Join the stellar festivities at Post Ranch on November 6 & 7 as it's sure to be a star of the Big Sur Food & Wine Festival. In honor of this first ever Big Sur event showcasing the region's world-renowned food and wine, Post Ranch has created a weekend of sensory pleasures for connoisseurs.

Post Ranch's extraordinary package in celebration of food & wine features two nights in any of the inn's luxurious, intimate rooms – plus two exceptional Winemaker Dinners at Sierra Mar prepared by award-winning chefs and paired with acclaimed wines, and an Afternoon Eclectic Wine Tasting with vintners from six noted Central Coast wineries.

The epicurean weekend is hosted by the inn's renowned hospitality team - General Manager Dan Priano and Sierra Mar’s Executive Chef Craig von Foerster, Wine Director Dominique DaCruz and Restaurant Manager Wanda Straw. They and other experts in the Post Ranch family of employees have collaborated to create a weekend of sophisticated and sensory pleasures for discerning enthusiasts and connoisseurs. It's a perfect occasion to share with another couple or a group of friends.

We hope you'll join us on November 6 & 7 for Post Ranch's premiere Chefs & Vintners Celebration, combining world-class cuisine, special selections from acclaimed cellars, luxurious accommodations and an inspired setting.

For details on participating chefs and vintners, please click here.

PACKAGE DETAILS:

• Two nights accommodations Featuring wood-burning fireplace, large soaking tub, and a fridge stocked with complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages.
  
  
• Sierra Mar's Winemaker Dinners on Friday and Saturday Evenings Extraordinary cuisine is paired with very special wines of limited-production vintages from Calera, L'Aventure, Alban and Linne Calodo wineries.
  
  
• Afternoon Eclectic Wine Tasting Savor a stroll of the Ranch on Saturday afternoon, tasting selected eclectic varietals from six noteworthy vineyards, paired with delicious appetizers.
  
  
• Daily gourmet breakfast at Sierra Mar
  
  
• Complimentary daily and weekly activities Including yoga, and stargazing. Other amenities include fitness room, heated lap pool, and two infinity pools overlooking the Pacific Ocean with panoramic views of the Big Sur coastline.
  
  

To be included in this very special event,
call 800.527.2200 or email reservations@postranchinn.com.

Participation in this special event is limited.

*Valid for reservations November 6 & 7, 2009. Package rates are per couple, and include taxes and gratuities. Rates are based on double occupancy. Refunds or credits may not be issued for unused portions of the package. The Chefs & Vintners Celebration may not be combined with any other packages or rates. Additional nights may be available.

VINTNERS EVENTS

Limestone Quest Dinner: Friday, November 6th
In Burgundy limestone is considered essential to growing world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay because limestone soil absorbs water and adds minerality to wine. In their quest for land with limestone in California, Josh Jensen of Calera Winery in Hollister and Stephan Asseo of L'Aventure Winery in Paso Robles each scientifically and intuitively chose the locations for their vineyards based on soil composition of the terroir. The limestone in both vineyards brings complexity to the fruit. Their wines were selected to complement and pair with the special six-course dinner. To discuss their offerings, the winemakers will be present to mingle and share information with guests during the evening. The culinary team will be led by Sierra Mar's innovative Executive Chef Craig von Foerster and Cal Stamenov, acclaimed Chef and Culinary Director of Marinus at Bernardus Lodge in Carmel Valley. Seating is at 7:30pm with tables of 4 to 8 diners.

Afternoon Eclectic Wine Tasting: Saturday, November 7th
At this first-ever reception along Post Ranch's trails, guests are invited to explore the grounds of Post Ranch on a walking wine-tasting tour. Along the way are six picturesque locations featuring an eclectic variety of regional wines produced in the nearby Central Coast, where the hot climate is tempered by welcome fog. Reflecting the weekend's focus on Big Sur, the afternoon's wineries were sourced within a 100-mile radius of Post Ranch. In one afternoon, guests will taste wines from Tannat to Grenache, Albarino to Verdelho and Tocai Fruilano to Marsanne. The designer of the tour is Sierra Mar's Wine Director Dominique DaCruz, whose cellar consistently receives Wine Spectator awards. He has coordinated with the vintners and representatives noted below to present selected varietals that are not mainstream or widely planted in California, including those using sustainable and organic farming methods. To enhance the tasting experience, Executive Chef Craig von Foerster will prepare delicious edibles matched to each wine. The day's festivities continue into the evening with a soirée at Sierra Mar restaurant. Afternoon Eclectic is from 12 - 3 pm.

Dan Morgan Lee
Lee Family Vineyards, Monterey
Portuguese Varietals

Chrystal and Steve Clifton
Palmina, Santa Inez
Italian Varietals

Guillaume and Solene Favre
Clos Solene, Paso Robles
White and Red Rhône Varietals

Chris and Cathy Weideman
Pelerin, Monterey
White and Red Rhône Varietals

Eric Lauman
Cambiata, Monterey
Various World Varietals

Bill Brosseau
Brosseau, Monterey
Burgundian Varietals

Big Sur Mistral Dinner: Saturday, November 7th
In the Rhône Valley, the regularity and force of the mistral can have beneficial effects – this fast-moving wind can save crops from the spring frost and blow away clouds to create sunny days, important to create a beneficial climate for growing grapes. Vintner John Alban of Alban Vineyards was the first to have a winery dedicated exclusively to Rhône varietals in a similar climate in Central California. Matt Trevisan of Linne Calodo focused on the production of unique and exceptional hand-crafted wines balanced through the blending of Rhône and Zinfandel varietals. Their wines are paired with the extensive five-course dinner orchestrated by Sierra Mar's Executive Chef Craig von Foerster, joined in the kitchen by the Bay Area's Joseph Humphrey, Executive Chef of the Michelin-star Murray Circle restaurant at Cavallo Point Lodge, Post Ranch's sister property in Sausalito. Seating is at 8 pm with tables of 4 to 8 guests.


"Compromises are for relationships, not wine."
- Sir Robert Scott Caywood