holman ranch

We are so sorry to hear you had a disappointing experience- we would love to speak with you regarding the details of your experience as we are always making improvements to our process. The property itself offers a rustic elegance as an historic ranch. We are so happy you joined us and would love to hear more about the aspects of your experience that disappointed you. We truly value your feedback and hope to speak with you soon. Best wishes to you this holiday season.

Thank you for the kind review. I am thrilled to know that you had such a wonderful time on your tour. We look forward to seeing you again soon!

Quite possibly the most beautiful wedding I have ever attended.From the rehearsal dinner to the wedding ceremony to the reception. The grounds and views are breathtaking.

this was the most beautiful setting I've ever seen for a wedding or very special occasion. the facility is magnificent and the food was superb.

A 400 acre ranch awaited us and what we were about to see transported us to another world. Holman Ranch, located in the hills of Carmel Valley, California is Monterey Peninsula's best kept secret. At noon we stopped at the Holman Ranch Tasting Room. It was easy to find on Carmel Valley Road and located among a walkable stretch of distinctive wine tasting rooms and wineries. How would wine tasting sound now that we had arrived at our destination only an hour and a half from our home ? Count us in ! We were in for a treat as we sampled several wine varietals and learned that the Holman Ranch estate vineyard is Organic and SIP Certified. "Sustainability in Practice" refers to a vineyard where wine production is directly related to the farmer’s commitment to protect both natural and human resources. Growers and winemakers recognize that mindful fruit production and care for workers’ well-being are important components of quality wine. Both Kathy and Peter, our wine servers, were very friendly and well informed of the historic roots of the Holman Ranch. They enjoyed speaking of each wine and, in particular, food pairing. Three of their Pinot Noir blends are named after the owner's daughters: Kelly's Press Pinot Noir, Heather's Hill Pinot Noir and Hunter's Cuvee Pinot Noir. At this point, we did not know that we were about to meet Hunter Lowder who is the Hospitality Director. Our wine cave tour was scheduled for 2 PM, so we left the tasting room with our key to Room 4 and directions for our five minute drive to Holman Ranch. What we were about to see was magical.A Carmel stone entrance was easily found at the top of Holman Road. As we drove through the entrance it was as if we entered another century. Towering golden hills surround you with stately tall majestic oaks gracing open fields of deep purple lavender, golden California poppies and many species of colorful drought resistant plants.On our left is the equestrian center with several horses. Some were in their stable, others were being walked and as you looked down a hill on your right you could see a riding arena where several horses were performing jumping maneuvers. At the end of the road, we found Room 4 among adjoining rustic cottages. As we entered our guest cottage we saw a beautifully designed and decorated room with all the comforts of home. There were multiple windows and natural light made this room bright and cheery. The king bed, luxurious bath, sitting area, reading lights, wifi internet and cable TV...was such a treat. We must have been the first of a group of 16 that were invited for a media visit. No one else had checked in so we took a walk around the property and we were amazed at how private, peaceful and secluded our surroundings were. Large birds swirled above, smaller birds were chirping along our paths. The sun was shining, blue skies with puffs of white clouds dotted the sky. Surrounded by nature, we could feel the quiet and the beauty. How romantic.It was now 2PM and we were met outside of our cottage by Nick Elliott who gave us a warm welcome. Several others had arrived and after a brief introduction of the afternoon and evening events, we began our walking tour of the estate and our wine cave tour. Located 12 miles inland from the Pacific coast, the gentle hills provide optimum growing conditions for their 100% estate grown grapes. I had done a brief research of Holman Ranch prior to this trip. Nick confirmed what I had read. Holman Ranch was originally part of the lands bestowed to the Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmel in the Spanish Era. This land later became secularized and in 1928 it was purchased by a San Francisco businessman, Gordon Armsby. He built a sprawling stone Hacienda style estate home with local Carmel stone walls and hand carved oak beamed ceilings. the home retains its original name "Casa Escondida" (Hidden House). The Ranch has passed through several owners. In its past, it has been an exclusive hideaway for many Hollywood celebrities including Charlie Chaplin, Gene Autry, Ava Gardner and Clark Gable. In 2006 Thomas and Jarman Lowder purchased the property in 2006 and updated the Ranch to its original charm adding more vineyards, a wine cave and Tuscan olive trees. Their personal art and commemorative collections are beautifully displayed which will easily capture your attention. Our tour of the wine cave was most interesting. Nick pointed out that the 3000 square foot wine cave maintains a temperature of 58 degrees. It was completed in 2012 and all of the production of Holman Wine occurs here. Inside of the cave all de-stemming, crushing, fermentation, aging and storage is completed and all of the bottling is done outside. The estate grown Pinot Noir, Rose, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay produces 5000 cases per year. Each wine blend was carefully explained by Nick as we barrel tasted several variations. It was a very informative tour and very evident that they really know their wines and are very eager to share their knowledge with others.Now it was time for dinner and we had one more site to see-the outdoor wedding altar. This area of the property was stunning. Tall white poppies and rich lavender surround the back drop of the elevated wide Carmel stone wedding altar. The sweeping green hills of the Carmel Valley become your panoramic view. I had the feel of a slice of paradise while standing there. The wedding altar seemed to be suspended in air. Along the paths tall rose trees and bushes were in full bloom. All of the gardens were so well manicured. Every attention to detail was complete.We now assembled for dinner in the Carriage House. Hunter Lowder, Nick Elliott (her husband) and Max, their son, welcomed everyone. As we enjoyed an elegant catered dinner by Wild Thyme and enjoyed Holman Ranch selected wines, it was obvious that this family paid special attention to their guests. We were all engaged in conversation and in no time felt like we were a part of the family. Our visit to Holman Ranch was "the total experience".I mention that Holman Ranch is a place where ANYTHING and EVERYTHING is possible. It's breathtaking views, natural beauty and unique location make this a perfect site for a festive occasion for 30 to 200+ guests. Whether it is a family reunion, holiday party,birthday party, high school reunion, corporate retreat or a wedding venue, you will have found the ideal location. Guests enjoy a relaxing stay with modern amenities and access to the entire estate. Hunter Lowder, Director of Hospitality, is an event professional who has an amazing talent to work with you to customize your business goals and client entertainment needs. Some of the event activities that can be customized include vineyard and olive grove tours and tasting, game room with billiards and darts, bocce ball, horseshoes, lawn dominoes, guided hiking, cooking classes, wagon rides, swimming, sporting clays and mini golf. A fully equipped fitness center can include pilates and yoga if desired. Holman Ranch offers handicap accessibility. There is parking for 100 cars and plenty of space for bus parking. Security staff is always included and present at an event. Holman Ranch hosts one event at a time and the grounds are exclusively yours during the rental period. All licensed and insured caterers and vendors are welcome. Hunter and staff will also work with you in any aspect to create your event. After meeting Hunter it was obvious that she is a woman who will pay attention to every detail.

