Ojai's name comes from a Chumash word meaning "moon," and the t own is famous for its "Pink Moment" when the sunset hits the mountains, creating a pastel sky. It's home to the world's largest outdoor bookstore, Bart's Books, founded in 1964. Ojai also has a spiritual history, attracting thinkers like Aldous Huxley, and is known for its Ojai Pixie Tangerines…. we are big fans of the wines from OJAI and have some friends with great restaurants.
Two Types of Tickets: |
Early Bird |
Nov 1st |
Meet us there Ticket (ALL IN)
|
$325 | $400 |
The Comfy Luxury Bus ALL DAY: (ALL IN)
|
$475 | $550 |
"I continue to love the wines from Adam Tolmach and Fabien Castel. These lean firmly toward the fresher, elegant end of the spectrum, yet I always find the wines to have wonderful depth of fruit, terrific balance, and singular characters.” Antonio Galloni
"Adam Tolmach continues to turn out gorgeous wines that speak to the true reflection of place...For those who want to understand the essence of classicism in Santa Barbara, Ojai is a great place to start.” JEB Dunnuck
About Ojai Vineyards
The wines we make today are a culmination of four decades pursuing excellence with the fruit grown in our region. We believe that a history like ours is an asset only insofar as it is defined by evolution. Craft is not an overnight sensation; it is the step by step progress that only comes from intuition and experience.
We’ve remained wholly independent and painstakingly dedicated to refining the myriad decisions we make each year to produce world-class wine.
Adam pursued his vision of making natural wines that spoke of the place that they were grown, taking risks to produce wines where, as much as possible, nothing is added and nothing taken away.
About Adam Tolmach
Adam Tolmach went to UC Davis and studied viticulture and enology, and after graduating in 1976 he settled down on the property his grandfather bought in the Ojai Valley in 1933 to farm sweet corn and melons, selling them at a roadside stand. After two years of this satisfying, yet difficult and nearly profitless work he sought employment in his field of study.
With degree in hand he found work at Zaca Mesa in Santa Barbara County. Before long he decided to follow his own vision and started a winery with fellow employee Jim Clendenen in 1982. The winery, Au Bon Climat, was an overnight success, but after nine years together Jim and Adam realized they had to follow separate paths. Jim bought the business in 1991 and went on to further glories.
Simultaneous to all this, Adam had planted a vineyard in Ojai to syrah and sauvignon blanc and had begun producing wine from that fruit in 1983. When the collaboration with Clendenen ended he concentrated all his attention on The Ojai Vineyard to further explore the infinite details of his craft.
Looking back over the last 25 years, one can see the development of The Ojai Vineyard came in three distinct phases. In the beginning it was lots of fun discovering the budding Santa Barbara County, experimenting with new plantings, new areas, and a wide selection of varietals; Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and other Rhone varietals. Back in 1983 the vines were grown without much care in what was called a California sprawl. It took years to get growers to move towards progressive practices like drip irrigation and vertical trellising to improved wine grape quality.
Lunch is served: Ojai Rôtie
Nestled in the center of Ojai’s historic downtown, Ojai Rôtie is a chef/farmer-driven, fast casual patio-restaurant offering extraordinary French-Lebanese style rotisserie chicken, freshly-baked, handmade sourdough, an array of innovative side dishes plus a wine and beer list highlighting Ojai Valley agriculture, viniculture and the “Ojai Appellation”.
The feel is fun, energetic, and evokes a perfect picnic. Everything from the simply crafted food and exhilarating local wine selections to the the shaded landmark patio is suggestive of relaxed living and unfussy pleasure – more or less what people have come to think of as an Ojai state of mind.
*Lunch menu will be provided. All dietary needs will be met with advanced notice.
About Ojai Mountain
Our goal is to produce exceptional wines that pay tribute to the distinct flavors of high altitude grapes, while minimizing intervention to allow our unique terroir to truly shine.
For centuries, high-altitudes have held a powerful allure for humans, especially winemakers. These lofty elevations are responsible for the lion's share of exceptional wines worldwide, thanks to a unique combination of factors. Longer, more even ripening periods, heightened acidity from temperature fluctuations, thicker skins due to winds, and more intense flavors from smaller clusters all contribute to extraordinary results that attract wine lovers. At the heart of it all lies the grape, the foundation of all great wine. Without exceptional grapes, it is impossible to produce high-quality wines.
We believe we have found the most beautiful mountain in the world and are committed to producing the best possible grapes in harmony with biodynamic practices. Our winemaking process is rooted in minimum intervention, allowing the unique terroir to shine in the finished product. We believe wine is best enjoyed in the company of others and paired with food, and we strive to enhance these experiences. Our wines are crafted with passion, immense care for nature, and a deep sense of pride, and we invite you to enjoy them with us.
About Viticulturist: Phil Coturri
If you ask him, Phil Coturri might quote a Levon Helm song and describe himself as a “poor old dirt farmer.” However, after 35 years pioneering organic and biodynamic winegrowing in California, descriptions range from “famed organic viticulturist” by the Hollywood Reporter to “the ubiquitous wizard of sustainable winemaking” by Sonoma Magazine. He was born with the cultural palate of Italian immigrants, weaned on the music and ethos of San Francisco in the 1960’s and planted deep into the rocky hillsides of Sonoma Valley. We are honored to be working with and learning from such an accomplished and humble man.
About Winemaker: Erich Bradley
Erich Bradley, the talented winemaker behind Ojai Mountain's exciting new venture, brings a wealth of experience and a unique philosophy to our high-elevation vineyard. With a career spanning over 25 vintages, Erich's journey in winemaking is a testament to his passion, skill, and commitment to creating wines that truly express their origin.
About
IAN BLACKBURN
Ian Blackburn, CSW, Event Producer
Ian discovered the wine industry while visiting the Napa Valley as a Culinary Student. Ian moved his focus to the front of the house, while working with Thomas Keller and Joachim Splichal in Los Angeles. Now in his 30th year hosting events; leading trips around the wine world; Ian has published a wine education book and is working on a new one; Ian has his own wine brand called Beekeeper Cellars and has sat for the difficult Master of Wine Exam! Today, Ian is considered one of the region’s best wine educators and works for his 120,000 followers (follow me), visiting vineyards and wine regions and produce over 100 wine classes and events per year for Learnaboutwine.com
