300+ guest capacity
This venue can host 300+ guests
About this vendor
Dates Available! Discounts through March 2025
Folktale Winery & Vineyards is a romantic wedding venue in the heart of Carmel Valley, CA, providing nearlyweds with an exclusive and unique experience. This idyllic location offers couples a large selection of ceremony and reception sites, each boasting its own picturesque backdrop. With mountains and vineyards filling the horizon, Folktale Winery & Vineyards creates a fairytale-like atmosphere, perfect for that magical celebration. This breathtaking venue site was founded in 1982 as Chateau Julien Wine Estate. As it expanded over the years, a new estate residence and a 10,000-square-foot barrel hall were constructed. Gregory Ahn acquired the property in 2015, becoming Folktale Winery & Vineyards, built upon the inspiration that every bottle of wine holds its own story. The venue now offers nearlyweds the opportunity to create their own story within these walls and share their love with their nearest and dearest. The five acres of vineyard across the land boast 100% organically grown, hand-farmed produce.
From intimate gatherings to grand affairs, the dedicated in-house team takes pride in creating an experience tailored to each unique group. Each event space has its own aura and narrative, offering nearlyweds the opportunity to choose one that best suits their dreams and needs. The Rose Vineyard is an open, grassy field With the Santa Lucia Mountains and luscious vines surrounding the space. This location is ideal for a romantic picnic, memorable ceremony, or grand dining. This outdoor area can be coupled with the adjacent Barrel Room, allowing newlyweds to host an indoor-outdoor event. A cobblestone pathway and secluded courtyard lead to a dramatic set of double doors and the incredible site beyond. This dreamy area is lined by over 500 wine barrels stacked from floor to ceiling, creating a stunning, picturesque environment. Complete with glamorous chandeliers, warm lighting, and a sparkling sky of string lights above, The Barrel Room is truly a sight to behold. Various other event spaces are available to accommodate more intimate gatherings, from private rooms and The Greenhouse to the Wine Gardens and expansive vineyards; couples are welcome to explore these endless possibilities and find the site of their dreams.
Pricing details
Starting prices
Reception:
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Ceremony:
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Bar services:
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Catering:
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Starting prices don't include service fees, taxes, gratuity, and rental fees. Guest count and seasonality may also affect prices.
Amenities + details
Ceremony Area
Covered Outdoors Space
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Dressing Room
Business Attributes
- Asian-owned Business
- Woman-owned Business
Ceremony Types
- Civil Union
- Commitment Ceremony
- Elopement
- Interfaith Ceremony
- Non-Religious Ceremony
- Religious Ceremony
Guest Capacity
- 300+
Settings
- Backyard
- Ballroom
- Barn
- Farm & Ranch
- Brewery & Distillery
- Castle
Venue Service Offerings
- Bar & Drinks
- Cakes & Desserts
- Destination Weddings
- Food & Catering
- Planning
- Se Habla Español
Reviews
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4
out of 5.03 reviews
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As a wedding coordinator, I have had the pleasure of working with Folktale Winery & Vineyards on several occasions, and I can confidently say that it is one of the most enchanting venues for weddings. Located in the heart of the picturesque Carmel Valley, this vineyard offers a stunning backdrop of lush vineyards, beautifully landscaped gardens, and a charming rustic ambiance that is perfect for both intimate and grand celebrations.
Venue Appeal:
The winery's picturesque landscapes provide ample opportunities for breathtaking ceremony and reception locations. The outdoor spaces, particularly the lush terrace overlooking the vineyards, create a romantic atmosphere that couples dream of. The indoor spaces are just as inviting, featuring elegant decor that complements the natural beauty of the surroundings.
Customer Service:
The staff at Folktale Winery is exceptional. From the initial planning stages to the day of the event, their team is incredibly accommodating, responsive, and detail-oriented. They work seamlessly with vendors and are dedicated to ensuring that every aspect of the wedding goes smoothly. The personal touch they provide enhances the overall experience for couples and their guests.
Catering and Beverages:
Folktale Winery offers a fantastic selection of wines that can be paired perfectly with their catering options. The on-site catering team takes pride in creating delicious, locally-sourced dishes that cater to various tastes and dietary restrictions. The ability to create custom menus in partnership with the wines adds a unique touch to the wedding experience.
