I participated in a familiarization trip to the Holman Ranch Vineyard and Winery in Carmel, CA. My accommodations and meals were provided. All opinions are my own. 

Holman Ranch Wine Tasting

Holman Ranch Vineyard – Winemaking

The production of wine and olive oil really seems to be what  Nick Elliott and Hunter Lowder love most. The ranch was purchased by Hunter’s parents,  in 2006 to fulfill their dream of owning and operating a family vineyard and olive grove. Of the 400 acre ranch only 19 acres is set aside for wine making – they are all about high quality over quantity.

Holman Ranch Vineyard – Wine Tasting

I had the privilege of trying several wines, including Holman Estates Vineyards 2010 Pinot Noir, 2011 Pinot Gris, and the 2010 Chardonnay. They were all delicious, even though they’re wines I’m not normally a fan of. Nick explained that because of the cooler climate they grow in, the grapes often have a thinner skin, therefore have less tannic acid, which is generally imparted from the skin and stems of the grape (check out the Holman Ranch Varietal Map). Nick is a wealth of information about wine and the winemaking process.

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Nick took us on a tour of their custom built wine cave. This is where all the wine production takes place, from grape crushing and fermenting, all the way to bottling and labeling.  The process is surprisingly uncomplicated and that is by design. They try to process their wines as little as possible, which really comes through in the final product – delightful rustic wines. These wines are lower in alcohol than your typical California wines, making them a great drinking wine that doesn’t require being cut with food.

I’m not the only one who enjoys Holman Ranch Vineyard wine however, they were named one of the top 10 wineries in National Geographic’s “The Ten Best of Everything”, in 2012. Holman ranch does ship its wines to some states, so if you’re lucky you can order Holman Ranch wine online and enjoy it at home.

Connect with Holman Ranch


Read more about our time at the Holman Ranch and in Carmel, CA here.