Carmel-by-the-Sea was named by a Spanish explorer after the Carmelite friars on his boat in 1602, making it one of the oldest European place names in the United States. Its rise as a fairytale-esque oceanside retreat for artists, writers and those seeking respite from San Francisco began in the early 1900s.
That storybook vacation vibe dominates today, enhanced by cobblestone streets and hidden courtyards. There are 16 tasting rooms scattered amidst the galleries, shops and restaurants. There’s enough to keep you here for the whole weekend, without feeling overwhelmed. There are even more tasting rooms about 20 minutes away in Carmel Valley as well. So if you still have energy and an appetite to enjoy more, click here for our Carmel Valley guide.
Image Courtesy of Albatross Ridge Albatross Ridge
Perched atop a mountain ridge overlooking the Carmel Valley with glimpses of the sea, the wind-whipped, fog-soaked Albatross Ridge Vineyard is a daunting place to grow Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. But the elements result in creating some of the most distinctive wines around.
“The soil is diatomaceous and shale, very similar to Burgundy,” says Toby Rowland Jones, an author and founder/president of the Big Sur Food and Wine Festival who also runs the walking tour and tasting company Carmel Wine and Wandering.
More inviting for the human experience is their tasting room in Carmel-by-the-Sea, where the white rock walls reflect their chalky soils. There’s a bar for active engagement with the staff, or more intimate tables for couples to
This Article was originally published on Wine Enthusiast
