EIGHTEEN INDIVIDUALS FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA PASS THE ADVANCED SOMMELIER EXAM FROM THE COURT OF MASTER SOMMELIERS

May 11, 2015 by evebushman

Jake Lewis of Momofuku in Toronto Takes Home the Rudd Scholarship

Napa CA —Three days of intense examination culminated with eighteen new names being added to the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas list of individuals who have passed the Advanced Sommelier Exam.

Two women and sixteen men passed the exam, which was held April 7-9 at the Hotel Monaco in Portland, OR. 66 candidates from 14 states and Canada sat for the exam, which is the third in a series of four increasingly challenging tests of knowledge and skill offered by the Court.
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At this level, candidates with a superior understanding of wine theory and beverage service, as well as a highly sophisticated tasting ability, are distinguished from the thousands of wine service professionals who attempt the Court’s exams on a yearly basis.

Of the eighteen passers, one rose to the top as the exam’s highest scorer: Jake Lewis of Momofuku in Toronto, Ontario earned the Rudd Scholarship, which is offered by the Guild of Sommeliers, providing $5,000 in funds toward the coursework needed to prepare for the Masters Exam and an invitation to attend the prestigious Rudd Masters Roundtable in Napa Valley, California.

By the time candidates reach the Advanced Examination, most have already invested years of study, in addition to significant time working in and around the beverage industry. From here, many will set their sights on the Court’s Master Sommelier Diploma Exam, which just 220 individuals worldwide have ever managed to pass.

“We are pleased and honored to welcome these eighteen exceptional professionals to the level of Advanced Sommelier,” said Andy McNamara, Chairman of the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas. “It is a fantastic accomplishment, and they should all be extremely proud of their achievements.”

The complete list of candidates who passed the Advanced Exam in Portland follows:
• Nicholas Barb, The Little Nell Hotel (Aspen, CO )
• Daniel Beedle, Juni Restaurant (New York, NY)
• Ashley Broshious, Brix Restaurant and Gardens (Napa, CA)
• Nick Davis, Canlis (Seattle, WA)
• Kelvin DeBoer, Sidney Frank Importing Co. (Seattle, WA)
• James Deleon, Kroger Company (Houston, TX)
• Christopher Dooley, L’Espalier (Somerville, MA)
• Michael Freeman, Vintner Select (Dayton, OH)
• Brent Jones, Grill 23 (Boston, MA)
• Brandon Kerne, Bar Italia Ristorante (Saint Louis, MO)
• Jake Lewis, Momofuku (Toronto, Ontario)
• Daniel Miller, Del Frisco’s (Fort Worth, TX)
• Anthony Minne, Plum Market (Chicago, IL)
• Nathaniel Munoz, Aubergine at L’Auberge (Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA)
• Paul Ozbirn, Parkside Projects (Austin, TX)
• Steven Robinson, Atelier Restaurant (Ottawa, Ontario)
• Jennifer Schmitt, Everest (Chicago, IL)
• Carl Villeneuve Lepage, Restaurant Toqué! (Montreal, Québec)

ABOUT THE COURT OF MASTER SOMMELIERS
The Court of Master Sommeliers was established in England in 1977 to encourage improved standards of beverage knowledge and service in hotels and restaurants. The first Master Sommelier Diploma Exam to be held in the United States was in 1987. The title Master Sommelier marks the highest recognition of wine and spirits knowledge, beverage service abilities, and professionalism in the hospitality trade. Education was then, and remains today, the Court’s charter.
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There are four stages involved in attaining the top qualifications of Master Sommelier: 1) Introductory Sommelier Course; 2) Certified Sommelier Exam; 3) Advanced Sommelier Course; and 4) Master Sommelier Diploma. There are 140 professionals who have earned the title of Master Sommelier as part of the Americas chapter since the organization’s inception. Of those, 119 are men and 21 are women. There are 220 professionals worldwide who have received the title of Master Sommelier since the first Master Sommelier Diploma Exam. For more information, please visit www.mastersommeliers.org.

Hofsas House Hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea Announces 2 New Packages History Walking Tour and Movie Star Tour

March 5, 2015 by evebushman

CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA—Celebrating more than six decades of European hospitality at the beautiful Bavarian-inspired Hofsas House Hotel, the Theis family proudly announces seven new themed packages to their valued guests. Each has been crafted with the same minute attention to detail generations of guests have come to expect from Hosfas House Hotel and is as unique and charming as Carmel itself All are available year-round:

History Walking Tour

Delight in the special charms of Carmel on a leisurely, fun and informative two-hour guided walk past enchanting Fairy-tale cottages, through secret pathways, hidden courtyards and award-winning gardens. At the end of the tour, you’ll feel like a local. Cost is $25 per person. When booking use promotion code: HHWALKS

Movie Star Tour

Monterey Movie Tours® is a fascinating two-tours-in-one outing featuring both magnificent landscapes and blockbuster scenes from some of the 200 movies filmed across the Monterey Peninsula. It’s your ticket to a star-studded getaway. Relax aboard the multimedia Theater-On-Wheels® – a customized luxury motor coach with high-back seats, overhead video screens and personal headsets. Cost is $ 55 per person. When booking use promotion code: HHSTARS

About Hofsas House:

Owned and operated by the Theis Family, Hofsas House Hotel is within walking distance of everything Carmel has to offer, including a stunning beach, fine restaurants and shops and wine tasting. It provides peaceful respite and European charm just minutes from Monterey, Pebble Beach, Big Sur and Pacific Grove. The Hofsas House’s 38 spacious, one-of-a-kind rooms boast European comfort and lovely views and amenities such as fireplaces, private balconies, wet bars, kitchens and patios.
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Large suites provide the perfect stay for newlyweds and anyone else seeking an extra special getaway. Dutch doors in every room allow guests to welcome in the ocean air, and free WiFi enables them to stay connected — if they want to.

