Ojai Food + Wine Festival 2025

Ojai, California
Tasted Thursday, March 13, 2025 - Sunday, March 16, 2025 by tcarter with 189 views

Introduction

Ojai Food + Wine Festival took place over four days in Ojai California.

Flight 1 - Thursday Night Reception (12 Notes)

Open to all ticketed patrons, the walk-around tasting will feature over twenty chefs and more than 25 wineries with a spotlight on regional California wineries, along with some of the world’s best producers. Scheduled to appear: Andrew Zimmern, Cassidee Dabney, Claudette Zepeda, Deau Arpapornnopparat, Elizabeth Falkner, Evan Funke, Giancarla Biondi, Jeremiah Tower, Jonathan Waxman, Maneet Chauhan, Mary Sue Milliken, Meave McAuliffe, Mei Lin, Michael Cimarusti, Nyesha Arrington, Nini Nguyen, Nancy Silverton, Philip Tessier, Ryan Pollnow, Stephanie Izard, Susan Feniger, Tiffani Faison, Thomas McNaughton, and Tyson Cole.

Flight 2 - Second to None: The Flight by Screaming Eagle (8 Notes)

Those who know Screaming Eagle understand that merlot is the estate’s secret weapon. It enhances the flagship Cabernet Sauvignon as part of the greater blend each year, adding energy and elegance. Independently, Screaming Eagle’s old vine merlot serves as the base for The Flight, producing wines with finesse, structure, and superb aging potential. Screaming Eagle’s winemaker Nick Gislason and Master of Wine Mary Margaret McCamic will lead this rare exploration of The Flight, charting its evolution over the years through multiple vintages and discussing what makes merlot from this property so very special.

Flight 3 - Lunch w/ Jeremiah Tower & Friends (5 Notes)

Heralded as America’s first celebrity chef and one of the pioneers of California cuisine, Jeremiah Tower is back in the kitchen with some of his closest culinary friends. Join Tower along with Mary Sue Milliken, Susan Feniger, and Elizabeth Falkner in a collaboration for the ages. This exclusive lunch will feature a wine accompaniment curated by Maggie Harrison of Antica Terra.

Flight 4 - The Legacy of Domaine Simon Bize (8 Notes)

Simon Bize has long been something of an insider secret, offering serious aging potential from its spectrum of plots. Now, they are justifiably starting to fly above the radar. A family-run estate founded in 1868 in Savigny-lès-Beaune, built an enviable reputation under Patrick Bize, who took the reins in the 70s. Since his death in 2013, the domaine has been run by his wife, Chisa, who had worked alongside her husband in their vineyards since 2008 and studied with biodynamic pioneer Anne-Claude Leflaive at the École du Vin et des Terroirs in Puligny Montrachet. Join Chisa and her son Hugo for a special afternoon exploring the legacy of the domaine.

Flight 5 - Fingers Crossed with Nikolas and Julia Krankl (6 Notes)

The journey of Fingers Crossed has been a fascinating one, marked by growth and a commitment to excellence. Since the inaugural 2017 vintage, Nik and his Harvard-trained doctor wife Julia have continuously evolved, expanding their fruit sources, production size, and refining their winemaking expression with each passing year. Respected critics like Jeb Dunnuck, Lisa Perotti Brown, and Antonio Galloni have bestowed praise upon the meticulously crafted, small-production wines that Nik and Julia Krankl bring to fruition. The rarity of these wines makes them elusive gems, challenging to find but unquestionably worth the pursuit for enthusiasts seeking a taste of Rhône Valley magic in California.

Flight 6 - Dinner: 20 Years of Alinea (5 Notes)

Alinea has been universally praised for its innovative approach to modernist cuisine. It has been named the Best Restaurant in the World by Elite Traveler, the Best Restaurant in North America by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, and the Best Restaurant in the U.S. by Gourmet and Business Insider. It is one of only 13 restaurants in the U.S. to earn the coveted Michelin 3-Star rating. It has also won James Beard Awards for Outstanding Restaurant in the U.S., Outstanding Service in the U.S., and Outstanding Chef in the U.S.

