CARMEL, CA Inspired by the culinary bounty of California’s Central Coast, Holman Ranch Tasting Room, located at 19 E. Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village, is working Edible Monterey Bay to invite local culinary chefs and artisans to demonstrate how wine can be best complemented with fresh culinary products found throughout the Central Coast.
The “In Your Backyard” series brought to you by Edible Monterey Bay and Holman Ranch will have chefs and artisans sharing their tips and techniques for finding the perfect, fresh ingredients for preparing truly memorable meals, side dishes as well as understanding flavor pairings. From paella to cheese tastings, the series will showcase local experts knowledgeable on everything from how to select the best meats to creating savory pastries with ingredients from the local Farmers Market.
Each demonstration will offer recommendations for the best wine to pair with the featured culinary item.
Here is a sneak peak at our first quarter classes:
In Your Backyard 2014 Class Schedule:
· January 23rd at 6:00 PM — Tony Baker, Montrio Bistro and Bakers Bacon, Bacon Demonstration and Tasting
Chef Tony will be doing a cooking demo on how to make Braised Baker’s Bacon, smoked Bacon Peanut Butter, Pickled Apples and Chicharrones. He will touch on cooking techniques such as Braising, Roasting, Dehydrating and Frying. Each guest will get a sample of his bacon dish and a recipe card to take home. This was the dish Chef Tony prepared at Pebble Beach Food and Wine this year. Delicious!
· February 27th at 6:00 PM — Elena Salsedo from Sweet Elenas will teach the art of making the perfect sweet and savory morsels and what wines complement her delights. She will focus on cooking with products from the Farmers’ Market.
· March 27th, 6:00 PM – Chef Brandon Miller, Mundaka, National Paella Day
Every cuisine has one – a one-pot meal, a peasant dish that is the quintessential definition of that place and the people. Louisiana has jambalaya. Chile has the cazuela. There’s Irish Stew and Pad Thai. And the Spanish? Well, they have Paella. March 27th is National Paella Day so let Chef Brandon take you on a culinary journey through Spain and teach you the tips and secrets of how to make traditional Spanish Paella. Sip Holman Ranch wine, learn how to make Paella and take home a recipe card so that you can create this dish for your family and friends.
· April 29th, 6:00 PM – Schoch Family Farmstead Cheese Class
Spend an evening with Schoch Family Farmstead in an intimate class discovering and savoring seasonal, artisanal cheeses that they make on their farmstead in Monterey County. Explore the world of cheese making and pairing by tasting Schoch Family Farmstead cheeses with Holman Ranch wines.
Beau Schoch will delve into the story behind each cheese, as well as give practical advice about selecting, serving, pairing, and more!
· May 20th, 6:00 PM – Quail and Olive
Learn what makes one olive oil different from another and what distinguishes extra-virgin from virgin, pure, olive oil, pomace, and others. We will teach you what you need to look for! Similarly, we will dispel the myths surrounding “balsamic” vinegar, a category that is almost entirely misunderstood.
· June 18th, 6:00 PM — John Cox from Post Ranch and Alan Lovewell with Local Catch. Spend the evening with Chef John Cox and Alan Lovewell with Local Catch. John Cox is the executive chef at the highly acclaimed Sierra Mar restaurant at Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, Calif. Chef Cox believes in blending bold, primal flavors along with fresh, locally sourced ingredients and his passion can be experienced each night at Sierra Mar.
Alan Lovewell – Co-founder and Manager. Alan grew up on the small island of Martha’s Vineyard. Surrounded by water he quickly learned to swim, dive, sail and fish for fun and for work. Stories of the wild and expansive Pacific brought Alan to Santa Cruz in 2000 to pursue an undergraduate degree at UCSC. After graduating, he headed south to teach sailing on the Sea of Cortez with the National Outdoor Leadership School. He returned a couple years later to study Marine Policy at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. Alan has spent time working with The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International in Indonesia. Most recently he was a Sea Grant Fellow with The West Coast Governors Alliance for Ocean Health at NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center and Southwest Fisheries Science Center. Alan develops new strategies, programs, and partnerships that keep oceans, people and stomachs happy.
Reservations are required for all classes and cost for each event is $25 per person. Classes are $10 for wine club members. This includes the class, wine tasting, small bites, and meeting, learning and sampling from a local artisan. A portion of the class proceeds will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. To make reservations call 831-659-2640 or email info@holmanranch.com.
Holman Ranch’s Carmel Valley Village Tasting Room is the perfect backdrop to swirl, sip and savor the different complexities of Holman Ranch Vineyard and Winery wines while learning about the culinary bounty available in your own backyard. The tasting room is open daily from 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and is available for private events.
About Holman Ranch Vineyard and Winery:
Located at the north eastern tip of the Carmel Valley Appellation, the family-owned Holman Ranch resides approximately 12 miles inland from the Pacific Coast. Immersed in history and romance, the ranch has not only proven to be an excellent growing location for our vineyards but also for the Tuscan varietal olive trees which have flourished under the temperate climate. Holman Ranch estate-grown wine varietals are planted on approximately 19 acres of undulating terrain. The wines produced are unfined and crafted to deliver the true varietal of the grape from harvest to bottle. The climate and terroir of the appellation has played a critical part in the success of their wines. The warmth of the inland valley coupled with the cooling marine layer has proven to be an ideal microclimate for the production of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. The vineyards’ Burgundy Clones have thrived from the perfect blend of ideal climate, southern exposure and thin rocky soils.
The estate wines of Holman Ranch include: Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Rosé of Pinot Noir. Carefully hand-harvested, cold pressed and bottled, the Extra Virgin Olive Oil produced from the fruits of our trees has a delightfully distinctive flavor.
Holman Ranch: Where the Past is Always Present. Tucked away in the rolling hills of Carmel Valley, historic Holman Ranch provides a unique and memorable setting for weddings, special events, family gatherings, corporate retreats, and team-building events. With its charming gardens, stunning mountain views and serenity, this private estate affords old-world charm while providing modern day conveniences. This stunning property includes a fully restored stone hacienda, overnight guest rooms, vineyards, olive grove, horse stables and more.
About Edible Monterey Bay
Founded in 2011, Edible Monterey Bay produces a beautiful quarterly magazine and weekly email newsletter celebrating the local food cultures of Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties, season by season. It also promotes local and sustainable regional food cultures through outstanding food and wine-themed events. For more information, go to www.ediblemontereybay.com or call (831) 298-7117.
