Self Guided - Carmel Wine Walk by-the-Sea - De Tierra Vineyard, Wrath Tasting Room, Scheid Tasting Room

The following wine rooms on the Carmel Wine Walk by-the-Sea Passport are listed as #2, #3, and #4 on the street map. This map is also shown at the end of this post.

(#2) De Tierra Vineyard 

Mission between 5th and 6th

Open Tuesday - Thursday 2pm-7pm

Friday - Sunday 12pm - 8pm

831/622-9704

In the mid 1990's Tom and Carol Russell began looking for the perfect property to build an artisan winery as well as a home.  They found this in a 20-acre plot of land in Corral de Tierra on the Monterey Peninsula midway between the Santa Lucia Highlands and Carmel Valley. 

With the climate in Corral de Tierra perfect for growing grapes and the volume of wine that could be produced on their land enough to support a small winery, De Tierra Vineyards was born.

Owner, winemaker and vintner, Tom Russell uses sustainable practices (SIP) to grow four 100% organic varietals on the Russell Estate Vineyard which is also entirely run on solar energy. 

The vineyard is SIP Certified. SIP stands for Sustainability in Practice, a unique certification that goes beyond just being “green.” A  SIP Certified vineyard, farms in a way that protects both natural and human resources. 

Dog friendly De Tierra tasting room is located on the north side of Ocean Avenue on the ground floor of a brick and stucco building.  $10 for a flight of four pours and $15 for a flight of six.

(#3) Wrath Tasting Room 

First Floor Carmel Plaza 

Ocean and Junipero
Hours Monday - Saturday 10am to 6pm
Sunday 11am to 5pm
831/620-1909

Located on the ground floor of the Carmel Plaza (Ocean and Junipero) just across from the Fountain and Woof is 

Wrath Tasting Room. Wrath Co-owner, Michael Thomas came to wine-making by way of the world of academia. With a PhD in Classical Art and Archaeology, Michael spent fifteen years excavating sights and living in Italy.  It was during that time he also developed his passion for wine.

In 2007, the Thomas family purchased San Saba Vineyards, in the Santa Lucia Highlands and “set out to dramatically change the estate’s wine and viticulture.”   They worked with Steve McIntyre to become SIP Certified, developing a sustainable program specific to their vineyards unique conditions.     

The Thomas family believes that sustainable growing will enable them to produce wines that are more authentic and specific to the terroir ( French for land) of their vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands.  Early indications suggest they are right, as Wrath’s first two vintages have received over twenty 90-point scores.

Now in their seventh year of production Wrath produces site specific Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Sauvignon Blanc from their sustainable estate vineyard and other properties in the Santa Lucia Highlands. 

The tasting room is also available for private events of up to 100 people or a custom tasting experience can be designed for couples or small groups. 

Purchase a bottle of Wrath wine then go next door to The Cheese Shop for food fixings before taking a self-guided walking tour down Ocean Avenue to Carmel Beach to watch the waves while enjoying your picnic.

(#4) Scheid Tasting Room 

San Carlos and 7th
Open Daily from 12pm to 6pm
831/ 656 - 9463

It is said, a great wine begins in the vineyard.  Al Scheid knew this to be true, which is why in 1971 he purchased acreage in Monterey County based on the advice of Professor A. J. Winkler of the University of California at Davis.  Winkler, a professor of Viticulture and Enology (the cultivation of grapes and science of wine making) determined Monterey County comparable to Napa, Sonoma, Burgundy and Bordeaux.

Scheid also believed that in order to grow the highest quality wine grapes one had to adhere to the three E’s of sustainability; environmentally sound practices, social Equity, and Economic viability.  Scheid, another SIP Certified vineyard, now has ten estate vineyards (over 5,000 acres) located along a 70-mile spread of the Salinas Valley where they grow their 38 different varietals.

Why the screwtops?  After doing their homework, Scheid reached two important conclusions: First screw cap closures were never negative in terms of wine quality and were often positive and second, no matter what efforts were undertaken, TCA (2,4,6-trichloranisole) would probably infect a certain percentage of cork closure wines forever.  

The decision to use screwcaps wasn't that they are cheaper to buy, or easier to produce, or even prettier.  The "Knights of the Schied Table" took an oath of honor in 2009 and pledged to go 100% screwcap, why? Because the Knights determined that they were “just better.  And at the end of the day, isn't that what matters most?” 

Scheid tasting room is located one block south of Ocean Avenue at the entrance to Bell Tower Court at San Carlos and 7th.

Currently, they offer three different wine tasting flights: the Estate Flight $10 per person, waved with purchase of 2 bottles, Reserve Pinot Noir Flight $20 per person, waved with a purchase of 4 bottles, Reserve Mixed Flight $20 per person, waved with purchase of 4 bottles.

Voted Best Tasting Room by the Carmel Pine Cone in 2013, Scheid tasting room in Carmel can also be reserved for different venues.  They can accommodate a maximum of 40 guests for a reception style gathering, 30 guests for a sit-down dinner, or 26 guests in a classroom setting. 

Info on Carmel Wine Walk by-the-Sea Passport
Part Two Manzoni Cellars, Blair Estate, & Shale Canyon
Part Three Dawn's Dream, Silvestri Vineyards, & Vino Napoli
Part Four Figge Cellars, Caraccioli Cellars, & Galante Vineyard