You’ve read about how wine is made.
You may even have seen pictures of various parts of the process.
But few people — other than winemakers and cellar rats (those who
work in the cellars, not the rodents featured in “Ratatouille”) — get
to actually see the process up-close as it’s happening.
But at Chateau Julien in California’s beautiful Carmel Valley,
guests will get to experience the passion and excitement as winemakers
Bill Anderson and Marta Kraftzeck host a lively evening of winemaking,
dining and tasting in the estate’s cellar.
The date: September 21. The time: 7 p.m.
Up to 20 tons of local Monterey County grapes will be harvested
and loaded onto trucks to arrive at this annual affair. Bill and Marta
then will guide the grapes through a French Demousey de-stemmer to
crush and ultimately pump juices into stainless steel vats for
fermentation. The entire winemaking crew will be on hand to bring this
experience to life for all event guests.
After the work is complete, the winemakers will join guests for a
family-style dinner and wine tasting in the estate’s cellar. Chef Terry
Teplitzky of Michael’s Catering has prepared a hearty, scrumptious menu
to pair with Chateau Julien wines. Space is limited in the cellar, so
if you’re interested, make reservations early for this traditionally
sold-out event.
DETAILS: Dress is casual and warm. Cost is $80 per person. Chateau
Julien Wine Estate is located at 8940 Carmel Valley Road in Carmel
Valley, California. Reservations can be made online at
chateaujulien.com or by calling 831-624-2600.
