March 2, 2021 – Have you seen the sign? Scratch is on the move. Folks in Carmel Valley Village will notice a new addition to the sign board at the old dairy barn that used to house Testarossa. It looks like it’s been scratched by a rather hungry bear. Or maybe a determined flock of chickens.
As has been the case for the last decade or so, musical chairs is very much the game of the day when it comes to winery tasting rooms. We’ve seen many migrations. Some are expansions of domain—like Albatross Ridge and Windy Oaks—establishing two points of contact. Others are just a wish to be in a place that better suits their business model or development continuum at the time. Silvestri built a beautiful space in Carmel Valley Village only to head west. Dawn’s Dream followed. And in came Ian Brand and Village Wine and Tap Room. Ever ebb and flow in the universe.
In the case of Scratch, it was time for an expansion. Scratch GM and winemaker, Sabrine Rodems, tells us, that after a few years of being in the adorable but tiny art gallery in downtown Carmel, it was time to go where the outdoor action is and that is undoubtedly Carmel Valley Village—where outdoor space is all of a sudden the most important asset a winery tasting room can possess.
How different a decade is. When tasting rooms became all the rage in Carmel-by-the-Sea, that’s where everyone wanted to be. And then, the Village started to rally supporters, attracting brands there. Inevitably, the Sea called some villagers to her sandy shores. It is ever thus. Visitors seek different locales depending on mood. Either place is viable and valid.
And so, if all goes according to plan, and approvals are granted, Scratch will officially open its Carmel Valley Tasting Room Opening this Friday March 5th. It will be a soft opening, with a Grand Opening to follow, hopefully, after the county begins permitting indoor tasting.
Hours are to be determined, and will change seasonally, but will likely be similar to the Carmel hours, and will generally track with those kept by neighboring Joyce. Get ready for a different vibe in the Scratch space. Says Rodems, “I’m planning on creating a really lounge-y feeling outdoors, with velvet couches, low velvet side chairs, bar stools, low tables. Something very comfortable, fairly upscale, but not too fancy. After all, the tasting room is really an old barn!” She has some really cool bar stools, all in a fetching shade of royal blue to match the Valley’s skies.
The new Scratch tasting room is at 1 East Carmel Valley Road.
In other tasting room news, Miguel Lepe of Lepe Cellars will take over the former Scratch space in Carmel, after some renovations, and the usual formalities regarding ABC postings. That should be sometime in April. More on that later.
And Sante Arcangeli is once again set to expand, with John Benedetti getting set to open his second tasting room location in Pescadero sometime this spring. He’ll be partnering up with Harley Farms Goat Dairy for a unique wine and cheese tasting experience. He says his tasting room is already licensed there, and will be an adjunct to his Aptos location. No date was given for opening at the idyllic location, where there will be outdoor tables for picnics and general enjoyment of the beautiful surroundings.
About the author
Laura Ness is a longtime wine journalist, columnist and judge who contributes regularly to Edible Monterey Bay, Spirited, WineOh.Tv, Los Gatos Magazine and Wine Industry Network, and a variety of consumer publications. Her passion is telling stories about the intriguing characters who inhabit the fascinating world of wine and food.
