Holman Ranch is an ideal location in the hills above Carmel Valley perfect for special events and weddings. The grounds feature a stone hacienda, sweeping views, and an olive grove. While their estate vineyard produces amazing Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir | platingsandpairings.com

Holman Ranch #TravelThursday

Holman Ranch is an ideal location in the hills above Carmel Valley perfect for special events and weddings. The grounds feature a stone hacienda, sweeping views, and an olive grove. While their estate vineyard produces amazing Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. 

Holman Ranch is an ideal location in the hills above Carmel Valley perfect for special events and weddings. The grounds feature a stone hacienda, sweeping views, and an olive grove. While their estate vineyard produces amazing Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir.

Holman Ranch is an ideal location in the hills above Carmel Valley perfect for special events and weddings. The grounds feature a stone hacienda, sweeping views, and an olive grove. While their estate vineyard produces amazing Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir | platingsandpairings.com

Travel 12-miles inland from the Pacific Coast, and in the hills above Carmel Valley, and you’ll find the lovely Carmel Valley Village. This quaint town features several wine tasting rooms, art galleries, and yummy restaurants.

We were lucky enough to be brought to this area as part of a media visit, to tour the amazing Holman Ranch, a private estate and vineyard that sprawls across 400-acres. We first stopped by the Holman Ranch tasting room to grab our keys. Of course, while we were there, we definitely had to partake in some wine tasting! Duncan led us through and extensive tasting of Holman’s wine portfolio, including Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.

Holman Ranch is an ideal location in the hills above Carmel Valley perfect for special events and weddings. The grounds feature a stone hacienda, sweeping views, and an olive grove. While their estate vineyard produces amazing Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir | platingsandpairings.com

Holman Ranch is an ideal location in the hills above Carmel Valley perfect for special events and weddings. The grounds feature a stone hacienda, sweeping views, and an olive grove. While their estate vineyard produces amazing Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir | platingsandpairings.com

Their best seller is their .5° Brix, an off-dry Pinot Gris that would be a perfect match for a spicy dish or lighter fare.

Holman Ranch is an ideal location in the hills above Carmel Valley perfect for special events and weddings. The grounds feature a stone hacienda, sweeping views, and an olive grove. While their estate vineyard produces amazing Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir | platingsandpairings.com

After our tasting, we made our way up into the hills to the property. It was one of the most serene locations I have ever been to.

Holman Ranch is an ideal location in the hills above Carmel Valley perfect for special events and weddings. The grounds feature a stone hacienda, sweeping views, and an olive grove. While their estate vineyard produces amazing Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir | platingsandpairings.com

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Wine Tasting at Hahn Estate in Soledad, California. Be sure to check out their amazing Pinot Noirs and Chardonnay | platingsandpairings.com

Hahn Estate Wine Tasting #WineWednesday

Hahn Estate Winery in Soledad, California is a family-owned vineyard specializing in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Wine Tasting at Hahn Estate in Soledad, California. Be sure to check out their amazing Pinot Noirs and Chardonnay | platingsandpairings.com

Wine Tasting at Hahn Estate in Soledad, California. Be sure to check out their amazing Pinot Noirs and Chardonnay | platingsandpairings.comOn the second day of our trip to Carmel, California it absolutely poured on us! We were a bit bummed because we were scheduled for an ATV tour at Hahn Estate. Renee, the Director of Estate Operations for Hahn, and Andy, Director of Viticulture, greeted us at the tasting room and said that although we’d be skipping the ATV part of the tour, there was still plenty to see. Boy was there – This was the single most informative winery visit I have ever had!

Wine Tasting at Hahn Estate in Soledad, California. Be sure to check out their amazing Pinot Noirs and Chardonnay | platingsandpairings.com

Before heading out for our visit, Andy told us a bit about the vineyard. It was purchased in 1979 and is family-owned. Hahn produces 400k cases of wine across their 5 lines – Hahn, Hahn SLH, Lucienne, Smith & Hook, and Winery Selections. There are 20 clones of Pinot Noir growing on the property – All of which go into their Orchestra Block Pinot Noir, which is in its second year of production.

Wine Tasting at Hahn Estate in Soledad, California. Be sure to check out their amazing Pinot Noirs and Chardonnay | platingsandpairings.com

Wine Tasting at Hahn Estate in Soledad, California. Be sure to check out their amazing Pinot Noirs and Chardonnay | platingsandpairings.com

Andy explained that the winds in the area help to build up the skins of the grapes, while the plants around the vines affect the flavoring. For instance, those vines planted near an almond tree tend to have an amaretto flavor – Something I particularly enjoy in my Chardonnay.

