"Wine in a Western Movie: Welcome to... " a Carmel Valley Travel Page by Lhenne1

The fires came close in the summer of 2008, but thankfully Carmel Valley went largely unscathed. Hiking, horseback riding, scenic drives and bike trips are gorgeous in this area. A drive up Laureles Grad offers panoramic views of the valley. Hike through Garland Ranch and see what Carmel Valley was like when it was filled with even more farms and ranches. Make a reservation at one of the many stables and get to know the land from the back of a horse.

Carmel Valley Center is a little town in the middle of all the natural splendor. Many of the buildings are old and have an old West charm to them. As you pass by the ranches and vineyards, you can almost see John Wayne coming through the field to welcome you. But if that's not enough "Western film" for you, Clint Eastwood lives nearby.

Carmel Valley is the place to go for wine tasting if you're visiting the Monterey Peninsula. The tasting rooms and vineyards are so plentiful that you can't hit them all in one visit.

A few of my favorites:
Parsonage (my #1)
Joullian Vineyards
Chateau Sinnet

Visit http://www.mtycounty.com/pgs-wine/car-valley-wine.html for a list of more. A drive through Carmel Village will show you how plentiful the vino is here!