Grant Achatz will preside over this intimate, once in a lifetime evening alongside Alinea Group alum Dave Beran (Seline, Pasjoli).

Flight 7 - Benchmarks of Meursault (8 Notes)

Power and balance between alcohol and acidity give many Meursault wines their noble character. Join two of our favorite winemakers, Maggie Harrison (Antica Terra) and Brad Grimes (Abreu) as they lead a journey through the heart of the Côte de Beaune region and some of its most revered producers. A dream tasting featuring two vintages each of Bernard-Bonin, Domaine Roulot, Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey, and Coche-Dury will be presented in this swoonworthy seminar.

Flight 8 - Lunch w/ Christopher Kostow & Friends (6 Notes)

A Michelin-starred chef before the age of 30, Christopher draws upon his own American upbringing and the singular beauty and bounty of the Napa Valley to cook food that is thoughtful, personal, and in concert with his community and collaborators. The youngest American born chef to ever receive the coveted Michelin three-star accolade, Christopher was also chosen as one of Food & Wine Magazine’s Best New Chefs and holds an award from the James Beard Foundation for Best Chef: West. Ten Speed Press published Christopher’s debut book, A New Napa Cuisine, and his work was awarded “Book of the Year” by the International Association of Culinary Professionals. Christopher and Team Kostow have provided vision for restaurant concepts across the globe, including Asia and Mexico while consistently creating extraordinary experiences for guests at The Restaurant at Meadowood, The Charter Oak, Ensue, Loveski, and Ciccio.

Joining Kostow in the kitchen are friends Katianna and John Hong (Yangban) and Brady Ishiwata Williams (Tomo). Xavier Barlier of Maisons Marques et Domaines will pair each course of the lunch with cuvées from the house of Champagne Louis Roederer.

Flight 9 - Four Decades of Excellence: Harlan Estate (8 Notes)

For forty years, Harlan Estate has been committed to creating a California "First Growth" wine estate. Founded in 1984, Harlan Estate is a winegrowing estate in the western hills of Oakville, California – in the heart of the Napa Valley. Join Will Harlan for this rare occasion to explore the unrivaled pedigree of his family’s legendary estate with 8 vintages of Harlan Estate spanning four different decades of production.

Flight 10 - Dinner: A Star-Studded Affair: Addison, Smyth & Melisse w/ Sine Qua Non (8 Notes)

William Bradley (Addison), John Shields (Smyth), and Josiah Citrin (Melisse) collaborate to create an evening celebrating the some of the finest restaurants in the country. Served in an intimate private estate, the trio of chefs with 9 Michelin stars among them will share the kitchen and pair courses with the iconic wines of Sine Qua Non.

Flight 11 - Dom Perignon, Revisiting the Vintages of the 1990s (8 Notes)

Dom Pérignon’s creative ambition is a perpetual quest for harmony as a source of emotion. Every creative process faces constraints. For Dom Pérignon, this means always a vintage wine. An unyielding commitment to bear witness to the harvest of a single year, whatever the challenges, even going as far as not declaring a vintage. On this rare occasion, guests will explore all vintages of Dom Pérignon produced during the 1990s.

Flight 12 - Sunday Grand Tasting (16 Notes)

Open to all ticketed patrons, the walk-around tasting will feature over 20 chefs and more than 25 wineries at Ojai Valley Inn’s signature venue, The Farmhouse. Scheduled to appear: Alessandro Frassica, Brady Ishiwata Williams, Cameron Ingle, Christopher Kostow, David Castro Hussong, Daisy Ryan, Eric Bost, Eunji Lee, Jessica Koslow, Justin Cogley, Justin Pichetrungsi, Jon Yao, Katianna and John Hong, Marcus Jernmark, Maribel Aldaco Silva, Matthew Kammerer, Melissa Perello, Matt Horn, Neal Fraser, Sherry Yard.

Flight 13 - Family Dinner (6 Notes)

Just a few friends popping some good bottles at The Oak Restaurant.

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