Holman Ranch
Holman Ranch Vineyard
Location60 Holman Road, Carmel Valley Village, California
Coordinates36°28′49″N 121°43′15″W / 36.48028°N 121.72083°W / 36.48028; -121.72083
Wine regionMonterey County, California
AppellationCarmel Valley AVA
Founded1928
Key peopleTom & Susan Lowder (proprietors)
Greg Vita and Chris Vita (winemakers)
Kirstie Dyer (CEO)
Rubi Ramirez (ranch manager)
Acres cultivated18 acres (7.3 ha)
VarietalsPinot noir, Chardonnay, Pinot gris
Other attractionsVineyard tours, weddings, special events
DistributionWine club
TastingOpen to public by appointment
Websitewww.holmanranch.com

Holman Ranch was originally part of the Rancho Los Laureles, a 6,625-acre (26.81 km2) Mexican land grant in present-day Monterey County, California. The ranch passed through many hands until 1928, when San Francisco businessman, Gordon Armsby, purchased 400 acres (160 ha) in Carmel Valley, California, that would become the Holman Ranch. Today, the Holman Ranch continues as a privately owned winery.

History

Boronda family of Monterey County
Holman Ranch Wine Barrels

Holman Ranch was originally part of the Rancho Los Laureles, a 6,625-acre (26.81 km2) Mexican land grant was made to Vicente Blas Martinez and José Manuel Boronda (1803-1878), along with Boronda's son, Juan de Mata Boronda by Manuel Jimena on September 19, 1839.[1][2] In 1868, the Boronda's son, Juan de Mata Boronda, sold the Rancho Los Laureles to Elihu Avery, who sold it to Ezekiel Tripp in 1874. Nathan W. Spaulding, later Oakland 's fifteenth Mayor, purchased a half interest on April 27, 1874. Abner Doble bought a half interest in 1875; Frederick Getchell and David Ayers in 1881; and Frank Hinkley a half interest in 1881.[3][4]

In 1882, the Pacific Improvement Company purchased Rancho Los Laureles. In the 1900s the Pacific Improvement Company liquidated their holdings (10,000-acre (40 km2)) and the Del Monte Properties headed by Samuel FB Morse, acquired the land. William Hatton was manager. In 1923, they divided the land into 11 parcels, at $60 (equivalent to $1,031 in 2022) an acre. Golf champion Marion Hollins bought 2,000-acre (8.1 km2). In 1926, Frank and Jet Porter, of Salinas bought 600-acre (2.4 km2) of the southeast corner of Rancho Los Laureles, calling it Robles del Rio, California. The Porters later acquired a portion of the Marion Hollins ranch and sold the northeast corner of Rancho Los Laureles to Byington Ford for an airpark.[4][3][5]

In August 1928, Hollins sold a 400-acre (1.6 km2) ranch to San Francisco broker Gordon Armsby.[6] She commissioned architect Clarence A. Tantau, who helped design the Hotel Del Monte, to build a Spanish-style hacienda out of Carmel stone with terracotta roofing, and oak-beamed ceilings. It became a Hollywood retreat for Charlie Chaplin, Theda Bara, Marlon Brando, and Clark Gable. It was once called Casa Escondido (Hidden House).[5][7]

Clarence E. Holman (1877-1962), eldest son of Rensselaer Luther Holman (1842-1909, the founder of Holman's Department Store in Pacific Grove, California, bought the ranch in 1943. In the 1950s and early 1960s, Clarence created a working dude ranch called the Holman's Guest Ranch, with bungalows, riding stables, and a stone ranch house. A rodeo arena was built in 1948, which was used by the Tri-County Horsemen Association to put on horse shoes and rodeos.[8] After Holman died in 1962, his wife Vivian L. Ogden-Holman (1903-1981) continued managing the ranch, hosting rodeos, horse shows, and an annual celebration of the ranch's birthday called, The Fiesta de los Amigos (Friends Party).[9]

In 1989, Dorothy McEwen Kildall bought the Holman Ranch and transformed it into a winery and a site for weddings, corporate parties, photo shoots, charity events, and an equestrian center. She died in 2005 and is survived by her daughter, Kristin Kildall, and her son Scott Kildall.[10][8]

Holman Ranch Tasting Room is at West Carmel Valley Road.

In 2006, the Holman Ranch was purchased by Thomas and Jarman Lowder. They restored the hacienda, expanded the guest amenities, and planted 18 acres (7.3 ha) of vineyards for Pinot noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot gris. In 2012, an underground wine cave was built. In 2020, the Holman Ranch opened a tasting room and offers a venue for weddings and events.[7][11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Report of the Surveyor General 1844 - 1886 Archived 2013-03-20 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ Hoover, Mildred Brooke; Rensch, Hero Eugene; Rensch, Ethel Grace; Abeloe, William N. (1966). Historic Spots in California. Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0-8047-4482-9.
  3. 1 2 "This is Carmel Valley". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. 12 Oct 1958. p. 190. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  4. 1 2 Fink, Augusta (2000). Monterey County: The Dramatic Story of its Past. Valley Publishers. pp. 196, 198, 201. ISBN 9780913548622. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  5. 1 2 Hale, Sharron Lee (1980). A Tribute to Yesterday: The History of Carmel, Carmel Valley, Big Sur, Point Lobos, Carmelite Monastery, and Los Burros. Santa Cruz, California: Valley Publishers. pp. 111–112. ISBN 9780913548738. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  6. ↑ "Gordon Armsby Buys Carmel Ranch". The Times. San Mateo, California. 23 Aug 1928. p. 2. Retrieved 2022-06-30.
  7. 1 2 Laura Ness (2 Jun 2012). "A Carmel Valley Escapade". The Californian. Salinas, California. p. 32. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  8. 1 2 Jeff Ohlson. "A History of Ranching in Carmel Valley". Carmel Valley Historical Society. Carmel Valley, California. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  9. ↑ Barratt, Elizabeth (Dec 2009). Carmel Valley. Carmel Valley, California. pp. 91, 102, 124. ISBN 9780738571621. Retrieved 2022-06-30. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  10. ↑ Chris Counts (11 Feb 2005). "Friends and neighbors pay tribute to 'angel' who was a computer pioneer". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. pp. 1, 14. Retrieved 2022-06-30.
  11. ↑ "Holman Ranch celebrates 84th year with annual fiesta". The Californian. Salinas, California. 12 Oct 2012. p. 9. Retrieved 2022-06-30.
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