River Road Wine Trail

The best wine tasing experience. Of course, I had never been to a wine tasting before and this was a great introduction to it. I found out which wines I favor and which ones I can easily pass on.
We attended the River Road Valentine’s Day Wine Trail event and it was the best. Plenty of wineries with amazing views (from some). If you are looking for a great wine tasting at a cheap price, I would check out this event particular event next year but check out their calendar because they might have more sooner.
Cheers

Being a «local» means appreciating all that our area has to offer, which, is A LOT when it comes to wine. I love Pinot, so this is written in honor of the wineries who do Pinot right. The best of the best, in my opinion, is Pessagno, Wrath and Pariso Vineyards. Most of the wine tasting on River Road is friendly, professional, and yummy. I hope that this area doesn’t become another Napa Valley fiasco, with snobby attitudes, overpriced wines, and tooo many people. For now, enjoy a local treasure on River Road.

The Amy Winehouse memorial wine tour. Amy we’re toasting to you with reverence and wishes for a peaceful existence. We decided today was a fitting day to raise several glasses to you by exploring the RRWT. The trail is still young like you. Some may think it has much growing up to do but we love it as a infanta. The innocence and lack of frills is reminiscent
of early Napa and Sonoma. Our favorite was Ventana with it’s barrels housed in a 100 year old barn. I was intriguiged by their mistral wine because this valley like Provence has similiar mistral gusts which stir up the roadside dust. Wear your bonnet and sunglasses.

Only problem is that many of the wineries aren’t open during the week except for in summer, but it would be so hot then. We were there first Thursday in May but the two wineries we hit were spot on with lovely wine
and staff.
Pessagno had a large tasting room and friendly Robin pouring. I agree with Shiho F., the Zin is stellar.
Wrath had a beautiful tasting room looking out on a lovely pond and I really enjoyed their whites.
Also, you can hit La Plaza Bakery in Gonzales for 2 buck tacos for a delicious lunch.
Because so few wineries were open, we only tasted at 2 then drove to Carmel Valley via Arroyo Secco. It was a beautiful drive, and it gives you a nice break and still time to have one or two more tastings at a winery in Carmel Valley Village.
I look forward to coming back when I can visit more wineries.

RRWT is definitely still a hidden gem. I’d hurry up and enjoy it before it gets as popular as Carmel Valley Road’s «Wine Trail» or either of Paso Robles’s «Wine Trails» 46 East or West.
Marilyn Remark, Hahn, Wrath formerly San Saba, Pessagno (killer Zin), Scheid, Manzoni, Boekenoogen, Paraiso (solid Pinot Noir), Ray Francioni Wines are just a few of the several wineries out there.

The best wine tasting in California — not overcrowded and ruined by huge busloads of tourists!
The wines are excellent from an area known as the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, one of the world’s premier wine-​growing regions. The micro climates along the Salinas Valley — made world famous by Nobel Prize winning author John Steinbeck — allow for a wide variety of wine grapes to be grown.
The area is also known as the «Salad Bowl of the World» so be prepared to enjoy the best produce around. I recommend bringing a picnic lunch to enjoy at Hahn Estates for the best view of the Valley from the deck of the tasting room — you can even see the the Pinnacles National Monument.
Buy a bottle of their award-​winning wine, kick-​back and enjoy! This is the best back-​roads drive ever — even without the wine! I’d give it 6 stars if that were a rating!