Last winter, I began to share my passion for Central Coast wines with our brand-new neighbors. They knew a lot about Napa wines and French wines, but not so much about our local wines. We began in Carmel Valley and had planned a trip down the River Road Wine Trail. And then COVID-19 happened – trip postponed indefinitely. After a while, those new friends became our COVID Wine Pod. We started to replace trips to wineries with occasional wine sharing in our back yards, socially distant. What have you been doing to keep up your skills, practice your craft?
In the past year, we managed a couple of single winery, outdoor visits, ones at which we could be assured to be just about the only ones there.
We “test-drove” Parsonage’s early indoors procedures 
A solo tasting at Bernardus, March 2021
As we round the curve on COVID and start to get our vaccines, I’ve managed to set up a few, very isolated tastings – and we finally did that River Road Wine Trail trip one year later, despite the rains and ensuing mud. These neighbors I mentioned have become our new best friends.
River Road Wine Trail, March 2021 
Socially distant in Carmel Valley, December 
The “Better Half” of our COVID Wine POD
In the coming posts, I’ll be highlighting some of our and my wine tasting experiences in recent weeks in Carmel Valley Village a d down the River Road Wine Trail, with reviews of many of the wines we tasted. (Some will require a revisit for proper reviews…) It can be a lot in a single post, even by winery, so I am still working out the format.
As things open up and we get vaccines under our belt, I’d like to start getting back out exploring wines. And this is where I need your help! If you’ve been with my blog from the beginning, you’re pretty familiar with my repertoire of wineries. Yet I bet my local readers know of some wineries I may not have tried or have even heard of. New tasting rooms have opened, some wineries relocated their tasting rooms, while others await final licenses.
I’m asking you today to comment on this blog to tell me what Central Coast wineries are your favorites or ones I should go explore. Perhaps you’ve had a great experience somewhere or know about a new winery or winemaker. There is so much to continue to explore in Monterey County (my primary focus), and I have gone as far as Hollister and Paso Robles for limited tastings. As the pandemic winds down, I will venture a bit further from home. So where shall we go?
Please leave me a comment!!
Central Coast Sharon
Getting to know you guys, and sharing good wine, has been one of the few bright spots of the last year. As we emerge from the cocoon, I definitely want to try Caraccioli. I was highly recommended by a winery employee in Paso.
Reading your blog Sharon has been a bright spot during this cocoon year. I was dreaming of all the wines I would be tasting if not….. and then Hahn opened their River road tasting room for their spring release just last week so we had a fun outing down the trail. No 2020 Pinot though all lost to the smoke.
And AWS has kept me engaged with preparing for Zoom events. I would like to ask you if you might be interested in hosting an event ?
Sure, Jacqueline! Be glad to. Doing a Washington Wine & Cheese Seminar in June of Ian Brand wines! Let’s talk format!
I enjoy sitting by the kitchen window and watching the Sonoma Carneros vines spring to life, sipping a 2019 Kirkland California Cabernet Sauvignon, (8.99). When the pandamnic leaves town, I’ll motor over to Andretti, Coppola, or Louis Martini for a generous pour of their most luscious Cabernet. Cheers!
And a tasting on our own patio or in the valley awaits you down here. Plan to spend a night!