These top Carmel Valley wineries in Monterey County are along the beautiful Carmel Valley Road. No trip to Carmel or Monterey is complete without a visit to one or more of these small wineries.
Besides wine tasting, there are many other enjoyable activities to do in the town of Carmel and the Monterey area. Whatever your interest, Carmel offers something for everyone, even kids. Always check the winery website for information tasting appointments, hours, and picnicking
Top Carmel Valley wineries to visit
- Massa Estate – 100 percent certified organic, dry-farmed vineyards
- Joullian Vineyards – Delicious estate reds, three styles of Chardonnay
- Bernardus Winery – Wines made in the Bordeaux style
- Holman Ranch – Estate wines and olive oil
Dining and Lodging Recommendations
Winery Descriptions, Driving Directions, Tasting Room Hours
Massa Estate
There is much to like about this winery. For starters, the winery’s 120 acres of vineyards are dry-farmed and certified as 100 percent organic. The tasting room is quaint and the servers are friendly and unpretentious. There are some very unusual sculptures around the gardens that are worth viewing. There is a small shaded picnic area that is a perfect spot for lunch. If you are picnicking here, try a glass of their delicious Merlot Rose. This wine is dry and crisp. It is ideal for an afternoon picnic lunch.
Joullian Vineyards
After Heller Estate, immediately watch for Village Road and turn right and look for the Joullian Vineyards tasting room. This winery produces 12,000 cases per year with Chardonnay equaling about half of their case production. They make three unique and very tasty Chardonnays. The first is a blend of grapes from five different vineyards in Monterey County. The second and third Chardonnays are single vineyard wines, one from Arroyo Seco AVA and one from Santa Lucia AVA, both in the Monterey Country. The winery also makes a delightful Sauvignon Blanc and estate reds, Merlot, Zinfandel, and Cabernet. All of these wines are from the Cachagua region of Carmel Valley.
Bernardus Winery and Vineyard
Just past the Village on the left is the Barnardus tasting room. The wines featured by this winery are made in a Bordeaux style. The owner, Ben Pon is a Dutchman whose goal is to makes wines patterned after the famous Bordeaux region of France. The winery obtains its grapes from various vineyards in Monterey County but its flagship wine, Marinus, is estate grown in the Cachagua wine region of Carmel Valley. Marinus is a highly rated Bordeaux style wine that is 75% Cabernet blended, 20% Merlot, with Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc added to the blend.
Holman Ranch Vineyards
Continue along Carmel Valley Road another mile from Bernardus Winery. The Holman Ranch Vineyards tasting room showcases the estate wines of Holman Ranch which includes Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Rose of Pinot Noir. Extra virgin olive oil produced from fruits of estate Tuscan trees is also available for tasting and purchase.