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Christy on the Vine

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Local Recommendations, Monterey Wine Country, Wine Travel · July 11, 2022

Summer Live Music at Carmel Plaza

Christy holds a glass of wine will standing in Carmel Plaza shopping center.

Did you know Carmel Plaza has live music, food and wine on Fridays for their Summer Live Music series?

Every Friday night in July, Carmel Plaza has a live local band performing, along with wine from a local winery and food from a local restaurant. (Full disclosure: this experience was provided to me at no cost, but all opinions and reviews are my own.)

A glass of Wrath Pinot Noir and spaghetti and meat balls from The Forge restaurant.

I went to check it out on Friday July 8. Fast Times, a local 80s-90s cover band, was performing and Wrath Wines was the featured winery with bites from The Forge Restaurant.

Bottles of Wrath Wine on display at Carmel Plaza Summer Live Music.

I had a glass of the Pommard 4/777 Pinot Noir, the EX Syrah and Spaghetti with a giant meatball. It was fun to take in the live music and all of the energy, the plaza was packed!

Food for sale from The Forge.

The event itself is free to attend and food and beverage package is available for $25 which includes includes two drink tickets, one food ticket, a raffle ticket.

Each week also features a non-profit partner and this week it was  Meals on Wheels Salinas and Meals on Wheels Monterey. $5 from each food and beverage package purchased goes to the featured non-profit partner.

Summer Live Music at Carmel Plaza.

Summer Live Music 2022 Lineup per Carmel Plaza Website:

July 15th:  Music by Red Beans and Rice, bites from Links Club and sips of wine from Blair Estate Winery benefiting All In Monterey.

July 22nd: Music by Everyday People, enjoy bites from Café Carmel & Wild Fish Restaurant and sips of wine from Lepe Cellars benefiting Harmony at Home.

July 29th: Music by Chicano All Stars, enjoy bites from Alvarado Street Brewery & Bistro and sips of beer and wine from Alvarado Street Brewery and Scheid Winery benefitting Kindness Monterey.

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Wine and food pairings with a full a cooking demon Wine and food pairings with a full a cooking demonstration? Yes, please! I love the opportunity to learn, and at the inaugural @atasteofmonterey signature event we learned all about cooking paella from their executive chef @chefbrucefinch while sipping on @lepecellars wine. 

We spent the afternoon at Lepe Cellar’s Marina winery listening to live music, dinning on hors d’oeuvres, sampling Lepe Cellar wines, and watching Chef Bruce prairie a giant dish of Paella. After watching the paella cook for almost two hours, I certainly worked up an appetite. 

It was almost like a wine and food field trip, as A Taste of Monterey’s usually holds their events at their Cannery Row location in Monterey. 

Thanks for hosting us Lepe Cellars and A Taste of Monterey! We look forward to your next event and can’t wait to see where you’ll host it. 

#wineandfoodpairing #cookingdemo
Didn’t think I’d be wearing a cap and gown again, Didn’t think I’d be wearing a cap and gown again, but I graduated with my Associates of Science in Wine Studies from Cabrillo College! 

I didn’t initially plan on getting a degree. It started in 2021 when @fannys.wine.bliss posted on stories about an upcoming wine class at Cabrillo College. I just finished my WSET II earlier in the year, and was hungry to learn more, and I thought that looks interesting maybe I’ll take a class… and now 5 years later here we are!

Thank you to everyone who followed my journey over the years! I couldn’t have done this without you. A special thank you to Fanny, as I wouldn’t have know about the program without her. My instructor and head of the program @deborahparkerwong I learned to much from her. My Advisor Motoko for all her hard work making sure my classes counted. And of course Sean and my mom for their ongoing support!

Here’s to what comes next, but in the meantime I’m going to enjoy not having any homework.
@pasowinefest was a blast! Thank you @justinwine f @pasowinefest was a blast! Thank you @justinwine for hosting me in Paso this weekend. I had an incredible time trying different wines from across Paso Robles 11 sub appellations. 

While Paso is best known for its bold reds, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, a festival is a great opportunity to try new-to-you wines and producers. Sine it was in the 80s I decided it was a great opportunity to focus on trying different White and Rosè wines. 

