Food & Wine Weekend in Ventura County
Ventura County used to be a place to drive through, with acres of farmland and not much else. How times have changed. A vibrant wine culture has quietly sprouted in the area. It shouldn't be surprising given its rich agriculture history; it seems almost natural. And, with so much of the county land devoted to farming (over 96,000 acres), growing strawberries, avocados, lemons, raspberries, tomatoes and other crops, it makes sense that Ventura County is also home to innovative, award-winning restaurants.
Only about an hour north on the 101 from Los Angeles, the area is closer than most other wine regions and offers its on unique vibe. Three cities in the county, Camarillo, Oxnard and Ventura, known as VenturaCountyWest, offer some of the most varied varieties of wine and culinary experiences.
Ventura County has over 15 wineries/pouring rooms on the Ventura County Wine Trail (http://www.venturacountywinetrail.com). Start in Camarillo with a stop at the quaint Bella Victorian Tasting Room & Bistro in Old Town Camarillo. Owners Jerry and Kimberly Monahan vineyards in Camarillo are growing Syrah, Grenache, Counoise and Viognier grapes. The tasting room at the Bistro gives visitors a chance to pair wines with the chef's "farm to table" menu.
Ever fancy yourself to be your own vintner? You can at Squashed Grapes in Ventura where you can make your own personalized wine. You decide on varietal, and when the time comes, you fill and cork each bottle and apply your own custom-designed label. You can even arrange to pick and crush your own grapes!
One of the country's only kosher wineries is in Oxnard. Come to Herzog Wine Cellars during the week to see the state-of-the-art wine fermentation and bottling process in action at the winery's Wine taste in a beautiful setting before enjoying Mediterranean-influenced cuisine by Chef Todd Aarons at Tierra Sur Restaurant inside the winery. Pomegranate-marinated lamb, aged rib-eye steak and wild kind salmon are all cooked outdoors on an open flame. Using only the best ingredients, the restaurant buys from local, small family farms. Open for lunch and dinner.
Group and private wine tours are available through the California Visitors Center in Oxnard www.visitoxnard.com and the Ventura Visitors Center www.ventura-usa.com
with advanced reservations.
Spend one morning eating a tasty breakfast brunch on the patio of Café Nouveau. It's a great way to start the day. Then make time to take the Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Tour that take place on weekends throughout in Camarillo, Oxnard and Ventura where you'll meet chefs, chocolate makers, and brew masters. Make sure you make reservations in advance.
Finish your day by trying something different for dinner. Moqueca Brazillian Cuisine in Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard is actually a style of cooking from the state of Espirito Santos in Brazil. The atmosphere is said to remind Brazilians of home. For a completely different tasting experience, go to The Sidecar Restaurant in Ventura where you experience casual elegance in a 1910 Pullman dining car. Executive chef and owner Tim Kilcoyne's, who grew up in farm country, makes every dish with the philosophy that it be simple, seasonal and fresh.
Only about an hour north on the 101 from Los Angeles, the area is closer than most other wine regions and offers its on unique vibe. Three cities in the county, Camarillo, Oxnard and Ventura, known as VenturaCountyWest, offer some of the most varied varieties of wine and culinary experiences.
Ventura County has over 15 wineries/pouring rooms on the Ventura County Wine Trail (http://www.venturacountywinetrail.com). Start in Camarillo with a stop at the quaint Bella Victorian Tasting Room & Bistro in Old Town Camarillo. Owners Jerry and Kimberly Monahan vineyards in Camarillo are growing Syrah, Grenache, Counoise and Viognier grapes. The tasting room at the Bistro gives visitors a chance to pair wines with the chef's "farm to table" menu.
Ever fancy yourself to be your own vintner? You can at Squashed Grapes in Ventura where you can make your own personalized wine. You decide on varietal, and when the time comes, you fill and cork each bottle and apply your own custom-designed label. You can even arrange to pick and crush your own grapes!
One of the country's only kosher wineries is in Oxnard. Come to Herzog Wine Cellars during the week to see the state-of-the-art wine fermentation and bottling process in action at the winery's Wine taste in a beautiful setting before enjoying Mediterranean-influenced cuisine by Chef Todd Aarons at Tierra Sur Restaurant inside the winery. Pomegranate-marinated lamb, aged rib-eye steak and wild kind salmon are all cooked outdoors on an open flame. Using only the best ingredients, the restaurant buys from local, small family farms. Open for lunch and dinner.
Group and private wine tours are available through the California Visitors Center in Oxnard www.visitoxnard.com and the Ventura Visitors Center www.ventura-usa.com
with advanced reservations.
Spend one morning eating a tasty breakfast brunch on the patio of Café Nouveau. It's a great way to start the day. Then make time to take the Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Tour that take place on weekends throughout in Camarillo, Oxnard and Ventura where you'll meet chefs, chocolate makers, and brew masters. Make sure you make reservations in advance.
Finish your day by trying something different for dinner. Moqueca Brazillian Cuisine in Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard is actually a style of cooking from the state of Espirito Santos in Brazil. The atmosphere is said to remind Brazilians of home. For a completely different tasting experience, go to The Sidecar Restaurant in Ventura where you experience casual elegance in a 1910 Pullman dining car. Executive chef and owner Tim Kilcoyne's, who grew up in farm country, makes every dish with the philosophy that it be simple, seasonal and fresh.
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