Wine Tasting at Hahn Estate in Soledad, California. Be sure to check out their amazing Pinot Noirs and Chardonnay | platingsandpairings.com

Hahn has been certified sustainable since 2008 and uses falcons to patrol the vineyards in the fall, protecting it from critters. The sweeping grounds are truly a sight to be seen (even on this gloomy day).

Wine Tasting at Hahn Estate in Soledad, California. Be sure to check out their amazing Pinot Noirs and Chardonnay | platingsandpairings.com

After a bit of inside information we headed to the barrel room, where the Chardonnay is housed. Renee really gave us a lesson by allowing us to taste the differences in the barrels of wine that are strictly produced by hand vs. those that use machinery to process the grapes.

Even though the grapes are identical, the taste is exceptionally unique. Of course I preferred the taste  found in the more expensive way of doing things, all by hand. While that Chardonnay was a bit more smooth, and feminine, the barrel which was produced with the aid of machinery had a bit more of a petrol note and didn’t seem quite as well-rounded.

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Folktale Winery Wine Tasting #WineWednesday

It felt like a fairytale when we walked into Folktale Winery & Vineyards in Carmel, California – And that is just the way it was meant to be.

Wine Tasting at Folktale Winery & Vineyards in Carmel, California - The only grape to glass tasting room in the Carmel Valley | platingsandpairings.com

Wine Tasting at Folktale Winery & Vineyards in Carmel, California - The only grape to glass tasting room in the Carmel Valley | platingsandpairings.com

Just a quick 5 minute drive from the Pacific Ocean in Carmel, California, you’ll find Folktale Winery & Vineyards. Originally founded in the early-80’s as Chateau Julien, Bob and Patty Brower were inspired by their journeys to the Bordeaux region of France, to bring that experience of wine and good cheer to Carmel.

Wine Tasting at Folktale Winery & Vineyards in Carmel, California - The only grape to glass tasting room in the Carmel Valley | platingsandpairings.com

In 2015, the property was acquired by local Carmel winemakers, Gregory Ahn and Jonathan White. They renamed the winery Folktale, inspired by fairytales, and the thought that inside every great bottle of wine should be a exciting, fun, story waiting to be told.

Wine Tasting at Folktale Winery & Vineyards in Carmel, California - The only grape to glass tasting room in the Carmel Valley | platingsandpairings.com

The property itself looks like a fairytale when you walk in – With the white castle-like buildings, the floor to ceiling fireplace, and nooks and crannies for exploring.

Wine Tasting at Folktale Winery & Vineyards in Carmel, California - The only grape to glass tasting room in the Carmel Valley | platingsandpairings.comLots of natural elements are used in the décor, and, on chilly nights, there are plenty of fire pits outside to huddle around while you enjoy your wine.

Wine Tasting at Folktale Winery & Vineyards in Carmel, California - The only grape to glass tasting room in the Carmel Valley | platingsandpairings.com

An oversized Connect Four, Jenga, and Cornhole will keep you occupied all afternoon long.

Wine Tasting at Folktale Winery & Vineyards in Carmel, California - The only grape to glass tasting room in the Carmel Valley | platingsandpairings.comWine Tasting at Folktale Winery & Vineyards in Carmel, California - The only grape to glass tasting room in the Carmel Valley | platingsandpairings.com

Folktale Winery and Vineyards is committed to sustainable farming practices throughout their vineyards and gardens.  Their onsite 5-acre vineyard, which grows Sangiovese, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay, is farmed 100% organic. The remainder of their wine-producing grapes are growing at their 150 acres of estate vineyards in the Arroyo Seco AVA of Monterey County.

Wine Tasting at Folktale Winery & Vineyards in Carmel, California - The only grape to glass tasting room in the Carmel Valley | platingsandpairings.com

It’s impressive to note that Folktale Winery & Vineyards is the only glass to grape tasting room in Carmel Valley. Equally impressive: They were recently named by the San Francisco Chronicle as one of the top 10 reasons to visit Monterey County.

Wine Tasting at Folktale Winery & Vineyards in Carmel, California - The only grape to glass tasting room in the Carmel Valley | platingsandpairings.com

We were extra lucky in that we had the personal experience of meeting with John Fitzgerald, Director of Hospitality at Folktale, for a personal tour of the entire property. He greeted us with a glass of their Sparkling Brut (perfect for this bubblehead), and then led us on a tour of the barrel room. Some of the barrels have even been personally signed by the musicians who have visited on the property.

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