Winemaker Series featuring Ian Brand of I.Brand & Family Winery

Sommelier and Wine Educator Paige Post Bindel will talk with Ian Brand, renowned winemaker and co-founder of I.Brand & Family Winery located in the Carmel Valley California.  Paige and Ian will guide us thru a tasting of two distinct world class wines.

A bit about  I.Brand & Family Winery

Ian and Heather Brand founded I Brand Family Wines in Central Coast California in 2008. Ian’s first winery job was with Bonny Doon Winery; he then went to work for Big Basin Vineyards for four years before he and Heather decided to begin their own project. I Brand uses organic and sustainable farming practices, annually producing 11,000 cases from 20+ year old vines. Ian devotes much time to selecting vineyard sites with shallow, rocky soils and proper varietal match with soil and climate in the often-overlooked Monterey Bay area, which has a plethora of underappreciated vineyards:

After ten years of studying the history, geography, climate and geology of the Monterey Bay area through their P’tit Paysan and La Marea labels, Ian and Heather Brand started I. Brand & Family to showcase the truly unique vineyard blocks in the region- Santa Cruz Mountains, Monterey, and San Benito- which they believe will define their region. These wines are made with special regard for site, intended to intensely showcase place, and each site was selected because of its special location, match of variety to place, and relationship with the history and/or future of the region.

• I Brand picks Petite Syrah from two blocks in the Y Ranch section of Pierce Vineyard in the San Antonio Valley. Block 1 is on a west facing rocky hillside comprised of large chunks of white limestone. Block 3 faces southeast on a slope with decomposed granite.
• Their portion of Spur Ranch Vineyard in the Benito Valley is situated on a 1000-foot elevation on a 15 degree south facing slope on the southern side of Chalone Peak with high calcareous content clay over mica schist substrate.
• Cedar Lane Vineyard is on a mesa over the river and is well protected from Salinas Valley breezes. The Arroyo Seco appellation is comprised mostly of alluvial deposits from the Ventana Range.
• La Belle Rose Vineyard is one of the most northernly Salinas Valley Vineyards. The Chardonnay block is a geologically distinct iron rich granite formation with limestone deposits, found tucked up against the base of Jack’s Hill.

I Brand strives to produce wines filed with character from remote, rough around the edges vineyards with minimal interference in order to allow their wine’s idiosyncrasies shine.

This event is free of charge. 

RSVP is per computer not per person please. Space is limited. 

Wines for Tasting

• 2019 Kristy Vineyard La Marea Albarino     $22.00 
• 2017 La Marea Grenache      $30.00

For locals purchase & pick up the wines at his Carmel Valley tasting room.

Out of town/state purchases go through the website www.ibrandwinery.com