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| Dave
Muret of Paraiso
Vineyards looking west towards the Lucia Range. This
is la-la land for Pinot Noir, and Caymus Vineyards just bought a
chunk of property next to him! |
The beautiful entrance to Manzoni Estate Vineyards. Found on the northern end of the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation. | Much of our trip was made extra special due to husband & wife wine duo James & Gerre Pickworth. James is GM of Carmel Road Winery, Gerre leads Sales/Marketing at Ventana Vineyards. Seen on the right, they invited us for a sunset drink at Spanish Bay. | The fire pit and wine guards against the approaching chill of night. Spanish Bay is famous for many things, but we just felt lucky to enjoy a view like this. |
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| Another guy who made our trip memorable is cheese uber-lord Mike Burke, GM of the amazing Carmel Cheese Shop. | When 50-degree ocean temp air collides with warm inland air you get fog, which is what blankets the air most of the time. But occasionally you get a view like this on clear days. Carmel Beach. | With heated pools, jacuzzis overlooking the coast, and a wood-burning fireplace in our room, we would stay at the Highlands Inn again and again. | The Highlands Inn was awash in blooming color in May. We could not have chosen a better month to be in Carmel. Of all the Hyatt properties worldwide, this is their #1 site for booking weddings. |
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Grab
some wine, cheese and seafood for grilling and head to the beach.
What a way to live! |
We
bought two wine dinners at Chateau Julien. They converted their
fermentation room into a dessert bar, serving their cream sherry
and ports along with sweets & cheeses. |
It
will take 30 minutes to drive the last 4.5 miles up to Ridge
Winery, but the wines (and the picnic area) are to
die for. |
Looking
southeast in Santa Cruz atop Ridge Winery. Wildflowers keep old
vine zin company. |
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| The
eye-candy award goes to Thomas
Fogarty Winery. |
Had
we not just lunched at Ridge Winery, this grassy mesa rising above
Santa Cruz at Thomas Fogarty would have been ideal. |
At
Mike Burke's house (Carmel Cheese Shop) we taste his viognier while
he shows us his small plot of Chardonnay growing behind his house. |
Mike
is making seven (7) wines at home, all in French oak barrels. He
tastes us through all of them. |
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Typical
view on a perfect day in Monterey. |
Lunch
at Conde Nast Traveler's #7 resort--Bernardus
Lodge--included some grilled artichokes, chilled chardonnay
and bocce. |
Certified
Organic producer Heller
Estate makes some great Cabernet. Tasting Room Manager
Mary Roos displays the biofuel used for machinery in their organic
vineyards. |
Sunset
at Point Lobos state park. |
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Point
Lobos state park is the ideal spot to catch up close viewing of
sea lions, pups, and even whales. |
The
northern view from our room. |
A
group of Seniors from Auburn University's Restaurant Hospitality
program surround wine legend Gary Pisoni. He didn't mind. |
These
chickens had their necks turned that morning and are our lunch now.
Gary Pisoni uses bound parsley to brush them with his marinade. |
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| A day in "Pisoni Land" is one to remember. Incredible "allocated" wines are poured down your throat and 100% of the meal comes from the ranch. His family made the sausages seen here. | Few have ever seen the "inner sanctum" at Pisoni. I am standing towards the rear taking a picture of the dining area where we were treated to a feast. | Gary Pisoni, with wine cherubs, heads out for one of his famous vineyard tours via jeep. | Another amazing visit was to Chalone Vineyards; I'm standing towards the rear of one of their caves here. My docent for the day, Honorio, treated me to a 50-year history perspective on the winery, along with some special wines for tasting. |
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| The late founder of Chalone, Dick Graff, had the labels reflect the Pinnacles National Monument, seen from their property. See the resemblance? | Leaving the Gavilon Range and Chalone, I look southwest towards Arroyo Seco and the warmer regions of Monterey. I've been driving for 30 minutes and haven't seen a soul. What a trip. |
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