The Hofsas House Hotel family works to ensure every visitor’s experience is special, striving to offer the highest quality personal services. Consider the continental breakfast, abundant with fresh French Roast coffee, tea, juice, fruit and pastries from a neighborhood bakery, or the personalized concierge services for guests and their families, including their four-legged family members, who are welcome as well.

For large groups — wedding parties, company meetings, family reunions and others — Hofsas House Hotel offers a spacious room equipped with a fireplace and full kitchen that can comfortably accommodate 40 people. A heated pool, dry saunas, decks with views and off-street parking are on-site as well.

Hofsas House Hotel is located on San Carlos Street, north of Fourth Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea. For more information, call (831) 624-2745 or visit www.hofsashouse.com

Holman Ranch Launches its Inaugural Sip n Chat Series For 2015 at Holman Ranch Tasting Room

January 18, 2015 by evebushman

CARMEL VALLEY, CA — Do you love wine? Do you love learning new things? What would you think about learning more about wine? Holman Ranch Tasting Room launches its Inaugural Sip n Chat Series for 2015.

Classes are structured to allow each person an opportunity to learn, taste, and enjoy. Holman Ranch will feature a different topic for each class. At each event, every guest will be greeted with glass of wine, enjoy a tasting of three to four additional wines, educational materials, and some light snacks. The class will be taught by a Holman Ranch expert and/or wine educator. At the end of each class, you will be able to order or purchase the featured wines at a 15% discount. Registration is required for each class.

2015 Sip n Chat Dates:

February 26th

o Balance: The Elements of Wine (Components for Making a Premium Wine) acidity, body, fruit, oak, sweetness, tannin

May 21st

o The History of Wine – An hour long journey through the origins of our favorite beverage

September 24th

o From Vine to Glass: Path of wine from the vineyard through production, to bottling

November 12th

o Detecting Flawed Wines – Learn what traits make great wine great and bad wine bad.

Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Location: Holman Ranch Tasting Room 19 E. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley, CA

Reservations are required for all classes and the 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 from a Holman Ranch winemaker. A portion of the class proceeds will benefit the Alzheimer Association. To make reservations call 831-659-2640 or email info@holmanranch.com.

Wine Caves:

The winery at Holman Ranch, located in The Caves, is completely underground in order to take advantage of the natural cooling and humidity held below. The 3000 square foot area maintains a constant temperature of 58˚F-60 ˚F and contains four 750 gallon tanks, four 1200 gallon tanks, and four open top tanks that can hold two tons each. One hundred (100) French oak barrels are maintained year round. Winery operations such as destemming, pressing, fermenting and aging take place within the cool environment of The Caves, while bottling is done directly outside using a mobile bottling line. During harvest, 6 to 8 tons of grapes a day are processed. This may seem low but it is due to the fact that harvesting hours are between 7am to noon on any given day. Grapes are hand picked and loaded into half ton bins, transferred to the winery by tractor and then moved by forklift to the destemmer. White wines take around three weeks to ferment at 50˚F and are bottled in February, while red varietals ferment for two weeks and are bottled in early June. All skins, seeds and stems are composted and returned to the fields. Slow months for our winery are June, July and August with the busiest time being September. The winery will produce 3000-5000 cases annually.

Vineyard & Winery Background:

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.

Our estate-grown wine varietals are planted on approximately 21 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 our wines. The warmth of our inland valley coupled with the cooling marine layer has established itself as an ideal microclimate for the production of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Our Burgundy Clones have thrived from the perfect blend of ideal climate, southern exposure and thin rocky soils.

Holman Ranch Tasting Room:

Holman Ranch’s Carmel Valley tasting room offers the perfect backdrop to swirl, sip and savor the different complexities of Holman Ranch Vineyard and Winery wines. There is something for everyone (4 varietals in fact), from the full-bodied Pinot Noirs to the light, fruity flavors of our Pinot Gris and lightly oaked Chardonnay. Holman Ranch also offers estate grown and bottled Olive Oil available for tasting and purchase at the Tasting Room.

The Tasting Room showcases the estate wines of Holman Ranch which includes our 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 Tuscan trees has a delightful spice followed by a buttery finish.

Three tasting flights of three wines each (White, Mountain and Pinot Noir) are available 7 days a week. The Tasting Room also holds a series of cooking demos called In Your Backyard. For more information, call (831) 659-2640.

Olive Grove:

Holman Ranch has its own distinctive olive grove located on a south facing hill of our vineyard. The grove is comprised of 100 trees with multiple cultivars planted. These cultivars consist of 25 Frantoio, 25 Leccino, 10 Mission, 25 Coratina, 5 Pendolino, and 10 Picholine, all of which were originally planted in 2194 in a Carmel Valley orchard then replanted at Holman Ranch in 2007. These mature olive trees allowed us to produce olive oil right away. They are planted in shale for the best production and harvesting results possible. We harvest our fruit by hand in December, which is then milled, producing a superb, high quality product. Although the Olive Grove is not certified organic, we do employ organic practices when farming our trees. Our mill, however, is certified organic. An interesting fact is that olive trees are alternate bearing, which means that one year they may produce 650, 375ml bottles worth of oil, while next year they may produce only 50, 375ml bottles.

Holman Ranch Background:

Holman Ranch: Where the Past is Always Present. Tucked away in the rolling hills of Carmel Valley, Californian 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. www.holmanranch.com

CARMEL VALLEY WINE EXPERIENCE INCLUDES 9 WINERIES AND TASTING ROOMS ON A 12-MILE SCENIC STRETCH OF CARMEL VALLEY ROAD IN MONTEREY CALIFORNIA

January 15, 2015 by evebushman

CARMEL VALLEY, CA – Compared to the sizeable California wine region in Napa, the Carmel Valley appellation is a mere pinprick on the state’s oenological map. Lacking the notoriety and sheer volume of the famous valley to the north, Carmel Valley has evolved into a destination hot spot of its own — only for different reasons.

