Foley Family Wines Announces Carmel Plaza Site for Monterey County’s Oldest Vineyard
Santa Rosa, Calif., October 12, 2023 – Foley Family Wines (FFW) is pleased to announce Chalone Vineyard will open a new Central California tasting room in Carmel-by-the-Sea on November 20, 2023. Located in Carmel Plaza at Ocean Avenue and Mission Street on the ground floor, the tasting room will open in the space formerly occupied by Hahn Family Wines. The original Chalone Vineyard tasting room in Soledad, CA, closed earlier this year as the search began for an upscale location that would reflect the quality of the luxury label. Chalone Vineyard was founded over 60 years ago and acquired by FFW in 2015.
“We are thrilled to open a new Chalone Vineyard tasting room in Carmel,” noted Courtney Foley, Second Generation Vintner. “This location and community will reflect the sense of place, quality, and history that inspired my father, Bill Foley, to purchase Chalone. We look forward to sharing the story of these special vineyards and unique wines with Carmel locals and visitors.”
The hospitality center will feature Chalone Vineyard’s portfolio of wines from the Chalone AVA in Monterey County, known primarily for its exceptional Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Winemaker Greg Freeman also crafts Pinot Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Syrah, Grenache, Rosé of Grenache, a GSM blend, and Chardonnay Musqué.
All Chalone Vineyard estate wines are grown and bottled at the estate, the oldest producing vineyard in Monterey County. The vineyard is in the Gavilan Mountain Range at the base of Chalone Peak, which inspired its name. “Chalone” is derived from the Indigenous Costanoan Native American tribe, the Chalone, or Chollen. Chalone gained notoriety for its 1974 Chardonnay’s top three placement in the Judgement of Paris tasting in 1976 and first place win in the 1978 San Francisco recreation of the Paris Tasting.
A resident of Carmel, Winemaker Greg Freeman’s wine industry career includes over 20 years of Monterey County winemaking. “Carmel is my home, and the tasting room’s location has significance to me since my wine career fittingly started at Hahn,” Freeman said. “The first wine that motivated my career was a bottle of Chateau St. Jean that my parents loved – a brand now part of Foley Family Wines’ luxury wine portfolio. I feel fortunate to have access to amazing historical vineyards, the support, and resources of a respected wine company, and now the perfect local community space to showcase these wines in.”
The Chalone Vineyard tasting room will be open to the public Mon-Sat 10-6 and Sun 11-5, with unique experiences and pricing for wine club members. For more information, visit Chalone – The oldest producing vineyard in Monterey County (chalonevineyard.com).
About Foley Family Wines
Established by Bill Foley in 1996, Foley Family Wines is a portfolio of highly acclaimed wines and spirits from some of the world’s greatest estates. The company owns more than 24 wineries and a distillery, each with its distinct style, legacy, and approach to hospitality. FFW has expanded its portfolio significantly since its founding, with acquisitions that include Chalk Hill Estate Winery, Sebastiani, Roth, and Lancaster in Sonoma; Merus and Foley Johnson in Napa Valley; Lincourt, Firestone, and Foley Estates in Southern California; Four Graces in Oregon; and Three Rivers in Washington. In 2023, the company began operating Minden Mill Distilling in Nevada. In 2022, FFW acquired Silverado Vineyards in Napa Valley; in 2021, it acquired Sonoma County’s Chateau St. Jean; and in 2020, it purchased Ferrari-Carano in Dry Creek Valley. The portfolio also includes wineries in France, Argentina, and New Zealand. In addition, the Foley Food & Wine Society offers members a luxury lifestyle community that celebrates culinary experiences, entertainment and travel in the United States, New Zealand, France, and Argentina.