Conclusion:
Overall, Folktale Winery & Vineyards stands out as a premier wedding venue that combines natural beauty, exceptional service, and outstanding culinary offerings. Couples looking to create a memorable wedding experience should definitely consider this enchanting location. As a wedding coordinator, my experience has been consistently positive, and I highly recommend Folktale Winery to anyone looking to host their special day in a stunning vineyard setting.
As someone who never writes a negative review, I did feel I need to here for future brides. My experience at folktale was not at all what I expected upon contracting. To disclaim, the food and wine are phenomenal, the venue itself is absolutely gorgeous and in a great area, however, the events staff, Erika and Sarah (predominately Erika), are some of the worst staff I worked with in my wedding planning experience. While they were direct (which is appreciated), they were unkind (which is off-putting in the industry as a bride), so short in writing and never trying to provide a solution to an issue but rather always saying no, and unwilling to talk on the phone are just the tip of the issues I had. At multiple points, they tried to go back on things previously agreed upon and/or in contract and made wedding planning so much more stressful than it needed to be. I had to repeat myself multiple times on multiple items and it caused such a sour taste in my mouth. Staff on wedding day also yelled, yes, yelled, at my dad when he was getting an item out of the kitchen after the ceremony (this was previously discussed and he was given permission to do so). Regardless of if he was allowed in there or not, staff should never raise their voice at a guest and should rather kindly redirect them and ask if they are looking for something. I hope for the venue's sake they put their staff in training and improve, I was hopeful for a much better experience.
I absolutely loved Folktale Winery & Vineyards. It was the perfect place for us to have our intimate and romantic wedding. We had our reception in the Greenhouse and the Gallery. It was such a beautiful and memorable space. We worked with Christian throughout the year and she and the rest of the Folktale team executed an amazing evening that my friends and family continue to rave about! We are from Texas, so finding other vendors was a little difficult but she helped make recommendations and even reached out to the ones we picked to help coordinate for the day of. The culinary team is outstanding! We had beef, chicken, and salmon dishes that were excellent. Cooked perfectly! They even allowed us to stray from the set dessert menu and made us chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches to help make it more personal. Christian also sent a bottle of wine for the holidays, which is so very thoughtful! We were so pleased with every little thing and we couldn't have asked for more!
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Contact
8940 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel, CA
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Meet the team
Erika Breitkopf
Director of Events
Erika’s career began in the dynamic world of Hollywood nightlife and fine dining, where she worked for some of the biggest names in the industry, including Crustacean Restaurant Group, SBE Nightlife, CHAYA Restaurant Group, and The District. Her work allowed her to rub shoulders with celebrities like Channing Tatum, Magic Johnson, VP Nominee Tim Kaine, Emmitt Smith, and many others.Interestingly, Erika’s educational background initially focused on psychology, driven by her dream of becoming a criminal profiler for the FBI. However, she found her true passion in the events industry at an early age and shifted her focus entirely to building her career in event planning.After spending several years in Los Angeles and then four in Maryland, Erika returned to her hometown of Monterey. She brought a Mini Schnauzer named Hanz, and together, theyembarked on a new chapter.Outside of her career, Erika is a passionate entertainer who enjoys throwing parties for friends. Erika’s interests also extend to fashion and design, and she has a fondness for beingin nature, foraging for local delicacies such as elderberries, ramps, and herbs. Additionally, she dabbles in holistic medicine, adding depth to her diverse interests and talents.
Erika was drawn to Folktale because of its stunning location and commitment to sustainability. She appreciates the owners’ dedication to their employees, the community, and the environment. With Folktale, she found a company that balances its size and personalization for clients, making it an ideal fit for her.Our venue options leverage the natural beauty of Monterey County and align perfectly with Erika’s event planning expertise. The use of local, fresh ingredients and a diverseselection of wines cater to a wide range of tastes and budgets, making it a perfect platform for her passion and expertise in the event planning industry.
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Erika Breitkopf
DIRECTOR OF EVENTS
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Folktale Winery & Vineyards
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