California’s 13th oldest appellation (designated in 1983) the Carmel Valley boasts oak-studded hillsides bathed in sunlight, an abundance of open space split by a meandering river, and a charming village with character and characters. With just 300 acres under vine, the Carmel Valley AVA retains its charm and genuineness, deserving consideration from wine lovers who desire a less-hectic, more-hospitable wine tasting destination.

A tour along a 12-mile scenic stretch of Carmel Valley Road in Monterey County reveals wineries, tasting rooms, art galleries, amazing foods and thousands of acres of parkland. Absent is the traffic, crowds and expensive restaurants familiar to massive wine regions that find themselves dog-eared in travel guides. The Carmel Valley Wine Experience is a collective of Carmel Valley tasting rooms that offer resources and insight to travelers as well as unique access and member benefits to visitors that so wish it.

The Carmel Valley Wine Experience highlights the valley’s wine tasting opportunities, while embracing its slow pace of life, leisure activities such as hiking and golf, as well as the boutiques, galleries and bevy of fine restaurants and cafes. The special quality that allows Carmel Valley to transcend the ordinary is evident in the Carmel Valley wineries and tasting rooms. The rugged Carmel Valley begins at the mouth of the Carmel River and the dramatic valley runs in a southeastern direction along the river. Dominated by red Bordeaux varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, as well as Burgundian grapes like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The tasting rooms also feature wines from throughout Monterey County, including the Arroyo Seco and famed Santa Lucia Highlands.

Most of the valley’s tasting rooms are just a short stroll from each other, allowing visitors to take a wine tour on foot. For those who don’t want to drive at all, Monterey-Salinas Transit Bus 24, called the Grapevine Express, stops at many of the wineries. It departs from the Monterey Transit Plaza, located across from the Cooper-Molera Adobe in Old Monterey.

While often lively, Carmel Valley’s tasting rooms provide a warm, personal interaction with tasting hosts and often the winemakers themselves. It’s all part of the Carmel Valley Wine Experience. Drink it all in soon.

Carmel Valley Wine Experience Cellar Pass:

· $50.00 per pass.

· A Cellar Pass gives its holder eight (8) tickets, each ticket good for the opportunity to taste at any member wineries.

· Good for a single standard flight per winery, the holder has 12 months (from purchase) to visit members’ tasting rooms.

· Additional discounts of up to 10% applied to Cellar Pass holder’s purchases.

· The Cellar Pass makes a perfect holiday gift.

· Available online and at www.cvwineexperience.com/purchasepass or at Carmel Valley Wine Experience members tasting rooms.

· Redeem your receipt for your Pass at member wineries – Bernardus or Holman Ranch)

· With your Cellar Pass enjoy complimentary corkage at Will’s Fargo Steakhouse + Bar on member bottles by showing the Cellar Pass.

Carmel Valley Wine Experience Background:

Organized by the Carmel Valley Chamber of Commerce, visit www.cvwineexperience.com to learn more about the collective of tasting rooms that make of the Carmel Valley Wine Experience as well as events, membership and general visitation information. Connect via facebook at /carmelvalleywineexperience.

Wine Experience Members:

Bernardus
5 W Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley, CA 93924
www.bernardus.com | 831-298-8021 | 11am – 5pm, Daily
Chesebro Wines
19 E Carmel Valley Road, Suite D, Carmel Valley, CA 93924
www.chesebrowines.com | 831-659-2125 | 2pm – 6pm, Thurs & Fri : 1pm – 6pm, Sat & Sun
Cima Collina
19 E Carmel Valley Road, Suite A, Carmel Valley, CA 93924
www.cimacollina.com | 831-620-0645 | Noon – 6pm, Daily
Coastview Vineyard
Opening Soon in the Carmel Valley
Holman Ranch
19 E Carmel Valley Road, Suite C, Carmel Valley, CA 93924
www.holmanranch.com | 831-659-2640 | 11am – 6pm, Daily
Idle Hour
9 Del Fino Place, Ste 101 Carmel Valley, CA, 93924
www.idlehourwinery.com | 831-298-7526 | 11am – 5pm, Thurs-Sun
Joullian Vineyards
2 Village Drive, Carmel Valley, CA 93924
www.joullian.com | 831-659-8100 | 11am – 5pm, Daily
Mercy Vineyards
40 W Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley, CA 93924
www.mercywines.com | 831-659-4321 | 1pm – 5pm, Thurs – Sun
Parsonage
19 E Carmel Valley Road, Suite B, Carmel Valley, CA 93924
www.parsonagewine.com | 831-659-7322 | 11am – 5pm, Daily

Contact Info:

Perlis Picks: Wrath Wines

January 3, 2015 by evebushman

Wrath

http://www.wrathwines.com/

After a few days in Sonoma, my wife Karen and I were looking forward to a couple days off from this reporter’s wine writing job on the beautiful Monterey Peninsula. However, I should have known that I’d be longing for some wine sooner rather than later. Limiting myself to one tasting room visit, I actually found the choice pretty easy to make…Wrath!

Contributing Editor Michael Perlis

I’ve tasted and enjoyed the Wrath wines at a few events, most notably the Rhone Rangers Los Angeles tasting in 2013. Wrath didn’t participate in 2014, given the event’s date this year being during harvest [a problem a few of the smaller wineries faced], so I was looking forward to tasting their latest releases.

The Wrath winery is in Soledad, about 40 miles from the Monterey Peninsula. There is a tasting room at the winery, but fortunately, they also have a tasting room in Carmel – for those who know the area it is in the Carmel Plaza right next to the Cheese Shop that has been there seemingly forever.

