Carmel Magazine

084-88 Carmel Valley_152-161 Garcia story 4/26/13 5:37 PM Page 2 It's Always Sunny in Carmel Valley The Home of Warm Weather… and Warm Welcomes B Y M I C H A E L C H AT F I E L D • P H OTO G R A P H Y B Y K E L L I U L D A L L here's a buzz in Carmel Valley. Not too many years ago, that buzz would prob- It's a beautiful drive; every twist and turn is T Greenfield, is the backbone of Carmel Valley. ably have emanated from the flies hov- rewarded with a new vista of the mountains ering around the horses on one of the Valley's on each side of the valley, rolling off into the numerous working ranches. Now, in the early misty distance. The verdant valley is uncrowd- years of the twenty-first century, that sound is ed and still seemingly untouched by 21st cen- the vibrant hum of commerce, the buzz of tury hustle and bustle; horses nonchalantly business, the happy hum of people having fun. graze, birds circle overhead, wildlife abounds. And it is a happy place; a place of sunshine, But make no mistake: this is a thoroughly warmth and hospitality. If it's foggy in modern place with lodging, dining, recreation- Monterey or Carmel, chances are the sun is al and shopping opportunities the rival of beaming bright in the Valley, especially east of those anywhere. Quail Lodge and Golf Club, about three miles Carmel Valley has undergone a renaissance from Highway 1 on Carmel Valley Road. in the last couple of decades. Several forward- Not that long ago, Carmel Valley was rural thinking businesspeople have recognized the with a capital "R." Dairy farms, horse ranches, area's potential and have sunk serious fruit and nut orchards, row crops, hay fields. Sure, there were a couple of establishments The Carmel Valley climate is ideal for growing just about anything. resources into bringing it to fruition. And the fuel for that renaissance? Wine. such as Los Laureles Lodge and the Holman Ranch that offered accom- In the early 1960s, wine grape vines were planted in the Cachagua modations for those who desired to vacation off the beaten path, but few (pronounced Ka SHOU wa) region of Carmel Valley. The area's hot, dry came here for pleasure in those days. Carmel Valley was a relaxed, laid-back climate turned out to be beneficial to the production of red varietals such place of few people and even fewer pretensions. No doubt there were as Cabernet Sauvignon. Others followed; while not exactly a rush, a steady more horses and cows than people here in the early part of the 20th cen- stream of forward-thinking individuals began growing grapes and making tury. It exuded an Old-West feel, the kind of place where dressing up wine in what was, in 1982, designated the Carmel Valley American meant dusting off your jeans, scraping your boots and leaving your cowboy Viticultural Area (AVA). Today there are a dozen or so small-scale, family hat at the door. Meanwhile, the world was beating a path to the Monterey wine operations up and down the valley, and around 20 tasting rooms. By Peninsula and its golf courses, ocean-view hotels and fine dining establish- law, each winery is allowed just one off-site tasting facility, so the fact that ments. Something was bubbling on the back burner, however. the winemakers have chosen to locate them here says a lot about how The world is now beating a new path to Carmel Valley, sometimes bypassing Monterey, Pebble Beach and Carmel altogether. After all, locals they view the Valley's potential as a visitor magnet. Their presence has sparked nothing less than a revolution in the valley. have always known that when the Pacific Ocean caresses the Peninsula One property that perhaps epitomizes this rebirth more than any with its fingers of fog, a short drive on Carmel Valley Road is rewarded other is the venerable Holman Ranch, a short distance east of Carmel with blue skies and sunshine.That road (aka Monterey County Road G16), Valley Village. The property is home to an elegant event facility, ten guest a picturesque two-lane blacktop that begins at Highway 1 near Carmel- cottages, 19 acres planted to wine grapes, a winery and an extensive by-the-Sea and terminates 53 miles later in the Salinas Valley town of equestrian center. Established in 1928, the property has hosted C ARMEL MAGAZINE•SPRING/SUMMER 2013 85

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