If you want to learn more about the wines and wineries of Paso, the Paso Wine Fest Grand Tasting is a chance to try multiple producers in one place, especially ones that are new to you. 

Can’t wait for next year! #winepairings #winefestival #pasowine
The @slhwine Sun, Wind & Wine Festival is a practi The @slhwine Sun, Wind & Wine Festival is a practically a masterclass in tasting through the terroir of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. 

What other walk-around tasting can you compare multiple single-vineyard Pinot Noirs from the same producer, or even wines sourced from the same vineyard but made by different winemakers? 

While it’s impossible to taste through all of the wines and small bites at the festival, these are nine of my favorite sips and bites. Thanks again SLH Wine for the invite.
How are you celebrating @pasorobleswinemonth? If y How are you celebrating @pasorobleswinemonth? If you haven’t been to Paso Robles, you’re missing out- especially if you’re a fan of big, bold red wines #PRWMpartner. 

Thanks to its warmer climate grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel thrive in Paso Wine Country. 

That’s not all that grows in Paso, though. With 11 sub-AVAs, each with unique terroir and microclimates, there’s many different varieties including Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, and Albariño Also a growing number of producers have started making sparkling wine. 

So take some time this month to celebrate all things @pasowine and try some new to you producers. 

Thank you @pasoroblescab for the Cabernet Sauvignon and the Sauvignon Blanc. I look forward to trying them. #pasorobleswinemonth #prwm
May is @pasorobleswinemonth and what better way to May is @pasorobleswinemonth and what better way to celebrate one of my favorite California wine region than with a cheese spread and a selection of wines from Paso Robles? #PRWMpartner

If you’re not familiar with Paso Robles Wine Country, you’re missing out! Located about half-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco in San Luis Obispo County, this region is best known bold red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon as well as Rhone style blends. However with 11 sub AVAs, each with unique terroir, there’s many different varieties of wines to explore in Paso Robles wine country. 

Thanks to the @pasoroblescab I will be celebrating Paso Wine Month in stye with the following wines:

🍷 @serialwines 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabs are what Paso is known best for and this one was excellent. Serial is one of my favorite Paso Robles wineries. I’ve been to their tasting room in downtown Paso twice and have enjoyed all of the wines I’ve tasted. Especially their different Cabernet Sauvignons. 

🍷 @roberthallwinery Regenerative 2025 Sauvignon Blanc
Robert Hall winery is a leader in regenerative organic farming in Paso Robles, and one of only six Regenerative Organic Certified wineries in Paso Robles? 

🍷 @highcampwines 2023 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
High Camp is another Paso Winery I really enjoy. I haven’t had a chance to visit their tasting room yet, but I enjoyed their wines at last year’s Paso Wine Fest. 

🍷 @vinylvineyards 2024 Self Titled Wine
A blend of Cab, Petit Verdot and Malbec, this wine really showcases the bold reds that Paso Wine country is known for. 

🍷 @ancientpeaks 2022 Merlot
Merlot is another bold red that excels in Paso Robles warmer climate. While I often see it included in Bordeaux style blends from Paso Robles, I don’t always see it bottled on its own. I’m looking forward to trying it. 

When I used to live in Los Angeles, we would often take a three day weekend trip to Paso Robles to explore the wineries. Now, living in Monterey, I’m lucky enough to live much closer. I look forward to exploring new-to-me wines during Paso Wine Month. Cheers to celebrating all things Paso Wine! #pasorobleswinemonth
@lallagrill Promenade is about to become Marina’s @lallagrill Promenade is about to become Marina’s new hot spot. The latest addition to the Lalla Family of restaurants had their soft launch over the weekend, in preparation of their May 6, 2026 grand opening, and we were lucky enough to attend.

They have a great cocktail list, and their entrees were fantastic. We both went with steak, and I’ve never seen so many french fries with a steak frites entree. I was in heaven. 

If you’re looking for an upscale dinning experience in Marina, look no further than Lalla Grill Promenade. It’s worth the drive from Monterey and Carmel. 

Thank you for hosting us Lalla Grill Promenade, we can’t wait to come back. 

#montereybay #restaurantrecommendation
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I’m Christy, a wine blogger based in Monterey wine country who loves exploring California’s diverse wine-growing regions and telling the stories of the wineries I visit.

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