We sat down with tasting room manager Christopher Whaley and learned a few things about the winery. Although I’ve only been hearing about this winery for a short period of time, it does have a longer history. Planted in the 1970s, it was originally called San Saba Vineyards.

When archaeologist Michael Thomas, son of the founders, took over the operation, he renamed it Wrath [from a line in the Led Zeppelin song “Going to California”]. In its latest vintage, Wrath produces 26 different bottlings totaling only 3500 cases annually of single vineyard designated wine.
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Another 3,000 cases make up their Ex Anima series that feature minimal winemaking intervention and no new oak. [They also provide custom crush services for other wineries at their facility.] Under the direction of winemaker Sabrine Rodems, the winery produces Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Grenache and Syrah. There are plans to release a small amount of Falanghina, an old Italian white grape varietal that I had never heard of. It will be fermented in above ground amphora known as dolia in two different styles – as a traditional white wine and also as an “orange” wine with extended skin contact.

[Note – in addition to being winemaker for Wrath, Sabrine consults for a couple other wineries, using that revenue to produce wine under her own label Scratch. She also created an organization called Wines of Danger, which is a group of very small wineries that has an annual tasting in San Francisco.]

Christopher tasted us through a few of the wines in the tasting room. We tried:

2013 Sauvignon Blanc, Ex Anima, Monterey [Nice fruit, not too much of the acidity that make some SBs hard to drink.]

2012 Chardonnay, Fermata, Monterey [Fermata means “halted” in Italian. Malolactic fermentation was halted at about the halfway point, giving the wine richness but still leaving it with structure.]

2012 Pinot Noir Swan/828, Monterey [20% whole cluster fermentation gave this wine great structure without overpowering the fruit. “Structure” seemed to be a recurring theme here.]

2012 Pinot Noir Tonore Grapefield [To me, this seemed the more old-world of the Pinots, with forest floor notes along with the fruit.]

2011 Grenache “Destruction Level” Arroyo Seco [Absolutely amazing Grenache. Sadly, there was none left to purchase.]

2011 KW Ranch Syrah [Brought me right back to why I loved their wines at Rhone Rangers.]

Next time you are strolling the streets Carmel, be sure to give this winery a try:

Carmel Tasting Room

Open Mon-Sat 11-6PM Sun 11-5PM. Located in Carmel Plaza, downtown Carmel at the corner of Ocean Ave. and Mission St., ground floor. 831.620.1909

Michael Perlis has been pursuing his passion for wine for more than 25 years. He has had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show him the way, as well as a wonderful wife who encourages him and shares his interest. After a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as he possibly could, he had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Now, as Contributing Editor for Eve’s Wine 101, he does his best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers. Michael is also Vice President of Eve Bushman Consulting (fka Eve’s Wine 101 Consulting) http://evebushmanconsulting.com/ and President of MCP Financial. Michael can be contacted at michaelthezinfan@aol.com or michael@evebushmanconsulting.com.

Holman Ranch Vineyards & Winery Estate Wines and Wine Caves Announces The Release of Its New Olive Oil

November 2, 2014 by evebushman

CARMEL VALLEY, CA — The estate wines of Holman Ranch include: Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Rosé of Pinot Noir. Holman Ranch’s 21 acres of vineyards lie between 950 and 1150 feet in elevation. The root stocks and soils are most important in producing excellent fruit from the vineyards.

The surrounding Santa Lucia Mountains are very important to Carmel Valley viticulture. The local hills hold back the marine layer and broad breezes, which is beneficial to producing consistently good fruit. Sedimentary soils, such as, chock rock and Carmel stone also play a major role in wine producing methods by providing good soil drainage. Holman Ranch “stresses the vines” of the fruit with emphasis on reproduction, which in turn, stops growth and ripens fruit. The valley configuration allows for fog in the morning but with it rapidly moving out as the air warms which is great for Pinot Noir grapes. The proximity to the ocean and the elevation are positive characteristics for the vines.

Holman Ranch’s vines are planted 15 degrees off due north which allows for all day sunlight on fruit zone and good protection from breeze. No chemical herbicides or pesticides are used on our fruit and we have received our sustainable and organic certification. Holman Ranch is also 100% estate vineyards and winery.

Holman Ranch’s wines are unfined and crafted to deliver the true varietal of the grape from harvest to table. Purity and passion are key ingredients in the wine-making process, and this is where Holman Ranch truly stands out.

Holman Ranch announces its new Olive Oil

2013 Olive Oil

There will only be 50 cases of Holman Ranch 2013 Olive Oil! With its dark golden color, light grassy aromas and creamy finish with no after taste, Holman Ranch Olive Oil should be a staple in every kitchen! Holman Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil — This flavorful, distinctive oil from our Tuscan varietal olive trees was carefully hand-harvested, cold pressed and bottled. Organic, estate-grown and bottled olive oil from Holman Ranch’s 100 Tuscan varietal olive trees. Size: 375ml (12.6 fl oz) Price: $25

Wine Caves:

Vineyard & Winery Background:

Our estate-grown wine varietals are planted on approximately 21 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 our wines. The warmth of our inland valley coupled with the cooling marine layer has established itself as an ideal microclimate for the production of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Our Burgundy Clones have thrived from the perfect blend of ideal climate, southern exposure and thin rocky soils.

Holman Ranch Tasting Room:

Olive Grove:

Holman Ranch Background:

Gateway to Big Sur presented by Hyatt Carmel Highlands and The Big Sur Food and Wine Festival

October 27, 2014 by evebushman

CARMEL HIGHLANDS, CA — Hyatt Carmel Highlands, located at 120 Highlands Drive in the Carmel Highlands, long known as the legendary location for culinary talent and host of the world famous Masters of Food and Wine will serve as the lead sponsor and host of the opening event of the Big Sur Food and Wine Festival.

