Celebrate California Wine Month in Style with an Exclusive Wine-and-Dine Experience

CARMEL, Calif. - Aug. 21, 2015 - PRLog -- CARMEL VALLEY, CA  (August 2015)  Wine enthusiasts don't need an excuse to raise a glass in celebration, but if they did, September would be the perfect time since it marks California Wine Month.

September marks the height of the wine grape harvest in California and California Wine Month celebrates the state’s ideal climate for wine, beautiful wine country landscapes, the state's talented and creative winemaking families, California's celebrated lifestyle and award-winning cuisine and its commitment to sustainability and the environment.

So in honor of California Wine Month, celebrate in style on Monday, Sept. 28, with an exciting and exclusive wining and dining experience at one of the Central Coast's finest estates featuring wines from two exemplary wineries, dinner at a celebrated restaurant in beautiful Carmel Valley Village, topped off by dessert and wine at one of the village's renowned tasting lounges.

Your evening starts at 5 p.m. with an exclusive wine-tasting experience in Holman Ranch's private Wine Caves. There you'll sip both Holman Ranch and Jarman estate wines while savoring small bites from Will’s Fargo Steakhouse & Bar in Carmel Valley Village. The experience includes tastings from barrel samples with the winemaker.

After the wine tasting, Holman Ranch will provide transportation from the Wine Caves to Will's Fargo Steakhouse and Bar.

There you will partake in a 2-course dinner prepared by Chef Jerome Viel at the renowned Will's Fargo, with courses expertly paired with Holman Ranch wines.

After dinner, you'll stroll to the nearby Jarman Tasting Lounge and Patio and enjoy dessert accompanied by a glass of wine on the patio.

You will be transported back to your car at Holman Ranch to complete your wonderful wine and food evening.

Menu includes:

•         Cheese and fruit tray at the cave.

•         At Will’s Fargo:  Seared Halibut, English Peas, Baker's Bacon and Braised Lettuce paired with Holman Ranch Chardonnay and Roasted Quail, Sautéed Mushroom, Potato Gratin, Truffle Sauce paired with Holman Ranch Pinot Noir

•         Assorted Petit Fours at Jarman Tasting Lounge and Patio paired with Holman Ranch Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc

Cost for this exclusive wine-and-dine experience is $115 per person inclusive.

About the Wine Caves:

The winery at Holman Ranch, located in The Caves, is completely underground in order to take advantage of the natural cooling and low humidity of the caves. The 3,000-square-foot area maintains a constant temperature of 58-60 degrees Fahrenheit and contains four 750-gallon tanks, four 1,200-gallon tanks, and four open-top tanks that can hold two tons of grapes each. One hundred French oak barrels are maintained year-round. Winery operations such as de-stemming, pressing, fermenting and aging take place in the cool environment of The Caves. 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 a low figure, but harvesting hours are limited to between 7 a.m. 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 de-stemmer. White wines take around three weeks to ferment at 50 degrees Fahrenheit 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 produces 3,000-5,000 cases annually.

Holman Ranch Vineyard and 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.

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 Background:

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.