I’ll admit that as I have grown older, many of my habits have changed. Nowadays I get ready for bed the same time that I used hit the town! Gone are the late nights, throwing down shots at the local nightclub. My tastes may have changed since entering motherhood, but I still love to enjoy a glass of good wine. I quickly discovered that some of the local wineries and tasting rooms are family friendly. Here are five of my favorite family friendly wineries. Cheers!
Odonata Winery and Tasting Room
- 645 River Road, Salinas
- Open Friday-Sunday Noon-5pm
- www.odonatawines.com/visit-odonata.html
Odonata South is nestled at the northern edge of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA and the beginning of the River Road Wine Trail. Situated on five acres off River Road, Odonata offers a diverse variety of wines. They include sparkling wines, Chardonnay, Riesling, Rose, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese-16 varieties in all.
They have a small tasting room and a patio area right in front. The tasting room holds a basket of toys and a Ms. Pac Man table top video game from the 80s for the older kids. The patio area includes two swinging benches, a fire pit and some tables and chairs. The owner, Denis Hoey, grew up going wine tasting with his parents. He and his wife have two sons, ages four and five and live in a home right next to the winery.
Pessagno
- 1645 River Road Salinas
- 831-675-9463
- Open Daily 11:00am-5:00pm
- http://pessagnowines.com
Located off of beautiful scenic River Road in Salinas, near the outskirts of Gonzales. Pessagno boasts gorgeous views of acres of vineyards and lush, green fields. They have a large patio area, complete with picnic tables and a pond that kids love! Pack a picnic lunch, sit outside and enjoy a nice glass of Pinot or one of the other flavorful wines in their extensive gallery. There are also meat, cheese, crackers and apple platters available for purchase.
Roadhouse Wine Bar
- 2999 Monterey-Salinas Hwy
- 831-372-1909
- Open Daily 12:00pm-7:00pm
Don’t have time to drive down River Road? Check out Pessagno & Puma Road Wines at the Roadhouse Wine Bar located next to Tarpy’s Roadhouse in Monterey. They have a lovely outdoor patio. A platter of meat, cheese, nuts, crackers, and fruit is available for purchase.
Cowgirl Winery
- 25 Pilot Road Carmel Valley
- 831-298-7030
- www.cowgirlwinery.com
- Open Daily 11:30am-6:00pm. The last call is 15 minutes before closing.
Cowgirl Winery has tons of open space. It offers a beautiful rustic farm-like atmosphere, where you can try your luck feeding free-range chickens! Visitors can practice roping their “barnyard” Bull, compete with friends in corn hole, or show off their bocce ball skills. They offer a seasonal variety gourmet pizzas delivered hot out of a wood burning pizza oven from The Corkscrew Cafe. This pairs perfectly with a glass of their Syrah. Guests are also welcomed to bring a picnic to enjoy in the yard.
Folktale Winery
- 8940 Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel
- 831-293-7500×3
- https://folktalewinery.com
Folktale is our favorite, and my four-year-old son agrees. A gorgeous castle greets you, surrounded by beautiful rose gardens and vineyards. Folktale is committed to sustainable farming practices for all of their wines. The five-acre vineyard at the winery is 100% organically farmed. No outside food is allowed, but food and grape juice are available to purchase. Try a glass of the NV Folktale Brut, sparkling wine with fresh floral and tropical notes, creamsicle, and Meyer Lemon.
Out on the lawn, you can find cornhole, a huge Connect Four, and Jenga games. They have fire pits, picnic tables, chairs and plenty of outdoor space. Paul Rice, their assistant manager, informed me that this summer their dining room will become more popular as they will be serving a full menu and staying open until 9 pm. Entertainment by the fireplace and cozy, rustic couches adorn the inside of the winery. When it is time to call it a day, we pick up my son and drag him out to the car, he has so much fun he doesn’t want to leave!