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Fruit of the gods, wine grapes glistening deep purple in the sun, and the sweet taste of their nectar, are luscious delights to be savored on the Grapevine Express — public transit through Carmel Valley’s fabled wine corridor, with tasting stops at renowned local wineries. All made possible by environmentally efficient buses.
“We have buses running hourly,” says Carl Sedoryk, CEO of the Monterey Salinas Transit System. “Let someone else drive, save wear and tear on your car, take in the breathtaking scenery of Carmel Valley, enjoy the sun away from the fog, and taste the wine.”
The bus route began regular service in May 2006, a joint effort among vintners, the hospitality industry, the Monterey Business Council, and the Monterey County Office of Economic Development.
Buses depart as early as 6:45 a.m. from the Monterey Transit Plaza on Alvarado Street, until 6:10 p.m., and also from the Monterey Conference Center at One Portola Plaza beginning at 11:10 a.m.
Visitors seeking an unhurried, relaxing way to explore Carmel Valley’s rural charms can ride all day for $4.50, $2.25 for seniors or the disabled.
The route includes stops at the Barnyard and Crossroads shopping centers in Carmel, and then proceeds out Carmel Valley Road with visits to Earthbound Farms and Château Julien Winery. Carmel Valley Village, home to five wineries on the itinerary, is the final destination. The approximately 30-mile round trip takes about two hours.
Clustered like the grapes themselves, the wineries in Carmel Valley Village are within easy walking distance of each other, and visitors can set their own leisurely schedule. Buses run hourly all day, so you can stay longer in one spot, tarry at a gourmet eatery, or shop local shops at your own pace.
“This isn’t like a traditional charter tour where you have to follow their schedule,” Sedoryk noted. “With the Grapevine Express, you make your own.”
Carmel Valley is noted for the quality of its wines and the wide variety of grapes that are grown, from the chardonnay of the cooler areas nearer the coast, to the red wine cabernets grown in the sunnier, warmer areas farther inland. A long growing season makes for a big, rich fruit.
Bob Brower, owner of Château Julien, a winery whose main building is a replica of an old château he once visited on the Swiss-French border, said the wineries of the Carmel Valley Corridor have become world famous.
“We make just about every type of wine,” he notes.
Morgan Winery, Rancho Cellars, Boete Winery, Heller Estate, Talbott & Georis, Paradise Wine & Bar, Château Sinnet, Bernardus, Joullian Vineyards, and Parsonage Winery all offer the award-winning achievements of their tasting rooms to arrivals.
The MST buses use biodiesel fuel (derived from processed soybean), which results in lower greenhouse emissions than regular fuels. Plans are in the works to re-convert the system further using fuel from locally grown mustard seed.
“Mustard seed doesn’t have to be irrigated, or shipped in from outside the area,” Sedoryk explained. “It can be grown right here in Monterey County, and it’s a sustainable, clean source. Even the byproduct it leaves behind can be used by organic growers for a pesticide.”
The success of the Grapevine Express has attracted state and national media attention.
“The wineries, the shops and the restaurants all benefit from visitors,” Sedoryk added. “Visitors relax in the country and sample the best wines, food and shopping opportunities. They enjoy it with an environmentally friendly mode of transit. It works for everybody.”