Tickets will be on sale through EventBrite for $125.00. Tickets can be purchased at https://gatewaytobigsur.eventbrite.com

Join us on Thursday, November 6th from 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. for the Gateway to Big Sur presented by the Hyatt Carmel Highlands and Big Sur Food and Wine Festival. The Gateway to Big Sur entices the palate in a celebration of local flair and regional flavor in the epicenter of culinary innovation.

Here is a preview of some of the top caliber restaurants that will be participating:

· 1300 on Fillmore
· Andres Bouchee
· Aubergine
· Bernardus Lodge
· Big Sur Roadhouse
· Black River Caviar
· Carmel Valley Ranch
· Cuvaison
· Dosa San Francisco
· Esalen Institue
· Grasing’s
· Jennini kitchen + wine bar
· La Balena
· Mundaka
· Pacifics Edge Hyatt Carmel Highlands
· Passionfish
· Porters in the Forest
· The Cheese Shop
· The Preserve
· The Hitching Post II
· Treebones

Wineries include:
· Albatross Ridge
· Banshee
· Birichino
· Calera Wine Company
· Chanin
· Chappellet Vineyard
· Cold Heaven Cellars
· Continuum (Carlo Mondavi)
· Crocker & Starr
· Dirty & Rowdy
· Domaine Select – 1st Winery
· Domaine Select – 2nd Winery
· Foxen
· Galante Vineyards
· Hartley Ostini
· Kunin
· Liquid Farm
· Madeleine Winery
· Maison Marques and Domaines – Roederer Champagne
· McIntyre
· Morgan Winery
· Mount Eden
· Paso CAB Collective
· Paul Lato Wines
· Perception
· Pisoni
· ROAR
· Shared Notes
· Tablas Creek Vineyard
· Talbott Vineyards
· Talley Vineyards
· Vineyard Brands
· Wedell Cellars
· Wind Gap Wines

Hyatt Carmel Highlands will be donating a portion of the proceeds from this event on November 6th to our charity partner the Big Sur Health Center.

The 2014 Big Sur Food and Wine Festival takes place November 6 – 9 throughout the coast of Big Sur. For more information visit www.bigsurfoodandwine.org

Background on Pacific’s Edge:
Pacific’s Edge is an award winning, glass-walled restaurant with spectacular ocean vistas. Our “California Coastal” cuisine provides the freshest local ingredients, meats and seafood, with dishes that meld a seasonal focus with sophisticated comfort food in a convivial ambiance that makes it appealing for everyday dining or any special occasion. Pacific’s Edge has received AAA 4 Diamond awards year after year, and has been named one of the Top 100 Restaurants in the United States by Zagat and one of the Top Ten Restaurants with a View by USA Today. Wine Spectator has lauded our wine list throughout the years with both Grand and Best of Award of Excellence awards.

About Hyatt Carmel Highlands, Overlooking Big Sur Coast
Perched on the hillside of the Carmel Highlands with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, Hyatt Carmel Highlands combines true Carmel luxury with an approachable and sophisticated spirit. A haven for artists and discerning travelers since its opening in 1917, Hyatt Carmel Highlands features 48 luxuriously renovated guestrooms, including 11 suites, 32 Ocean View rooms and 5 Garden View rooms. In addition, Hyatt Carmel Highlands offers spectacular dining at the award-winning Pacific’s Edge restaurant and California Market, 4,800 square feet of meeting space, in-room spa services, heated outdoor swimming pool, three spa tubs and a StayFit fitness facility. Situated only four miles from downtown Carmel, Hyatt Carmel Highlands idyllic setting and personalized service has attracted families, weddings, honeymooners and privileged travelers for nearly a century. Hyatt Carmel Highlands is recognized among the world’s finest hotels as part of Condé Nast Traveler’s 2010 Gold List and Travel + Leisure’s 2009 “T+L 500” World’s Best Hotels. www.hyattcarmelhighlands.com.

Hofsas House Hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea Announces The 10 Best Things To Do In Carmel Without a Car

June 9, 2014 by evebushman

CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA — In Carmel-by-the-Sea, the Theis family is celebrating more than six decades of European hospitality at its beautiful Bavarian-inspired Hofsas House Hotel, which is as charming as the town itself. With firm roots in the past, the family is looking toward the future by keeping abreast of guests’ every need.

Gas is almost $4 a gallon and the average car causes 600 pounds of air pollution every year. AAA’s Fourth of July holiday report cited a decline in car travel and a shift towards alternative modes of transportation. Biking and low-cost interstate bus travel are on the rise. Might this be the start of a new era of footprint-sensitive vacationing? (Let’s think positive and say, “Yes.”) So, where should you take your next car-free getaway? The Theis Family offers the top 10 things to do without a car in Carmel-by-the-Sea. When was the last time you want on a vacation without a car in California?

10 Best Things to Do in Carmel (WITHOUT A CAR!!)

1. Walk on the beach and finish your night with wine and food over a beach fire. Fires are allowed on Carmel Beach south of 10th Avenue (Beach fire rules: http://ci.carmel.ca.us/carmel/index.cfm/residents/city-services/beach-rules/).

2. Bus ride (Route 22) down PCH to Big Sur and back, stop at Point Lobos, Rocky Point, Andrew Molera State Park, the town of Big Sure, and Nepenthe. Ask our concierge or manager for hike recommendations. Check for road conditions and route service to Big Sur!

3. Bus ride (“Grapevine Express” Route 24) to Carmel Valley and back, stop at Chateau Jullien, Mid-Valley, and Carmel Valley Village. Finish the day with free wine tastings at various partnering tasting rooms in the town of Carmel, courtesy of the Hofsas House.

4. Take a 20-minute stroll down to the Carmel Mission and tour the Carmel Mission Museum (http://www.carmelmission.org/museum/).

5. Go on a Carmel Walks (http://carmelwalks.com/) tour to learn about the history of Carmel and some of our unique City ordinances.

