About
For such a small community, Trinidad has a lot to offer in the way of fun. That local fun includes Moonstone Crossing, a winery where the owners make their own wine to share in a tasting room and where you’ll find exceptional outdoor seating to sit, sip, and relax.
Tucked back slightly away from the main road, we found our way to this tasting room for a relaxing afternoon recently. One of my favorites during the tasting turned out to be the Brut Rose, and another being the Russian River Valley Pinot. Each time we go back, though, we discover a new wine to take home with us.
If you’re unsure which wines to choose for your tasting, you can let the owners know what preferences you have, and they will be glad to make recommendations. You can also come back again and again like we do.
About
Moonstone Crossing is an award-winning winery located in the heart of the town of Trinidad. Don Bremm and Sharon Hanks are the owners and winemakers and are usually at the tasting room in-person. Don completed the building that now houses the winery back in 2005 but didn’t open the tasting room until 2009.
While the winery specializes in the more hearty, full-bodied red varietals, they also offer a small selection of whites, roses, red blends, and ports. To make their wine, they rely only on select grapes from small vineyards, including those in Napa, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Amador. They also make just small quantities at a time, using the traditional-style techniques of winemaking.
For the red wines, Breem and Hanks age them in French and American oak for up to 36 months before bottling. Once bottled, they age for another six months before being released.
Hours for the winery include:
- Summer/Fall: (June-Dec) – open daily, noon until 6:00 p.m.
- Winter (Jan-May) – Wed 2-6 p.m., Thursday 4-7 p.m., and Fri-Sun 12-6 p.m.
Location & Environment
The winery is located at 1000 Moonstone Cross Rd, Trinidad, CA. It is a hidden gem found up a small driveway, making it uneasy to spot right away. However, you should see their sign long before you see their front door.
In the Tasting Room, you can enjoy the display of art by local artists as you select and taste the various wines. This display changes regularly, providing new exhibitions usually every 8-12 weeks. Also, for sale here are shirts and caps with the Moonstone Crossing logo, along with local crafts, pottery, jewelry, and lotions.
The outdoor seating area is by far our favorite spot in Trinidad. This spacious area provides a refreshing break from everything else, providing fresh sea breezes from the ocean less than a quarter-mile away and just the right combination of sights and sounds. Nearby you can find a few restaurants to saunter over to afterward.
How Does the Wine Tasting Work
For the wine tasting, you’ll have your choice among up to 40 varietals and some unique blends at any given time. Once again, if you’re not sure which wines to include, ask for recommendations.
Tasting Fees are as follows:
- 2 samples = $5 (waived with purchase of one bottle of wine)
- 4 samples = $10 (waived with purchase of two bottles of wine)
- 6 samples - $15 (waived with the purchase of three bottles of wine)
If you would like to buy a full bottle and sip on it in the outdoor seating area, there is a hospitality fee – first glass is $5 and each additional glass is $3.
You might also like to take advantage of the 10% discount when purchasing 12 or more bottles of wine (between 1 or 2 people max).
Expansive Wine Menu
Moonstone Crossing has an expansive wine menu to choose from. Options usually include white wines, roses, red varietals, red blends, and ports, but it is best to check the menu on the day of your tasting to see what is available.
White Wines
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Pinot Gris
- Chardonnay (Gold Medal winner! Humboldt County Fair)
- Viognier
- Riesling (dry or sweet)
Roses
- Rose of Syrah
- Brut Rose of Pinot Noir (sparkling)
- Brut Rose of Nebbiolo (sparking)
Red Varietals
- Cabernet sauvignon
- Sangiovese
- Barbera
- Cabernet franc
- Syrah
- Petit Sirah
- Merlot
- Zinfandel
- Old Vine Zinfandel
- Carignane
- Nebbiolo
- Aglianico
- Pinotage
Red Blends
- Pinot Noir
- Rhone-style
- Bordeaux-style
- Super Tuscan-style
Ports
- Chardonnay (crisp, smooth, lightly-oaked)
- Zinfandel
- Souzao