Folktale Winery & Vineyards

Folktale Winery & Vineyards sits on 15 acres of sustainably farmed vineyards and gardens along the Carmel River at 8940 Carmel Valley Road. The property began in 1982 as Chateau Julien Wine Estate, founded by Bob and Patti Brower after trips to Bordeaux. In 1996 the estate expanded onto the adjoining parcel and built a 10,000 square foot barrel hall holding over 2,000 barrels. Local winemaker Gregory Ahn acquired the property in 2015 and renamed it Folktale, after the idea that every bottle of wine holds a story. The five-acre vineyard at the winery is farmed organically by hand, with owl boxes and raptor perches installed to manage ground squirrels and gophers. Estate vineyards extend to over 300 acres in the Arroyo Seco AVA of Monterey County, across the Santa Lucia Mountains. Winemaking centers on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in a brighter style that follows the county's cool climate and rocky soils. The Le Mistral label, founded in 1992, covers Rhone varietals shaped by Pacific breezes. Visitors taste in the Wine Garden, where live music plays daily and concerts and workshops fill the calendar alongside seasonal gatherings. Tasting Table listed Folktale among its wineries to visit in 2023, noting the wine garden and a shop called Folktale Provisions.