6. Combine food, wine, chocolate and history of Carmel by taking the Carmel Food Tour (http://www.carmelfoodtour.com/).

7. Go to the Carmel Cheese Shop (http://thecheeseshopinc.com/) to sample cheeses from around the world. It is hard to select just one and then purchase a matching wine to take to the beach to watch the sunset.

8. Learn about the famous poet, Robinson Jeffers, by taking the Tor House Tour http://www.torhouse.org/).

9. Happy Hour Tour: Ask our concierge to direct you to an assortment of happy hours (e.g., Vesuvio Restaurant, www.vesuviocarmel.com) right in town for discounted drinks and appetizers, and then finish off the night with a special entre at one of our favorite places to eat.

10. Arrange a surf lesson for half of the day at Carmel Beach, http://southbaysurfriders.com/. A professional surfer will take you out and ensure a safe and enjoyable time learning to surf Carmel’s amazing waves!

If those 10 activities were not enough, the Hofsas House staff picked these great events.

11. Rent bikes at Bay Bikes (www.baybikes.com) and get a challenging workout up and down Carmel’s hilly back roads. Or, stick to the flatland and cruise by the beach for a wave-side bike ride. For the experienced rider, take it up a notch and bike 17-mile Drive into Monterey and back for an all-day outdoor adventure

12. For the spa lovers, relax at Kush Day Spa (www.kushincarmel.com), one of the highest regarded spas in Carmel, for one afternoon.

13. Take wine, picnic—and a date, of course—to a summer play at the outdoor Forest Theatre, www.foresttheaterguild.org.

14. Rise early—or rise late—for a wonderful Sunday brunch at Clint Eastwood’s Mission Ranch (http://www.missionranchcarmel.com/restaurant.htm). It’s only a 20-minute stroll across Carmel. Better yet, return on a weekend night for drinks and live piano playing.

15. Find all the hidden courtyards Carmel-by-the-Sea has to offer, and see what surprise gift you can discover for a friend.

16. On a chill day, go coffee tasting at the various local coffee houses in Carmel, Carmel Coffee House and Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting Co, who roast their coffee right in the area

17. For photography lovers, Gallery Sur (gallerysur.com) has amazing prints from the area or go to Weston Gallery, one of the oldest photographic galleries, www.westongallery.com

18. Drop by the Carmel Art Association (carmelart.org) for details on local artists and the best galleries to explore according to your taste.

19. Tapas at Mundaka, www.mundakacarmel.com.

20. Carmel Wine Walk-by-the-Sea – stroll to 12 different wine tasting rooms and taste a flight of Monterey County grown grapes. Purchase a Wine Walk Passport at the Hofsas House for $50 and it includes nine tastings. Because of the cool air, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are some of the best.

21. Geocache in Carmel: There are over 20 geocaches within walking distance in Carmel. Take your GPS and test your navigation skills and find some treasure!

22. Check out the live performances at one of our four theaters: Sunset Center, Forest Theater, Golden Bough, Cherry Center in our one-square mile town.

23. Olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting at Trio Carmel on Dolores Street south of Ocean Avenue – www.triocarmel.com.

24. Create your own custom perfume at Ajne Perfumery in the Court of the Fountains – http://www.ajne.com/.

25. Visit one of the oldest houses in Carmel, the First Murphy House, home to the Carmel Heritage Society, http://carmelheritage.org/.

What will you do?

Hofsas House Background:

Owned and operated by the Theis Family, Hofsas House Hotel is within walking distance of everything Carmel has to offer, including a stunning beach, fine restaurants and shops, and wine tasting. It provides peaceful respite and European charm just minutes from Monterey , Pebble Beach, Big Sur and Pacific Grove . The Hofsas House’s 38 spacious, one-of-a-kind rooms boast European comfort and lovely views, not to mention amenities like fireplaces, private balconies, wet bars, kitchens and patios. Large suites provide the perfect stay for newlyweds and everyone else seeking an extra special getaway. Dutch doors in every room allow guests to welcome in the ocean air, and free WiFi enables them to stay connected — if they want to.

Hofsas House Hotel is located on San Carlos Street, north of Fourth Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea. For more information, call (831) 624-2745 or visit www.hofsashouse.com. Like us on Facebook

Vendange Carmel Inn and Suites Carmel-by-the-Sea’s Only Wine Themed Hotel Launches New Wine Themed Room By Blair Estate Winery

May 11, 2014 by evebushman

CARMEL, CA – Vendange Carmel Inn and Suites has partnered with 14 local Monterey County wineries to create a unique guest experience celebrating the bounty of Monterey County’s vineyards. Each winery sponsors one room or suite, providing its own creative touches. From the McIntyre Vineyards room with its impressive 100-year-old section of grapevine to J. Lohr’s plush bathrobes, every winery’s room offers a signature luxury experience. For 2014, Vendange has announced the release of its first new wine themed for 2014 with Blair Estate Winery.

“Blair Estate winery is proud to partner with Vendange,” said Winemaker Jeffrey Blair “Both Carmel establishments are independent, artisan, and family run with an emphasis on the guest experience. Blair added that “we’ve tried to bring a bit of our family history and love of the land to the décor and furnishings of the “Blair Estate Room” at the hotel. We worked with Grant Peterson Design and noted local artist and decorator Bella Lofaso to create an elegant, interesting space that is both welcoming and comfortable. We wanted to extend the feel and hospitality of our tasting room into this fun, new space.”

“I was inspired by Jeffery’s proud reflection of his family heritage and the influence it has on his devotion to his grandparents’ legacy through Blair Estate Winery,” said local artist and decorator Bella Lofaso. “The beautiful Blair Estate Winery label, with the warm reddish browns and gold B established the color palette for the bedding textiles. The room is simple and understated, yet evokes a sense of warmth and comfort by incorporating family photos, Blair Winery photos, custom crafted re-purposed wine furniture and whimsical signs.

