Rennsport Week Recommendations - And it starts with Wine Tasting at Bernardus Winery!

Rennsport V is coming up fast on the calendar later this month. In honor of that event, I have arranged for all of you a complimentary (free/no-cost-to-you) wine flight at Ben Pon's Bernardus Tasting Room in Carmel Valley Village. It will run the whole Rennsport week - from Monday September 21st to Monday September 28th! That will allow each of you an opportunity to leisurely go to the Bernardus wine tasting location in Carmel Valley as your schedule permits and take advantage of this special offering to those attending Rennsport! Just identify yourself as a Porsche enthusiast when you come in to the tasting room and request the complimentary flight of three wines that has been kindly selected for us by Sales Manager Rob Baker. They include a '14 Sauvignon Blanc (Griva Vineyard),a '12 Chardonnay (Sierra Mar Vineyard) & their renown '09 'Signature' Marinus! *** Here is the location of the Bernardus Wine Tasting room in relationship to Laguna Seca Racetrack: For more information on Bernardus and their tasting room, please click on this link below: http://www.bernardus.com/About-Us ************************************************************************ ****************************** I have know Ben Pon Jr. since we moved here to Carmel in 2000. In case some of you don't know, Ben Pon is an ex-factory Porsche race car driver & a member of the well-known Pon family of Holland. He and his family are closely connected to Porsche's & VW's history in the Netherlands. Today, 'Pon' is one of the largest enterprises in that country, which includes automotive franchises of the VW Group. http://www.pon.com/en . But Ben Pon Jr. established a separate private businesses in Monterey many years ago, which until recently also included the Bernardus Lodge besides the winery. The latter has now been sold to a private investor group that runs boutique hotel resorts. But Ben retains ownership of the well regarded 'Bernardus Winery', which coincidentally celebrated its 25th anniversary this year! Ben Pon has a fascinating racing history with Porsche: http://www.racingsportscars.com/driv...en-Pon-NL.html He has raced 356 Speedsters, 356 Carreras, 356 Abarths, 904s, 906s, 910s and 911's. And he raced in just about all famous racing circuits of Europe & America with them: Solitude, N�rburgring, Spa, Zandvoort, Monza, Hockenheim, Daytona, Sebring, Reims, Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Mugello, Zolder &...LeMans! ​ While you are at the Bernardus tasting room, please ask to take a look at the book Ben has published with the history of his racing involvement with Porsche. Here are a few photos from my own personal copy of this interesting book: ************************** ​Unfortunately, Ben Pon will not be in the US for Rennsport. He has some previous travel commitments to South America in September which he couldn't cancel when Porsche switched the dates for Rennsport V. However, I think all of you will appreciate the complimentary wine tasting at his winery which welcomes all of you to this historic Porsche gathering at Laguna Seca! So...Proost! To Ben & his team at Bernardus: 'Als blijk van onze dankbaarheid' Saludos, Eduardo Carmel .

While you are visiting Carmel Valley Village, I would recommend a few places to go if you want to have something to eat after your complimentary wine tasting at Bernardus. Walter Georis, who owns with his siblings a few famous restaurants in the area including Casanova and La Bicyclette in Carmel, has a very picturesque place in the village called 'Corkscrew Cafe'. If the weather is nice, I suggest you try their patio in the back! http://corkscrewcafe.com ***************** Cafe Rustica is another local's favorite in town and just a block away from Corkscrew. http://www.caferusticavillage.com **************** There is a relative new restaurant in the village called 'Lokal' which is also worth a try: http://www.lokalcarmel.com/home-1.html *************** If you or your significant other have time & are interested in architectural design, you need to visit Jan de Luz Antiques across from the Bernardus Winery tasting room. Quite a few pieces at our home (wooden staircase, antique zinc bar, a wine tinajon, etc) we purchased from this knowledgeable French-Basque purveyor! http://www.jandeluzantiques.com/#home-jdl *************** So if you have time, enjoy fully your visit to our small but quaint Carmel Valley Village! Saludos, Eduardo Carmel .

Nice! Thanks for the local insight, Eduardo. I had 'minor' knee surgery yesterday, so I'm 50/50 on being able to attend. But if I do make it over there, I'll check these spots out! Rick

