Monterey

Monterey Monterey

Fine Frech Dining at Bistro Moulin

John Steinbeck’s tome Cannery Row describes a vibrant scene where cannery workers rub shoulders with marine biologists and the ladies of the night entertain the locals. Today in this spot sits a world class aquarium and a bustling array of shops, hotels and restaurants. On one street up the hill lies three notable eateries on a twoblock stretch. One is The Whaling Station, long owned by television personality John Pisto and known for its prime steaks. The second one is The Sardine Factory, owned by fellow Supreme Knight Ted Balistreri and renowned for its extensive wine cellar, elegant dining and vibrant piano bar.

The third eatery, just a bit further down the street, is Bistro Moulin. An intimate French restaurant owned by Knight Didier Duterte and Gentle Lady Colleen Duterte. Chef Duterte came to the United States from Normandy at the invitation of the owner of Casanova restaurant in Carmel. Chef worked at this popular location for well over a decade and developed a strong following of patrons. This chef/sommelier, husband and wife team, has hosted us several times over the past few years at Bistro Moulin. Sommelier Colleen’s passion for French wines shines through in her presentation as we enjoyed lively pairing of regional French food with wines from the corresponding region.

This year, if it that is possible, it was made better still with a pair of wine distributors hosting a tasting of an array of French wines before our dinner. We bought out the house and required proof of vaccination for all involved thus insuring a safe reentry to indoor dining.

Also on the calendar is the always spectacular Pier Party at Stillwater Cove. Pebble Beach is the location for this premier event to be held on sunny October 17th. Following that will be our Grand Assemblage on November the 13th at Pasadera Golf Club. It is sure to be extra special as we raise several well-deserving members to the highest designation in our Order. We hope you will all consider joining us!

Frank and Sherry Williams awaiting the first course

By Rich Kehoe

Windy Oaks is Windy Oaks is a family affair. a family affair. Here are Jim, July Here are Jim, Judy and son James and son James welcoming guests welcoming guests to a tasting. to a tasting. James James is a member of the is a member of the Monterey Chapter Monterey Chapter of KOV of KOV

Savoring Pinot Noirs

Created with Extreme Minimal Intervention

By Tom McGurn

How does an international management consulting career (working in a friend’s vineyard in the Yarra Valley) and frequent visits to Burgundy come together in Corralitos, California? For Jim Schultze, and his family, it is the journey they experienced leading to the founding of Windy Oaks Winery in 1996 and their first vintage in 1999.

“As a management consultant, I should say that Windy Oaks was based on a detailed business plan. Yes, we had a vision and strategic plan from the start, but a bit of serendipity also played a role,” Jim reflected during a chat in his tasting room just off Ocean Avenue in Carmel. He is Founder and Executive Winemaker.

When the Schultzes returned to California after seven years in Australia and Great Britain they purchased a then 25-year old family home adjacent to an abandoned apple orchard in the small Santa Cruz County town of Corralitos. The property sits in the Santa Cruz Mountains foothills and is six miles east from the ocean. Typical summer temperatures range from 70-degrees during the day and high 40s-low 50s in the evening. Jim felt the property’s similarity with Pinot Noir vineyards he has visited abroad made this a good location for a vineyard. He also discovered that many Pinot vineyards were planted on former apple orchard land.

Jim cleared the over-grown orchard and planted his first three acres of Pinot. At the same time, he completed the winemaking certification program at the University of California at Davis to enhance his knowledge of winemaking and the finer points of growing grapes. Jim continues to be an advocate for continuing education and innovation.

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Windy Oaks welcomes guests at the estate and two tasting rooms in Carmel-by-the-Sea and Carmel Valley pictured here.

Vineyard Clouds in Spring

Today the Corralitos estate has grown to almost 30 acres producing Pinot, Chardonnay and Syrah. “Our goal is to create wines which elegantly reflect their terroir – one with balance, complexity and harmony. One wine writer descripted our approach as ‘extreme minimal intervention’ where we try to do as little as possible in the winery to manipulate the grapes,” Jim explains. “The most important part of my job as winemaker is what I do in the vineyard to ensure maximum grape quality and pristine condition at harvest. The French have a word – vigneron – that describes someone who grows grapes and makes wine, and I think that is a good way to think about our approach. We view grape growing and winemaking as part of a single process – not two separate activities,” he adds. Windy Oaks is a family operation. Wife and mother Judy, who shares her husband’s love for all things oenological, utilizes her marketing consulting career to market the winery and manage their club, the

WineGroup. About 80% of their sales come from WineGroup members. Windy Oaks operates tasting rooms in Carmel, Carmel Valley and at the Corralitos winery. The Monterey Bay tasting rooms are managed by son James, who honed his customer service and marketing skills working in a tasting room and pouring at industry events. James is an active member of the Monterey Chapter of the Knights of the Vine. Both the Carmel and Carmel Valley rooms have been venues for the chapter’s popular Friday Knights’ Flights tastings. Jim Schultze in barrel room