2022 Dawn’s Dream, Pinot Noir Rosé

Unlike Jack, whose family had already been involved in Carmel Valley agriculture for several generations, Dawn had to start her wine education from the ground up to understand all of the nuances of this complicated industry and the winemaking process itself. With her background in finance, she jumped right in to help Jack manage his books, but she also joined him at sales events and in the winery. She wanted to learn it all! It didn’t take long for Dawn to “dream up” a new brand that would allow her to combine her love of wine with another one of her passions, volunteering. 

Giving Back

Dawn’s Dream wines do more than just fulfill the dreams of sippers in search of approachable California wines. A significant portion of the winery’s sales goes to supporting nonprofits that help local and global charities that assist women and girls, as well as those focused on mental health resources. In fact, this is one of the reasons people seek out these boutique wines. 

Each year, Dawn works with her team to choose one charity to donate not just a portion of their proceeds but also their time and, in some cases, products. The winery has also been known to donate the use of their wine-tasting room for the nonprofit’s special events. This could mean board meetings (to which Dawn will also donate wine) or fundraising events. She has even been known to donate a stay in the Galante’s apartment in Carmel for charity auctions and include fundraising calls to action in her wine club newsletter.

The Carmel, California Tasting Room

The Dawn’s Dream tasting room in downtown Carmel is known for two things besides great wine! This tasting room is one of the most dog-friendly wine-tasting rooms in Carmel-by-the-Sea, and it’s also one of the most playful. When you visit, and you see the large bronze soaking tub in front of a pastoral muriel, you’ll understand why.

A visit to the Dawn’s Dream Tasting Room isn’t complete without hopping into that tub with a glass of wine for a quick photo!

In addition to this lovely rosé that was crafted by winemaker Greg Vita, who is also the head winemaker for Galante Family Wines, visitors to the tasting room can enjoy Dawn’s Dream Riesling, Roussanne, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, and several Pinot Noirs.  

Santa Lucia Highlands AVA

Much of the fruit used in Dawn’s wines come from the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, which is part of the broader Monterey AVA. Grapes in this region are grown on the east-facing terraces of the Santa Lucia Mountains and benefit from the cool, coastal influence of Monterey Bay. The first commercially planted grapes took root in 1973, and the region became a recognized AVA in 1991.

Known mostly for its ability to produce intense, richly layered Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the Santa Lucia Highlands is a favorite of producers like Siduri, Calera, Roar, and, of course, Dawn’s Dream. Bud break typically happens in late February through mid-March, and grapes are harvested between September and October.