Ox + Anchor, the Michelin-recognized modern steakhouse helmed by renowned Chef Ryan Fancher and located within the luxury, boutique property Hotel San Luis Obispo, is thrilled to present a series of upcoming winemaker dinners featuring world-class winemakers and tasting menus curated by Chef Fancher.
“We’re honored to have the opportunity to partner with such a diverse and dynamic community dedicated to the craft of winemaking for Ox + Anchor’s monthly winemaker dinners,” said Circe Sher, co-founder of Piazza Hospitality which developed and manages Hotel SLO. “Collaborating with such prominent local winemakers allows us to truly celebrate the region and give guests a taste of the Central Coast. We’re looking forward to having Chef Ryan curate these exceptional multi-course menus to elevate the tasting experience and showcase both the talent and terroir of our region.”
The next winemaker dinner will be in collaboration with DAOU’s Soul of a Lion on Tuesday, June 27. Soul of a Lion is the masterwork of Winemaker Daniel Daou, who combines technical innovation with the touch of an artist. The fruit for Soul of a Lion is identified early and reverently tended through harvest. The berries are optically sorted to ensure pure fruit integrity, and the wine is made exclusively from free-run juice. During fermentation, Daniel employs proprietary phenolic management techniques to complement his own sensory expertise. The resulting wine displays a rare trifecta of power, density and elegance.
The following dinner will be held on Tuesday, July 25 with LeVigne Winery, a 100-acre vineyard estate property in Paso Robles that was one of the region’s first planted by the Filippini family in 1981. Through the years, the land’s diverse terroir has yielded exceptional quality grapes. Its head winemaker Terry Culton has been making acclaimed wines for over 20 years and brings a depth of creativity to the winery’s Estate wines. In his first year at Le Vigne, he received 98 points and a double gold award from Sunset Magazine on Le Vigne Paso 2019 Rosé of Sangiovese.
The next dinner will be held on Tuesday, August 29 in partnership with Rusack Vineyards, a boutique winery and vineyard nestled among the oak-studded rolling hills of Ballard Canyon. Its mission is to create world-class, handcrafted wines that reflect our commitment to excellence and our love for this region. Winemaker Steven Gerbac oversees a portfolio of estate-grown, Rhone-inspired wines, the production of Anacapa, the popular Bordeaux style blend, and a Burgundy-inspired selection of Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs from the Sta. Rita Hills and Santa Maria Valley appellations of Santa Barbara County.
On Tuesday, September 26, the winemaker dinner will be in collaboration with Cass Winery located in the Geneseo District sub-AVA, southeast of the town of Paso Robles. The Cass Estate Vineyard exemplifies the quality of the Paso Robles region with its warm days, cool coastal breezes, and exceptional soils. Winemaker Sterling Kragten continues to innovate and experiment with the wines and has received multiple 90+ point reviews along with many other accolades over the years.
The next dinner will be in October (exact date to be determined) with Costa de Oro Winery located in Santa Maria. Winemaker Gary Burk and his wines have received critical acclaim, including 90-point scores or higher from Robert Parker, James Laube/Wine Spectator, and Wine and Spirits Magazine. His technique is a mix of artistry and instinct to create elegant and memorable wines.
On Tuesday, November 28, the winemaker dinner will be held with Tablas Creek Vineyard, a pioneer of California’s Rhone movement, and the world’s first Regenerative Organic Certified™ vineyard located Paso Robles. Tablas Creek’s winemaking consists of a dedication to the art of blending. As is traditional in Châteauneuf du Pape, the winemakers blend their Rhône varietals in an effort to produce wines of complexity, balance, and expressiveness. Different blending components can bring richness, freshness, spice, or minerality, and the winemaking team believes that careful blending will produce wines that are greater than the sum of their parts.
A Central Coast native, Chef Fancher’s deep appreciation for the local community, winemakers, and purveyors and his creative dishes are exceptional elements of the winemaker dinner series.
In preparation for each winemaker dinner, Chef Fancher and the featured winemaker meet weeks in advance for a special tasting and discussion that delves deep into the winemaker’s preferences. He has honed a collaborative and intellectual approach to cooking, in general, after working at world-class Wine Country restaurants, including Barndiva in Healdsburg.
Hotel San Luis Obispo is the perfect home base for wine lovers looking to explore the nearby wine regions of Edna Valley, Arroyo Grande, Paso Robles, and Santa Margarita. In addition to Ox + Anchor, the property offers 78 luxurious guestrooms and suites, a 50-foot garden terrace swimming pool and jacuzzi, an eco-friendly spa, an expansive rooftop bar and accompanying lounge, a fresh California take on Italian cuisine at its second restaurant, Piadina, and a spacious fitness center. Environmentally conscious travelers will appreciate the property’s sustainable elements, including reusable water bottles for every guest, refill stations throughout the hotel, and charging stations for electric vehicles.
For more information or to book a table for the winemaker dinners, please visit oxandanchor.com. Hotel San Luis Obispo room reservations can be made at hotel-slo.com.