Boutique Wines & Family Vibes at Boete Winery

Looking for a home away from home? Look no further than Boete Winery where delicious artisan wines flow freely and good ol' family hospitality is dished out daily.

Boete Winery's quaint tasting room is the first you encounter along scenic Carmel Valley Road. Tucked inside the charming Valley Hills Center, just past Quail Lodge, sits this cozy tasting room that's full of passion and character.
 
This boutique wine operation is a true family affair; even the name of the winery (pronounced bwah-TAY) is rooted in family. Named after winemaker John Saunders' grandparents, Francois and Jeanne Boete, this winery is a testament to the close-knit family.

Don't be surprised if the person behind the tasting counter is a member of the cabernet producing clan. The entire Saunders family plays a role in the business making your tasting experience positively personal. The surroundings alone will make you feel at home, a place where you can kick your feet up on the sun-drenched patio or have a relaxing conversation at the laid-back bar top.
 
The tasting room offers an estate sampling of their three premium wines including a Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Cheval Rouge. All of the grapes are grown at the Saunders family's 7 acre vineyard, just a stone's throw away on the east side of Carmel Valley Road.

This particular area is very similar to France's famed Boudreaux region, ideal for growing cabernet varietals. Let's just say that the family's dedication to their 6,000 grapevines sincerely shows in their flavorful vino. Once you have a taste of these 100% estate-grown wines you will never want to venture off!
 
Special Tip! On the last Thursday of every month, Boete Winery taps into three beloved things: wine, cheese and chocolate. Join them from 5pm-7pm for this delicious trifecta for just $10 per person, what a steal!

Boete Winery's tasting room is located in between the Wagon Wheel and Baja Cantina and is open daily from 12pm-5pm.

Vineyard Safari: Taking it Off-Road with a Hahn ATV Ride

Four-wheel drive, sunshine and wine. If that sounds like a winning combination to you then Hahn Estate has what you have been searching for. Boasting the perfect trifecta for an exhilarating day in the vines with their one-of-a-kind Estate Vineyard ATV Adventure.

The drive to Hahn Vineyards from the Monterey Peninsula alone is a treat; with jaw dropping views of the Santa Lucia Highlands towering above rural vineyards and an eternity of lettuce fields, one could easily mistake this valley for the Garden of Eden. Shortly after hitting River Road off of Highway 68 the skies tend to break free from the cool coastal fog and open up to reveal some much needed sunshine.



Having heard so much about Hahn's four-wheeled safari I decided it was finally time to knock it off my bucket list. My friend and headed to the immaculate winery for a tour we would never forget.

We kicked things off in the tasting room with a bit of history about the 1,200 acre estate, the Santa Lucia Highland appellation and the Hahn family. Before heading out to the ATV our guide Tom assured us that we would be back to sample the fruits of their labor, phew!



Tom took the driver's seat while my friend and I strapped ourselves in the back seat. The ATV was incredibly roomy and can hold up to five guests.



Once we took off it was apparent that this wasn't Tom's first rodeo; we were ripping between rows of grapevines on an ATV, fat tires spewing the dust! We whipped around all sorts of small dirt roads not accessible to the public which was a luxury as the views are absolutely amazing.

 

Not only are there vineyards galore but the estate has some of the best vistas of the entire Salinas Valley and perfectly checkerboarded agriculture fields down below.



The tour has several stops along the way to point out interesting tidbits about their vineyards, which are mainly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay varietals, as well an interesting sound system to keep the deer from grazing upon their vines.



After a thrilling ride through the vineyards we stopped at the winery's main bottling operation and ventured into the exclusive barrel rooms where we learned a bit more about the winemaking process. The barrel rooms in particular were fascinating with hundreds of French oak barrels meticulously placed and labeled; the fresh scent of wine and oak is still fresh in my mind.

 

Tom brought along a sieve and graciously allowed us to sample newly harvested grape juice straight from the barrel, talk about a vine to wine experience!

After the 90 minute escapade we headed back to the tasting room to finally taste what we had learned so much about. Tom gave us a private tasting of their Estate wines, ranging from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir to a Riesling. Having just seen the whole wine process unfold made me much more appreciative of the grape juice from the gods.



Estate Vineyard Tours are offered 1:30pm daily, and also at 10:30 am on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday ($45 per person). The Tasting Room is open 7 days a week, 11am-5pm. Closed on select holidays.

 

Tuscan Cuisine Meets California Cooking at TusCA Ristorante in the Hyatt Regency Monterey

Visualize modern country décor, an expansive wine collection and incredible views of the oldest operating golf course west of the Mississippi; probably not what you envision for a hotel eatery, right? That's because TusCA Ristorante in the Hyatt Regency Monterey is not your average hotel restaurant. This Tuscan treasure is a go-to for many locals and visitors alike looking to get their fix of fresh seafood, authentic pizzas and hearty pastas.

TusCA Ristorante allows you to travel to the heart of Italy's countryside without having to leave Monterey! The contemporary and comfortable design has colorful Tuscan touches including a wine display and an open aired kitchen complete with a pizza oven. Various seating options are available including large tables, great for families, and cozy booths, great for dates!

If for some reason the gorgeous views of the Del Monte Golf Course outside don't impress you then the items on the menu certainly will. Breakfast awakenings include pork carnitas benedicts, roasted apple pancakes and white chocolate French toast while lunch and dinner items include dishes like a chicken caprese panini, cioppino and mushroom pizza.

The best part of all is that TusCA's prides itself on utilizing the best in locally grown seasonal ingredients, from the farm right back to your table. Seafood lovers in particular can rejoice in the expansive offering of sustainable and local options.

For starters, you cannot go wrong with their fresh burrata. A large slab of juicy and creamy mozzarella cheese is paired perfectly with heirloom tomatoes straight from the source.

Calamari is a must in Monterey and TusCA's take does not disappoint. The Tuscan twist is light and crispy thanks to the rice and garbanzo flour, might we add that's it's also gluten-free. The best part of all are the tidbits of lightly fried artichoke hearts and lemon wheels all tossed in a savory lemon vinaigrette, delish!

Lucky for us, Monterey is a leader in the sustainable seafood movement and TusCA's is leading the charge. Their line-caught swordfish is one of the Chef's favorites which is served with sweet citrus segments, tangy fennel and roasted root vegetables tossed in olive oil and thyme; now that is Tuscan and California cuisine for you.

Another seafood favorite are the scallops. Juicy seared sea scallops melt in your mouth and the accompanied carrot risotto and mint pea puree make it almost too pretty to eat. Don't forget to round out your trip to Italy with a sinful dessert like their basil panna cotta, TusCA tiramisu or a simply satisfying gelato.

Need a date idea? A main draw to this Tuscan temptation is their "TusCA for Two" special. For $60, parties of two can indulge in an appetizer, two entrees, a dessert and a glass of wine; now that's value! Really knock off your date's socks and check out the live jazz in the in the adjacent Fireplace Lounge on weekends.

TusCA Ristorante is located 1 Old Golf Course Road in the Hyatt Regency Monterey. The restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.