Thank you again to all the readers who stuck with me this week!
It’s been a long ride through Monterey County. The wine trails between Carmel-by-the-Sea, the Carmel Valley, River Road, and the Salinas Valley wine are well established with over 60 places to sit and enjoy your favorite glass of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Wine changes with every vintage however, and the big names of today may not be the cream of the crop tomorrow. This list could be very different in a few years. If you hadn’t noticed, the scores for several wineries were quite close (it’s always a tight race in the SLH AVA). All the more reason to make a return visit!
To recap:
#1 Talbott Vineyards – World-class Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that are hands down the best in the AVA. WARNING only their reserves (Diamond T, Sarah Case, Audrey, and RFT) are worthy of this ranking. The bottles they distribute to your grocery shelf (Sleepy Hollow, Logan, or Kali Hart) fall well short of the mark.
#2 Rombi Wines – A real hidden gem off the beaten path. Sal makes three wines (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petite Sirah), and all are above the mark, and an absolute must-try.
#3 Albatross Ridge Vineyard –If I were a betting man, I would place my money on Albatross to dethrone Talbott Vineyards in a few years. They know what they’re doing, and make a killer Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that seem to get better with every vintage. I am closely following these guys and will be sure to make a return visit myself.
#4 Wrath Wines – They take risks and make some pretty special wines. They also have an excellent showcase of classic SLH AVA Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and their Carmel-by-the-Sea tasting room is right next to The Cheese Shop. How can you beat that?
#5 Silvestri Vineyards – Not only is there a fantastic aura wine in the air, but there is also Alan’s award-winning music. Tell me: where else can you use two dramatically different senses to experience a creator’s unique passions? Enough said.
Remember that in the Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are king, and to be on this list, each winery must have an outstanding offering that is head and shoulders above the rest. And trust me, almost everyone out here offers *some* Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Monterey County has so much to offer! So after you go visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium, go explore the well-established wine trails, buy some wine, and make some memories.
