiful outdoor view ambience is so enjoyable and relaxing. They have variety of wines to choose it won't disappoint you.

Pulled into Odonata Winery in Salinas twenty minutes before closing. Normally, that's the hour when…read moretasting rooms tighten up and smiles fade. Not here. Julia greeted us like it was opening time -- calm, unhurried, fully present. The wines hit different. The sparkling had backbone, the reds carried weight without shouting, and the brandy--smooth but with a quiet burn that reminds you where you are. It's the kind of lineup that could sit comfortably on a Napa shelf, just without the attitude or the markup. There's an honesty to this place. You taste it in the glass and feel it in how they treat you. We left with bottles, a membership, and a few photos Julia snapped -- not posed, just moments. Odonata doesn't perform hospitality. It lives it.

We had the most amazing wine tasting on Saturday! Jorge when above and beyond to give us the best…read moreservice and explain the different wines that they grow. I love the ambience with the wonderful views of the valley. I was telling my friends it's like going all the way to Napa or Sonoma but it's in Soledad! I really liked the cheese and salami that Jorge offered with the crackers they give you the cutest wooden plate with a knife so you can serve/cut yourself. They even have jams! We brought some bottles home and really enjoyed them also. 5 stars and beyond! Wecan't wait to go again!

My party of 4 visited the winery on a Sunday afternoon. The wine host explained that they had a…read moreparty on property for the day and were sold out of a few of their wines. He walked us through our options in terms of tasting for the day and we got started. We tasted through 6 wines and made ourselves a picnic on the deck located outside with a nice view. Our wine educator was friendly and accommodating to our group of 4 that were not tasting the same wines. Overall, my favorite wine I tasted was the 2021 Grenache. CRU specializes in Pinot and Chardonnay which are not my favorite varietals but I would still recommend this winery to anyone in the area looking for a nice spot to enjoy a picnic and good wine.

We stopped by for a few glasses and a charcuterie plate, both were amazing! Sylvia was so nice and…read moretook great care of us. We made sure to order some wine with her before we left :)

Here at Boekenoogen Tasting Room on a rainy day. Lucky for this first, won't be last, timer that…read moretheir inviting patio was closed. Being inside, intimate and personable was the presentation of their wines. Loving the fact that this winery presents each wine glass by glass rather than the full flight all at once. The host was fabulous this day. Tidbits learned of the process and history of Carmel Valley's wines. Eight wines tasted. For one that prefers red, Boekenoogen's "Santa Lucia Highlands Estate 3-Clone Pinot Noir" stood out for me. Surprisingly I was also seduced by their "Stainless" Chardonnay. CHEERS!

This is for Cima Collins's new tasting room in Marina. Suite #6 at the little industrial park in…read moreMarina. The tasting room is relaxed: steel and wood and beautiful art on the walls. When we arrived, the winemaker, Annette Hoff, and her team were just getting some de-stemming what looked to be Pinot Noir grapes and when we were leaving she was cleaning the de-stemmed. This is where the magic happens. The wine was delicious. Jude, our server was a delight. There was optional table seating just outside. No tasting bar. You sit where you want and the tasting room folks ask what you want and bring the bottle(s) to you. Chill. No fuss. Great wine. Love the hours! Open until 7pm Fridays and Saturdays:) We will most definitely be back.

You pay $15 and taste wine from 3 wineries. You can start at any winery you want. Some wineries…read morehave only 3 to taste others have a few options to pick from. Which is good if you want to go wine tasting more than once and keep it interesting. My all time favorite were Sinecure Wines which I believe they do small production. I ended up getting 2 bottles. The nice thing about this place is that they have the outdoor sitting, live music and you can buy by the glass. Marina is a chilly town so bring a nice sweater or coat just in case. All in all it was a great experience! I would definitely recommend for a group of friends or maybe a girls night out. It's every Saturday and I've been meaning to stop by for more Sinecure wine, it has such a smooth taste. I don't taste wine the same anymore after having the GSM from Sinecure. The Tempranillo was also very delicious. Oh and there's also a food booth, they sell tri-tip sandwiches, not sure how much they cost or if they were delicious I was busy drinking. (:

The open air ambiance in the quiet courtyard off the main road was lovely. The interior is…read moreuniquely and nicely decorated with indoor, outdoor and bar seating. Service was fast and friendly. The staff was knowledgeable about the wines and the winemaker. I loved that the winemaker is a woman, but we only loved one of the wines and didn't buy anything unfortunately.

