One immediately feels there is something special about this tasting room located in Monterey’s popular Cannery Row. It is a storefront tasting room but resides in the classy north end of Cannery Row across the street from the well-known Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa. The spacious, marble bar presents a comfortable tasting venue and along with their décor, successfully conveys both the history and hip-ness of this can’t miss location.

John and James Cotta started producing wine under their Las Viñas label since 1986 and later changed the name to Baywood Cellars in 1997. With John Cotta as winemaker and James Cotta as vineyard manager, they produced wine from their family’s extensive Lodi, Creston and Monterey vineyards. Their Portuguese heritage provides all the know-how for making great wine. Virtually all there production is sold at the tasting room and wine club, so buy what you want while visiting.

The wine list is impressive. For whites they produce Chardonnay, Pinto Grigio, Gewürztraminer, Rosetta and their specialty Symphony. For reds try their Pinto Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, or Malbec. Also nice is their late harvest Symphony and their 1997 vintage port.