Just off Highway 68 is a historic complex of rock-walled buildings built on the side of a hill; this is the home of Ventana Vineyards’ tasting room. The ivy-covered rock walls provide an old-world charm to the place, which was originally built in the early 1920s.

Surrounded by beautiful pine and oak trees, the Ventana patio is splashed with color and fragrance. There is bench seating, and tables surround an open-top fireplace, creating the ultimate cozy experience. Within the historic Stone House, the cozy tasting bar and gift boutique is especially appealing. One wall is covered with hundreds of award ribbons from their 32-year winemaking history.

The newer portion of the building is an additional luxurious room with a hand-carved Burmese thirteen-and-a-half-foot grape-motif table, elegant draperies and a Parisian tapestry. Porcelains rest atop the curio cabinet. The room is finished off with groupings of family and vineyard photographs and large-format wine bottles.

The history at Ventana has been to constantly perfect and experiment with the challenges of growing grapes in a cool climate. Some of the innovations are close vine spacing and split-canopy trellising. These methods protect vines from the wind, as well opening the fruit to sunlight and greater air circulation. Wines are handmade and estate-bottled. The chardonnays are made in a fruit-forward style, with oak used as an accompaniment to the fruit, and not overpowering the natural flavors of the wine.

The vineyard and winery is located on the west side of the Salinas Valley, where the Arroyo Seco River flows out of the Santa Lucia Mountains. The winery grows and produces Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Sangiovese, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Grenache Noir.