Lewelling Ranch and Vineyards

HOST FARMERS: Haley Wight & Erik Dodd | Lewelling Ranch

GUEST CHEF: Elliot Bell | Charlie's

An incredible property. This is the Napa Valley of yesterday. Grape growing and winemaking are central, and not a gift shop to be seen. There is even a semi-intact farmhouse from the late 1800s. John Lewelling settled this land in 1864, and now the sixth generation of his descendants carries on his legacy.

The Wight and Taplin families are the current stewards of the Lewelling Ranch, and they will be bringing wines from Hayfork, Lewelling Vineyards, and Taplin Cellars to the table.

We’ll set the table down a row of grapevines, or maybe in the olive grove nestled inside the vineyards. We’ll wander the fruit orchards scattered across the property and gaze at cows grazing on the hillsides.

Chef Elliot Bell, a small-town boy from Iowa who grew up to be the executive sous chef at Thomas Keller’s French Laundry, will come out from his place in St. Helena. It’s just around the corner from the fire station where he’s a volunteer firefighter.