This Summer Vendange will be unveiling a room by Holman Ranch Wines. Details available soon.

Vendange Rooms Overview:

· The cozy rooms have sleek, modern bathrooms finished with imported Spanish marble.
· Views of both the Inn’s beautiful gardens and the Carmel skyline are plentiful.
· Sleeping areas are appointed with memory foam-top beds, deluxe linens, and high-definition flat screen televisions – not that you’ll want to stay indoors.

Cottage Suite:

· The separate Cottage Suite offers a generous 650 square feet of living space. With a California King bed, 50” high definition flat screen television, gas fireplace and kitchenette, it’s the perfect place for a honeymoon or romantic weekend getaway.

Wine Themed Rooms:

· Newest Room: Blaire Estate Room
· Coming Summer 2014 Holman Ranch Winery Room
· Dawn’s Dream
· Galante
· J. Lohr
· Joullian
· Manzoni
· McIntyre
· Otter Cove
· Pierce Winery
· Tudor
· Twisted Roots
· Ventana
· Cima Collina

Wine Room Highlights:

Twisted Roots King Suite

Twisted Roots believes in letting the grapes speak for themselves. They feel that the work in the vineyard is where the wines get their flavor and overall complexity. As “Green Growers” they follow sustainable farming practices throughout the entire wine making process. In creating the Twisted Roots room, winemaker Josh Ruiz took the same philosophy to design as he does to making wines. Canvas pictures from the Twisted Roots vineyard adorn the walls, custom artwork made from barrels, rod iron and wine bottles show case the bar and more!

Ventana Vineyards:

Ventana Vineyards believes great wines are made in the vineyard, and the Ventana Vineyard has the perfect combination of water, soil, climate, art and science to create superb, world-class wines. Our success is evidenced by the number of awards that we have won over the years on wine made from this remarkable property. In fact, wines from our Ventana Vineyard have earned more medals and awards than any other single vineyard in America. When creating their Ventana Vineyards wine themed room they brought the story of the vineyard to the room.

· Custom canvas prints grace the walls telling the story of the vineyards.
· The winemaker’s story can be found on the room for all to enjoy.
· A Ventana Vineyards wine barrel has been converted into a custom snack bar full of delicious Ventana Vineyard logoed snacks and wine!
· The bed has a logoed throw and the walls have actually small vines from the vineyard affixed to them.

J. Lohr:

Flavorful wines, quite literally “wines full of flavor” are the mission at J. Lohr. J. Lohr’s unwavering focus on flavors sounds so simple, yet it’s surprisingly complex. Achieving the best flavor demands total control, every step of the way, and is the result of planting each site to its ideal grape variety and applying artisanal winemaking techniques, including extended maceration, barrel and malolactic fermentation, among others. When you stay in the J. Lohr room you soak up the flavor of the vineyard. From grapevine wreaths and a barrel on the balcony that offers the perfect table top to enjoy some wine and cheese to art from the vineyard and a custom J. Lohr wine display, you will as if you have been transported to the vineyard.

Additional Rooms with Unique Features:

· McIntyre Vineyards brought in a 5 foot vine from the vineyard that is the masthead for the bed as well as created custom glass lamps etched with the McIntyre wine label. Truly spectacular to view!
· Cima Collina has their vineyard artist create custom painting for the room made from wine barrels and rod iron as well as creating their own logoed bed side stand.

Amenities:

· The Inn offers breakfast daily and wine tasting on the weekends.
· Wines that are typically available only in partner wineries’ tasting rooms are also available to guests for purchase.
· Guests can relax with a glass of wine around the inviting fire pit in the garden and enjoy live music. (available most weekends)

Monterey County Wine Facts:

· Did you know? Monterey County is the one of the largest wine growing and producing regions in California which is one of the reasons why it was named as one of 2013’s “Top Ten Wine Travel Destinations” in the world by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
· In Carmel-by-the-Sea alone, you can spend a weekend wine-tasting without ever getting in a vehicle!
· Downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea has become a bona fide wine tasting destination, with enough tasting rooms to keep visitors busy for a weekend and even more about to open.
· Carmel Valley’s tasting rooms (11 miles from Carmel-by-the-Sea) are not overly crowded and provide a warm, personal interaction with tasting hosts and winemakers.

Vendange is conveniently located a short drive away from the Monterey Peninsula Airport, just off of scenic Highway 1, with free parking for guests. We’re minutes away from downtown Carmel’s shopping and fine dining, scenic 17-Mile Drive, and the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. Vendange Carmel is located at 24815 Carpenter St., Carmel, CA 93923. Telephone 831.624.6400, fax 831.624.5111. Website: www.vendangecarmel.com, email reservations@vendangecarmel.com.

Reviewing the Carmel Wine Walk By-The-Sea

March 14, 2014 by evebushman

While it’s fresh in my mind, I wanted to jot down some notes for wine 101ers on the Carmel-by-the-Sea Wine Walk adventure I’m on right now! So I’m sitting in a small outdoor shopping mall courtyard, as I just finished my last tasting of the day, at Wrath. Time to enjoy the cool weather, the lovely patio, sober up, reflect and type out my story.

I started my day three hours ago at the Carmel Visitors Center to get a lay of the land, then had a very quick lunch at Clint Eastwood’s restaurant, Hog’s Breath Inn, as I don’t like to taste on an empty stomach.

I picked up my passport to visit a dozen or so tasting rooms; with the choice to visit them in one day or over multi-days. I thought I’d try and do it all in one day. (For others that have the time to linger, I say linger.) Each tasting room was well-equipped with a tasting bar, some with stools or a sitting area, swag to buy, cheese plates (Wrath) and very friendly staff.

