Above: one of many well stocked shelves at A Taste of Monterey. Click here to visit their website for more information.

Monterey County may not be as well known as some, but the region actually produces the best quality grapes in North America, across a massive 40,000 acres. It has been named by Wine Enthusiast Magazine; one of 2013’s “Top Ten Wine Travel Destinations”.

Wine grapes were first introduced to the area by Franciscan Friars over 200 years ago. But commercial wineries didn’t start flourishing until the 1960’s and today there are about 85 vintners across Monterey County.

Ken-and-Linda

Ken and Linda toast to Monterey’s success

We visited with owners of Taste of Monterey; Robyn and Ken Rauh. At Taste of Monterey, these two work to promote the many brands of Monterey wine through, tastings, special events, and education. They serve world class food from their in house Bistro, which they pair with an excellent wine selection, each having over a dozen years of experience. They’ve even been visited by celebrity chefs like Bobby Flay!

When Linda dropped in to visit with Ken, he told us the secret to Monterey’s unique microclimates, which allow it to produce such amazing wines. The “Blue Grand Canyon”, located in the marina of Monterey Bay, bring fog and moderate temperatures to the areas climate with its cold deep waters. This makes the climate perfect for growing a variety of grape vines.