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Hope for a fast recovery! ******* Here is a list of my favorite restaurants in our area in case it might be useful to some of you visiting for Rennsport! It's not too early to start planning & making reservations at where you want to eat during those few nights of Rennsport. We are expecting lots of visitors that weekend. I first prepared/compiled this list for friends & readers of Rennlist coming for the 2014 Porsche Parade in Monterey. And I now revise & update it yearly for occasions such as the Monterey Historics...or Rennsport! So here it is! My favorite French restaurants in Carmel: Andre's Bouchee on Mission between 7th & Ocean. http://www.andresbouchee.com Casanova on 5th Ave between Mission & San Carlos http://www.casanovarestaurant.com La Bicyclette on Dolores at 7th http://www.labicycletterestaurant.com Affina on San Carlos & 6th http://www.affinacarmel.com ***** My favorite Italian restaurants in Carmel: La Balena on Junipero between 6th & 5th http://labalenacarmel.com il Grillo on Mission, between 4th & 5th East http://www.ilgrillocarmel.com/#new-page-1 These first two restaurants are owned by Manuel Bartolini. Lucca on Dolores between 7th & Ocean http://www.cantinettaluca.com DaGiovanni on Lincoln between 6th & 5th http://www.threecarmelrestaurants.com ***** My favorite Sushi restaurants in Carmel: Akaoni on Mission between 6th & 5th. http://www.yelp.com/biz/akaoni-carmel-by-the-sea-2 Sushi Heaven on Dolores between 7th & 8th http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...alifornia.html ********* Other recommended dining restaurants in Carmel: Dametra on Ocean at Lincoln (Middle Eastern) http://dametracafe.com Christopher's on Lincoln between 6th & 5th (American) http://christophersrestaurantcarmel.com Mission Ranch on 26270 Dolores Street behind the Carmel Mission. (American). http://www.missionranchcarmel.com/restaurant.htm Clint's only remaining restaurant in Carmel. Don't bother with the one he sold long ago - Hog's Breath - since it has gone downhill. ***** My favorite breakfast places in Carmel: The Cottage on Lincoln between 7th & Ocean http://www.cottagerestaurant.com Em Le's on Dolores between 6th & 5th http://emlescarmel.com/home/4540688974 ***** A favorite 'Classic' place for afternoon drinks or evening music in Carmel! The Cypress Inn on Lincoln at 7th http://www.cypress-inn.com ******** Best 'Happy Hour' (drinks/appetizers at low prices) in Carmel! Il Fornaio on Ocean at Monte Verde (4:30 to 6:00 PM) http://www.ilfornaio.com/?page=138&restaurant_id=3145 Vesuvio on 6th at Junipero (4:00 to 6:00 PM) Go to the rooftop! http://chefpepe.com/restaurants/vesuvio/ Other restaurants in Carmel Valley & Carmel Valley Village that I recommend: Baja Cantina (Mexican) on 7166 Carmel Valley Road (not far from Carmel-by-the-Sea): http://www.carmelcantina.com The weekly gathering of sport cars & hot rods is on Thursdays! The Baja Cantina owner, auto collector Pat Phinny, also is the proprietor of 'Turn 12' restaurant (American) in downtown Monterey - thus named because Laguna Seca has 11 turns! http://www.turn12barandgrill.com ********* Village of Carmel Valley (20/30 minute drive from Carmel). Can also be accessed via Laureles Grade from Route 68 in vicinity of Laguna Seca): Corkscrew on 55 West Carmel Valley Road / Carmel Valley Village http://www.corkscrewcafe.com The owners, Walter & Gaston Georis, also are the proprietors of Casanova & The Biclyclette in Carmel. Gaston drives a Boxster. Cafe Rustica on 10 Del Fino Pl / Carmel Valley Village http://www.caferusticavillage.com Lokal on 13762 Center Street http://www.lokalcarmel.com/home-1.html Wine Tasting Bernardus Winery Tasting Room on 5 West Carmel Valley Road / Carmel Valley Village http://www.bernardus.com Bernardus Winery is owned by Ben Pon, an ex-Porsche factory driver, whose family are Porsche (& VW Group) importers for Holland! Talbott Vineyards Tasting Room on 5 Pilot Road, Carmel Valley Village http://www.talbottvineyards.com Talbott was owned by a friend, notable motorcycle collector, Robb Talbott! It has just been sold. Robb used to have part of his extensive motorcycle collection on display at the tasting room. Carmel Mid-Valley Jeffrey's Grill / 112 Mid Valley Center / Great Breakfast & Brunch spot. Halfway to Carmel Village. Closer to Quail Lodge & Carmel proper! http://www.jeffreysgrillandcatering.com ******* By the way, you can drive from Carmel to Greenfield (on 101, south of Salinas) via Monterey County G16 Road. Pretty twisty...and a good interior road to drive your Porsche! http://lateralg.org/roads/cenwest/9.htm Due to the current Tassajara Fire, suggest you check with CalFire before coming up G16 from 101 in Greenfield just in case of unexpected road closure: http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents...cident_id=1227 ************* Here are some more recommendations in Monterey: Big Sur down the coast on US 1: Deetjens (Breakfast or Lunch - you will not soon forget the place or the ride!) http://www.deetjens.com/restaurant.html Ventana (Lunch) http://www.ventanainn.com/#/dining Rocky Point (closest to Carmel) http://www.rockypointrestaurant.com ******* City of Monterey Tarpy's Roadhouse on 2999 Salinas Hwy (Route 68 just past Monterey Airport) http://tarpys.com Monterey Fish House on 2114 DelMonte Ave http://www.yelp.com/biz/montereys-fish-house-monterey-2 Sandbar & Grill on Municipal Warf #2 (less tourist than Fisherman's Warf). http://www.sandbarandgrillmonterey.com Crystal Fish on 514 Lighthouse Ave. (Best Sushi in Monterey) http://www.yelp.com/biz/crystal-fish-monterey Bistro Moulin (Best French restaurant in Monterey) http://www.bistromoulin.com ********* French Bakeries Paris Bakery on 271 Bonifacio Pl, Monterey http://parisbakery.us Lafayette Bakery at 3672 The Barnyard near Carmel http://www.lafayettebakery.com ************ Finally, the 'Aquarium' in Cannery Road, Monterey (if you do one tourist stop, this is the one!). World class aquarium on Monterey Bay! http://www.montereybayaquarium.org ************* Have a great stay in our peninsula during Rennsport... and I hope to see many of you while you are here! Saludos, Eduardo Carmel .

Thanks for the recommendations!

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You welcome! *** Checked with Bernardus Winery on Monday to see if everything was in place for the complimentary wine tasting for those attending Rennsport. And was pleasantly surprised they had prepared this additional information sheet. It turns out that our complimentary tasting includes some of their very expensive wines...so that is a bonus for all of us! And it will go on all week - from Monday Sept 21st to next Monday, Sept 28th! So please take advantage of it while you are visiting for Rennsport! Saludos, Eduardo Carmel PS The fires near Laguna Seca at Laureles Grade & Route 68 are almost 90% contained. The larger Tassajara Fire at Cachagua past the Carmel Valley Village is still going, but it's coming under control. Hopefully it will not effect Rennsport this weekend! http://wildfiretoday.com/2015/09/20/...ey-california/ .