Beginning with a tasting room shared by Blair Estate and Shale Canyon Wines, I was quickly into the area’s signature Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. But I was also on the hunt for darker wines. And at Manzoni I found an excellent Syrah, made “in a cold climate” and therefore producing more “white pepper instead of black pepper” notes. It was interesting to me, and made me want to try others.

The gentleman working the Manzoni tasting room commented that the Monterey AVA produces more wine grapes than any other in the county – they just sell the grapes to other wineries. I wanted to confirm that, so I checked the Internet, and lo and behold found this article: http://www.seemonterey.com/food-wine/wineries/appellations/ which states, “Monterey is the largest of the county’s American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), boasting more than 40,000 acres of vineyards…”

Among other wines I tried that day I liked the Sauvignon Blanc and a 50-50 Syrah Cab blend at Scheid; the meaty Cabernets at Galante Vineyards; most everything at Shale Canyon; Pinot Gris at Blair Estate; the Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir at Wrath. There was plenty more to taste, like sparkling wines, ports and Merlots, but, I’ll leave those up to another day, and another chance to use up my passport in leisurely time.

Conclusion

For the first time in a long time I did this tasting as the public did, which means that I listened to the tasting room staff when they introduced their wines, gave me their tasting notes and explained their winery practices as if I, too, were as new to wine as I was to their wines. The experience was far more satisfying than I expected, and I imagine that I will be doing more “impromptu” tastings. Heck, I almost forgot how much fun it was to learn.

The Lay of the Land

There are street signs but no numbers in the small city of Carmel. Make sure you get the map from the Chamber office before you head out. And even with the map, it’s not exactly accurate as it shows clusters of wine tasting rooms that appear to be all on one street, but, in fact, are more spread out. I simply asked at each tasting room which would be the next closest to walk to and got the directions. http://www.carmelcalifornia.org/things-to-do/wine.aspx

The Details

The Carmel Wine Walk by-the-Sea™ is pleased to offer a Wine Tasting Passport for $65 which entitles the buyer to one $10 flight at each of the 10 tasting rooms (a $100 value). It can be used in one day or spread out over a weekend, several weeks, or even months. The Wine Tasting Passport is available for purchase at the Carmel Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center (831-624-2522 ) on San Carlos between 5th & 6th in Carmel-by-the-Sea or online on the Chamber of Commerce website under “things to do.”

Carmel Wine Walk by-the-Sea™ offers the opportunity to savor superior still and sparkling wines without ever having to think about transportation, parking, or even dinner plans. Each tasting room on the Wine Walk will offer recommendations for dinner or call to make reservations. As an added bonus, corkage will be waived for bottles purchased at a Carmel Wine Walk by-the-Sea™ tasting room at participating restaurants for one bottle per visit, per party.

The Wine Walk by-the-Sea™ is a self-paced, self-guided stroll to the tasting rooms which are all within a few blocks of each other on the both sides of Ocean Avenue. They are…

Blair Estate

Blair Estate is the region’s newest artisan label, focusing on limited releases of single vineyard Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris & Chardonnay from the cool climate Arroyo Seco appellation.
Hours: Winter: 12pm-6pm; Spring/Fall: 11am-7pm
www.blairwines.com

Caraccioli Cellars

Family-run & delivering distinctive, ‘fruit forward’, sparkling & still wines through the utilization of top-tier grapes from the Santa Lucia Highlands.
Hours: Mon.-Thurs.: 2pm-7pm; Fri. & Sat.: 11am-10pm; Sun.: 11am-7pm
www.caracciolicellars.com

Dawns Dream

Specializing in Pinot Noir, Dawn’s Dream also produces Chardonnay, Rosé and other varietals sourced from some of the finest vineyards in Monterey County.
Hours: Sun.-Fri.: 1pm-6pm; Sat.: 12pm-6pm
www.dawnsdreamwinery.com

De Tierra Vineyards

De Tierra Vineyards is a family owned and sustainably operated winery producing limited production, estate grown Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Syrah.
Hours: Tues.-Thurs.: 2pm-8pm; Fri.-Sun.: 12pm-8pm; Winter: Tues.-Thurs.: 2pm-7pm; Fri.-Sun.: 12pm-8pm; Closed Mondays.
www.detierra.com

Figge Cellars

Inside Winfield Gallery is a celebration of art & wine. Visitors will enjoy a one-of a-kind tasting experience that touches all five senses.
Hours: Thurs.-Mon.: 12pm-6pm
www.figgecellars.com

Galante Vineyards

Producing 100% estate grown wines with a simple philosophy: grow the finest grapes & let the fruit express itself in the wine.
Hours: Sun.-Fri.: 1pm-6pm; Sat.: 12pm-6pm
www.galantevineyards.com

Scheid Wines

Small-lot, sustainable wines in the heart of Monterey County. With ten estate vineyards, many different varieties are grown in a spectrum of styles.
Hours: Daily: 12pm-6pm
www.scheidwines.com

Shale Canyon

Shale Canyon offers artisan wines from the Arroyo Seco AVA. Featuring Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Syrah, and annual “micro-lot” offerings.
Hours: Winter: 12pm-6pm; Spring/Fall: 11am-7pm
www.shalecanyonwines.com

Silvestri Vineyards

Producing hand crafted wines from our 11-acre estate vineyard in Carmel Valley. Premium Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Rosé wines truly express the quality of this vineyard.
Hours: Daily: 12pm-7pm
www.silvestrivineyards.com

Vino Napoli

Italian-themed wine bar featuring Pèpe Winery and the wines of Antinori & other close friends. Relax and enjoy Italian tapas, pizza, and watch your favorite sports games.
Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 3pm-10pm; Sat. & Sun.: 2pm-10pm
www.vinonapoli.com

Wrath Wines

Produces site-driven Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Sauvignon Blanc from our sustainable estate vineyard and selected properties in the Santa Lucia Highlands.
Hours: Mon.-Sat.: 10am-6pm; Sun.: 11am-5pm
www.wrathwines.com