Hollywood And Vines

Today you kick off your adventure in the Santa Ynez Valley. You can check into the Fess Parker Wine Country Inn & Spa in Los Olivos as soon as 3 PM. Team Traterra recommends flying into Los Angeles or Santa Barbara. If you are flying, transportation from the airport to your accommodations is up to you—and we highly recommend booking a rental car so you can enjoy exploring the bounty that is Santa Ynez Valley. Home to quaint shops and dozens upon dozens of wineries, the area is also a haven for golfers and equestrians.

A Traterra representative will greet you in the lobby upon your arrival. The group will dine together at 7 PM at Los Olivos Café, which will consist of a delicious multiple course meal with exquisite wine pairings.

This morning, you have free time to do as you wish. At 11:30 AM, you’ll be whisked from your accommodations to the home of Richard and Pamela Harris at Calzada Ridge Vineyard, where they settled into successful second careers as vintners after leaving the film industry in 1996.

Richard’s Hollywood achievements are numerous, including an Academy award for film editing Titanic. Pamela worked as an associate producer on Titanic and was nominated for a visual effects Oscar herself for Cliffhanger. The two will talk about their life in film and how they got into wine, as a catered lunch is prepared and served outside.

During the three hours you have with Richard and Pamela, the couple will also talk about the high standards necessary to create a wine they not only love to drink themselves, but also share with others. The couple limits production of their Calzada Ridge Viognier to 100 cases a year, so if you like what you sample, make certain to arrange to have bottles shipped home. Learn how the Harris vineyard is cared for—from pruning to leafing to harvest—all using only organic substances on the vines.

Today consists of two parts—a hands-on cooking lesson in the morning (complete with lunch) and sunset storytelling in the evening. At 10:30 AM, you’ll be taken to the home of Leonardo Curti and his wife, Jennifer. Leonardo, who was born in Italy, says his passion for food began as a boy growing up in Calabria, where he enjoyed helping pick up eggs, clean fish, going to the butcher for meat, and selecting cheeses and produce at the local market. A California resident since 1992, Leonardo worked for several Italian restaurants before opening his own in Santa Ynez in 1997. Leonardo’s cooking lesson promises to be “accessible Italian cuisine” – featuring hearty country dishes from his cookbook, Trattoria Grappolo: Simple Recipes for Traditional Italian Cuisine.

The afternoon—from 1:30 PM to 6 PM—is yours to do as you please. The final evening with the group is at your curator’s home. Diane, a vintner herself, will talk about how she got involved with wine and sample from her signature 16 Crows and Highland Oaks label wines. A catered dinner by Pam Pilcher will be served outdoors.

After dinner, enjoy sunset storytelling with Gerald di Pego. The Hollywood screenwriter and producer is best known for his work on Message in a Bottle, Phenomenon, and The Forgotten. Gerald will tell stories of his life in Hollywood and discuss his current screenplays. The evening concludes at 10 PM.