My wife and I love visiting Scratch Wines. Today we were greeted by Maria who remembered us from…read moreprevious visits. She's tended the wine bar for years on and off and is always such a pleasure. The wines are definitely good for the price, and on hot days is an ideal Venus to cool off with a frozé. They have caviar, snacks and just a very open and welcoming atmosphere among the Wine House location in Carmel Valley. Thank you so much for always making ours a welcoming and memorable experience! Highly recommended.

After a very disappointing experience at another winery nearby, Pelio Estate Wines completely saved…read moreour Mother's Day. From the very beginning, everything felt warm and welcoming. The hostess greeted us immediately with a complimentary splash of rosé and walked us to our table right away (no waiting, no confusion, just genuine hospitality!). Within minutes, our server came over and kindly offered us a few wines to try before ordering, which felt like a lovely mini tasting experience. We ended up ordering the Big Basket snacks, a bottle of Chardonnay for the table, drinks for the kids, and of course took a sparkling wine home with us as well. A small detail I especially appreciated: the wine box is simple cardboard without oversized branding or wasteful packaging - practical, elegant, and actually reusable. The atmosphere here is absolutely wonderful: a beautiful courtyard, soft music, charming decorations hanging in the trees, a cute swing, and some of the most gorgeous blooming bushes and landscaping we've seen at a winery. The entire place feels so thoughtfully maintained, peaceful, and inviting. We spent a couple of hours there without even wanting to go anywhere else afterward. We took so many photos and already know we'll definitely be back. Thank you, Holden, and the whole team for turning our day around.

Pelio Estate Wines is one of those rare Carmel Valley treasures that feels both beautifully refined…read moreand deeply rooted in place. Nestled along the rolling hills, the estate has an immediate sense of calm, quiet, elegant, and intentionally intimate. It's the kind of winery where the experience feels carefully curated, yet completely unpretentious. The wines themselves are exceptional. Pelio leans into cool-climate sophistication, producing whites and reds that are wonderfully balanced, expressive, and full of character. Their Pinot Noir is especially noteworthy, bright, layered, and gently complex, with a finish that feels almost coastal in its freshness. The Chardonnay is equally impressive: crisp, clean, and beautifully textured without ever being over-oaked. Every pour reflects thoughtful winemaking and the unique Carmel Valley microclimate. The staff is knowledgeable without being pushy, offering insights into the estate's philosophy, vineyard practices, and terroir with a genuine sense of enthusiasm. The setting, surrounded by vineyards, soft breezes, and sweeping valley views, makes it easy to linger. If you're exploring Carmel Valley's wine scene, Pelio Estate is an absolute must-visit.

Like most of the tasting rooms in Carmel Valley, they abut the main road through town, but unlike…read morethe other tasting rooms we visited once you pass through the gate in the rock wall to the front garden you won't see it. The garden is lovely with several seating areas and cornhole games to play. The tasting room itself is also lovely. We happened to be there for Easter Brunch and sat on the back patio which is equally as lovely. All of the staff were attentive, fast and friendly. We did a wine tasting after the brunch on the front patio and loved all the wine. Would def recommend.

Cute tasting room. Casual. Didn't get the feeling of being pretentious. GENEROUS pours during our…read moretasting which included 5 wines: rose, Chardonnay, 2 Pinots and a Syrah. Our host was attentive but allowed us time to enjoy the wines and chat in between, which I did appreciate. She also explained at the beginning of our tasting that they bring out new glasses for each wine. Therefore, no rush to guzzle our precious glass! Loved that she mentioned this! If you're in the Carmel Valley area, definitely book this place for a tasting!

I had a great time here!! Came here for their Wines & Line Dancing event and that's a pretty good…read morecombo in my opinion! It's a beautiful, open-air winery and they have a good selection of wine to choose from. Bought a couple of bottles because they had a very good sale as well.

My group and I went on a Sunday. There were only 3 people there, yet we waited quite a while until…read morewe were acknowledged. She brought us some menus finally and then we waited. Meanwhile, some more people showed up and went inside. We chose the outside as it was a beautiful day. It seemed like we were waiting quite a long time so I went inside to order our wine. She just handed me the bottle so I took it and poured it for my friends. We enjoyed the outside but we were never visited again to ask if we wanted anything else. I get it. She was alone and it got busy but at least communicate with the guests. We ended up visiting Puma Road Winery and were instantly greeted and treated very well. See my review for Puma.