The End of Radio Silence

This post marks my return to The 805 Diary after time off to help the family put out some personal (metaphorical) fires. And although the last few weeks galumphed by with all the speed and grace of a stoned sloth, the weekends brought much-needed respite and fun. Good times and good people — can’t ask for anything better.

For the last two weekends in January, this historic location was opened to the public for the first time in decades.* Those who pre-registered were invited to tour its elegant rooms and peaceful grounds, connect with event/wedding planners, sample area wines, and enjoy some BBQ — all in an easy-going “open house” format.

The mansion was built between 1886 and 1890 by Christian publisher and entrepreneur, David C. Cook. Cook also built the original incarnation of the Mountain View Inn and the local Methodist church. Oh, and in his spare time, he managed one hell of a side gig: founding the town of Piru.

Cook was initially drawn to the Rancho Camulos area north of Los Angeles after reading the novel Ramona, written by Helen Hunt Jackson and set in the rancho.

Fanboys traveling cross country and building and founding stuff. The 19th century was clearly a different time.

*Don’t quote me on this, but I’ve heard whispers of a similar event being scheduled for this spring.

If you haven’t checked out their free wine tastings yet, what are you even doing with your life? Each tasting features ~8 wines, often with another surprise thrown in by general manager and level 2 sommelier Rick McDaniel. This last time, they let us try a “baby” Chardonnay — newly bottled, unlabeled, forging its own identify as a clean, crisp pop of lemon drop. Not yet for sale, though.

Tastings are usually offered every 6 to 8 weeks on Saturdays, with Rick and owner Ken Wiseman on hand to walk you through the basics of what’s in your glass.

We highly recommend going early for their brunch (10:00 AM to 2:00 PM) or staying for the dinner service (starting around 4:00).

About 85 miles north of Ventura, there’s a small, tucked-away town off the 101 that time forgot — and then kinda-sorta remembered again. Drive down Los Alamos’s main thoroughfare, Bell Street, and you’ll pass withered frontier buildings: the General Store, a decaying gas station, and the old motel, now looking like something out of a gothic novel.

But sandwiched between all those relics are the tasting rooms and restaurants giving Los Alamos a renewed vitality.

Owned and operated by winemaker, Stephen Bedford, Bedford Winery is part rustic charm, part foodie’s paradise, and part intellectual storehouse — all of it informed by unfussy, disciplined winemaking and well-structured, balanced wines. Look for traditional Bordeaux-style varietals and blends, Syrahs, a Tempranillo that we practically arm-wrestled each other for, and solid faves such as the Pinot Gris.

The tasting room is one of the most relaxed and inviting we know. Pooches are welcome. And if you get a chance, chat up Stephen, who will endear with you his charm and deep love and knowledge of food and wine. Forget your cares and plan to spend at least a couple hours here.

Note: If you’ve been around the California wine industry for any length of time, you may know Stephen as the former winemaker for Rancho Sisquoc.

Pico: Farm-to-table dining and an extensive wine library, inside the old General Store building.

Bell’s: Fine dining, French bistro style. Lunch reservations recommended. Dinners feature prix-fixe menus and reservations are required.

Lo-Fi Wines: Shares the building with Bedford. They specialize in light, playful, easy-drinking wines produced through carbonic maceration (a process that preserves the essential fruit and floral character of a varietal and typically yields lighter styles of wine). Much of their selection is also unfiltered, so don’t be surprised if your Syrah is sporting an IPA-style haze. Their embrace of novelty makes for a sharp contrast with Bedford’s strong sense of tradition.

In a three-day weekend that looks like a pedantic feud over the proper use of apostrophes, local hangs are offering numerous ways to celebrate.

After Hours with D.J. Noleskee
Friday, February 13
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Sip from their current selection of wines while the D.J. spins romantic soul.

Wine & Chocolate Pairings
Saturday and Sunday, February 14 & 15
$30/person
Sample six decadent chocolates, paired with selections of their current wines.

*Check with the tasting room for availability. Some events or offerings may be limited to members only.

Valentine’s Day Dinner
Friday and Saturday, February 13 and Saturday 14
Check out their appetizer and dinner specials, including the French onion ribeye.
No reservations required.
Dinner service starts at 5:00 PM.

Four-Course Valentine’s Day Dinner
February 14
$149/couple
Reservations required

Chateaubriand Dinner
February 13
Book now

Steak and lobster dinner
February 14

It’s a staycation kind of weekend. Because I’m still dealing with a back injury, we’ve had to cancel the bigger road trips we had planned. But we’re making up for it by traveling locally and having as much fun as we can in our own “backyard.”

This girls-only event has sold out, so you know what that means! Okay, maybe you don’t.

This event includes an overnight stay at the Inn, and a number of room types were made available for booking. One of them was the three-person “penthouse,” also known as Room 308, the notoriously dark space featured in a number of ghost-hunting shows. That the event has sold out means that three someones are brave enough to book that room. I’m curious to see if they’ll make it through the night.

When I participated in the Halloween ghost hunt, the energy in that room was palpably different. Everyone tensed, hackles went up. One “entity” even spoke my name.

Before that event, rumors were circulating that the last guests to stay in Room 308 had checked out early. Apparently, one of them had been scratched in the middle of the night. I confirmed with front desk staff that indeed, there had been an early checkout. They couldn’t confirm why, however.

Enjoy a four-course dinner with your sweetie at this beautiful and relaxing historic location, and then forget the drive home. Overnight room rates have been discounted for Valentine’s Day. Check with the Inn for availability, as this sells out fast.