Sip, Swirl, Savor and Learn. Holman Ranch Tasting Room's Second Annual "In Your Own Backyard" Series

Nov. 24, 2012 - PRLog -- Contact: Marci Bracco 831-747-7455

Sip, Swirl, Savor and Learn Holman Ranch Tasting Room’s Second Annual “In Your Own Backyard” Series. January – June 2013 in the Holman Ranch Tasting Room

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, has invited local culinary chefs and artisans to demonstrate how wine can be best complemented with fresh culinary products found throughout the Central Coast.

Holman Ranch Tasting Room’s “In Your Own Backyard” series 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 olive oil and vinegar tastings, the series will showcase local experts' knowledgeable on everything from how to select the best olive oil 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.

In Your Backyard 2013 Class Schedule:
•          January 24th 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 and her famous version of the Brazilian Fish Stew-- Moqueca.
•          Thursday, February 21st, 6:00 PM --Kari Bernardi and Jamie Collins, All About Winter Produce Talk and Cooking Demonstration using produce from Serendipity Farms.
•          Wednesday, March 27th, 6:00 PM - Chef Brandon Miller, Mundaka, National Paella Day
•          Wednesday, April 24th, 6:00 PM - Trio Carmel, Olive Oil and Vinegar Tasting
•          May class in final confirmation stage - stay tuned!
•          Wednesday, June 19th, 6:00 PM - Tony Baker, Montrio Bistro and Bakers Bacon, Bacon Demonstration and Tasting

Here is a sneak peak at our first quarter classes:
In January Get Savory with Elena Salsedo from Sweet Elenas January 24th 6:00 p.m.
Elena 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 and her famous version of the Brazilian Fish Stew-- Moqueca. The Farmers’ Market, with its seasonal variety of products, has been a great source of inspiration for her cooking: Sweet Elena's is an artisan bakery, where everything is made from scratch, reminiscent of home country cooking, using fresh and local ingredients.

Start the New Year off healthy on Thursday, February 21st with Super Natural Chef Kari Bernardi and Serendipity Farm’s Owner Jamie Collins
Jamie Collins of Serendipity Farms will host a talk on organic farming and the health of organic produce versus conventionally farmed produce. Chef Kari and Farmer Jamie will discuss the health benefits of certain greens as well as the benefits of a sugar free, gluten, wheat and dairy free diet. Attendees will enjoy a tasting of seasonal produce and Chef Kari will be presenting a winter soup demonstration using all of Serendipity Farm’s Winter Bounty. Stop by and warm up with the girls!
Kari Bernardi, aka Super Natural Chef, is a certified Gourmet Raw Food Chef and Instructor. She was the founding Director of Monterey County’s Farm to School Partnership Program and a former faculty member at Living Light Culinary Arts Institute. Kari continues to be instrumental in supporting policies promoting healthy school food, bringing fresh fruits and vegetables into schools and teaching farm fresh nutrition education to students around the world. For over 20 years Kari has shared her teaching expertise to help people thrive on a plant-based diet and has taught students from 3 years old to 95 years young.
Jamie Collins of Serendipity Farms has been farming organic row crops at the mouth of Carmel Valley for over 10 years and sells via Community Supported Agriculture program, U-Picks and farmers markets. She is passionate about farm politics and makes trips to Washington DC to speak on the behalf of small scale, sustainable family farmers.
She loves to write about food and farm issues and is passionate about educating the community about the importance of supporting local farmers and food artisans.

Celebrate National Paella Day with Chef Brandon Miller
of Mundaka Restaurant on Wednesday, March 27th at 6:00 PM
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.

Reservations are required for all classes and cost for each event is $25 per person. 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.

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. www.holmanranch.com