The tasting room is fantastic and Nick is knowledgeable and very friendly!No pressure to buy any wines or sign up for the tour. We did however sign up for the tour and it was wonderful! Well worth the small cost.The tour on the estate was intimate, educational and fun. It was a wonderful day with the family and Nick made us feel as if we were part of his family. Not only during the tour but even on our first visit to his tasting room.If you are going to do wine tastings in Carmel Valley stop here and enjoy the company and the great wines! We will visit again when we return, no doubt about that.

We went for a wine tasting here by recommendation and it was just amazing! Nick handled the wine tasting and is such a great guy. We absolutely loved chatting with him and learning more about their different wines. We did the white wine flight and got a taste of a delicious new dessert wine as well. Not to forget to mention the, hands down, best olive oil I have ever tasted! This place is an absolute must when in Carmel Valley! I am happy we got a bottle of the great Pinot Gris to enjoy until the next time we go there.

This is a review of the tasting room located in the winery row. We stopped here based on a recommendation. Nick was working and handling the tasting. He did a great job and his wine was very good. He explained the Holman operation and history. We were very pleased with our experience.

We visited the Holman Ranch tasting room in Carmel Valley in June 2013. We were impressed with the wines and the service. They offered three different wine flights; whites, reds or mixed, costing $5 for 3 wines. We decided on the white flight, which included a sauvignon blanc, a pinot gris, and a chardonnay. The server also gave us a free taste of an additional chardonnay and a rosé and we got try Holman's olive oil. The rosé and pinot gris both stood out for us. The server was very knowledgeable about the wines and the history of Holman Ranch which was very interesting to hear. Holman Ranch tasting room is a must do if you are wine tasting in Carmel Valley.

The Holman Ranch is a wonderful picturesque location. My wife and I traveled from Rhode Island for a good friend's wedding. The accommodations are excellent although the rooms could use slightly more ambient light. Not an issue at all!Had a great dinner and the barn was a nice little venue to cut loose in. If you plan on running or biking while in the area, bring your climbing legs...us flatlanders are not used to such pitches in elevation! Ownership is very nice and hands-off. You basically have the run of the ranch. Would definitely go back again. In addition to a phenomenal wedding location, I would recommend Holman for a corporate retreat, family gathering or just a place to....well...unwind.

I was invited here as part of a Carmel Valley fundraiser for local non profit companies. There are beautiful hillsides, beautiful vegetation, and the setting just lends itself to being able to relax and enjoy in an area of the Monterey/Carmel area that avoids most fog, and has temperatures in the 70's on a regular basis.

Thank you so much for your thoughts and for sharing them with the world. At Holman Ranch, hospitality and making guests feel at home is our number one goal. We are so happy that you enjoyed your visit with us and it was our pleasure to meet you and host you at our home. We hope to see you again sometime soon and please keep sharing your experience. We love making new friends! Thanks!

Very picturesque setting atop a high hill over looking Carmelvalley. After the ceremony we were seated under a trellis for adelicious dinner,then into the barn for dancing

There are a lot of great places to taste wine in Carmel Valley, and Holman Ranch is certainly one of them. Sometimes however, you want a bit more than just good wine. If it's a "total experience" that you seek, this is the place to visit! The business is family owned and operated, which really shows from the moment you step through their doorstep.Since moving to the area a year ago, my wife and I have visited nearly every winery/tasting room in the valley. There are many good ones, but this particular one is not to be missed.

I was here for a corporate meeting but I can see why this place would be popular as wedding destination. It's got a sweeping gorgeous view, grounds are immaculate. It's very private and self contained -- has 10 rooms, outdoor dining area, barn area for an indoor party. Really lovely property.