Just off Carmel Valley Road, across the street from the Carmel Valley Art Center, lie the eclectic gardens, tasting room, gift shop and experience of Georis Winery.

Walking through the metal sculpted gates, visitors are instantly immersed in the gentle tranquility and peaceful air of the place. The gardens invite exploration with their brick-lined paths, bubbling fountains, koi pond, flowers and aviary. Tables made of inlaid tile, along with chairs for relaxing, exotic plants and trees make this a delight for the senses. The restaurant next door shares the winery grounds; it is also owned by the Georis family, who own a number of restaurants in the Carmel area.

The structure is an authentic adobe, built in the 1930s using the clay soil on the property; it now plays host to the Georis wines and their distinctive gift bazaar. Inside the low-ceilinged structure is a warren of rooms crammed with ethnic gift items from Spain, Mexico, Greece and other exotic locales.

There is a great collection of old corkscrews, a wine library, a CD collection of classic surf music (the owner created the soundtrack to the movie Endless Summer), Latin American religious artifacts, a Buddha statue, Mexican death masks, “luminarias,” hand-woven woolen vests, and much more.

The wines are produced in the winery located in the nearby Cachagua area, which is located in the mountains between Greenfield and Carmel. Georis’ flagship wine is their Estate Merlot, and they round out their production with Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and some exceptional white and red blends.