Some of our favorite products at The Seasoned Table come from a beautiful little corner of California wine country. Over the years, Mario and I have spent quite a bit of time in the Los Olivos and Santa Ynez area, getting to know the people and places behind some of the olive oils, balsamics, and other special things we bring into our shop.
There's something meaningful about knowing where a product comes from and the people behind it. We wanted our team to experience that same connection, so we planned a little autumn getaway to wine country.
The idea was simple. A day away from the shops, a chance to meet some of the wonderful people behind our products, and time to enjoy being together.
After watching the possibility of rain all week, we couldn't have asked for a more beautiful fall day.
Our first stop was Luretik Groves, where we spent a peaceful morning surrounded by olive trees and the beautiful countryside. It was a lovely way to begin our day and give everyone a glimpse of the landscape behind some of the products we love.
From there, we picked up sandwiches from Panino in downtown Los Olivos and headed to Buttonwood Farm Winery for a picnic. Kate, who has always been so wonderful to us, welcomed our group. We settled in for lunch with delicious sandwiches, wonderful wine, and beautiful views of the surrounding farm and vineyards.
It was so nice to see everyone together outside of our usual surroundings, enjoying good conversation without the distractions of a busy day at the shops.
Our next stop was Olive Hill Farm, where Taylor, the owner, welcomed us and shared her family's story and the passion behind their products.
Their olive oils are made in California, while their balsamic vinegars come from Modena, Italy, a region known for its long tradition of producing balsamic vinegar.
This was exactly the kind of experience we had hoped to share with our team.
I loved knowing that our team would return to The Seasoned Table with their own memories and experiences to share with our customers.
By the afternoon, we were ready for a little wine tasting, and Sunstone Winery had a beautiful surprise waiting for us.
We were welcomed into their cave, where a lovely table had been prepared for our group. I wasn't expecting such a special setting, and it made the experience even more memorable. Our host, Mario (yes, another Mario!), took wonderful care of us throughout the tasting.
Afterward, we wandered the beautiful grounds, taking photos among the vineyards and enjoying the afternoon together.
One of my favorite parts of the day was simply watching everyone enjoy themselves. Seeing the girls laughing, taking pictures, and having such a wonderful time made me so happy.
We ended our day with dinner at Leonardo's in Santa Ynez, sharing one last meal before heading home.
As I look back on our little getaway, what makes me happiest is knowing that our team now has their own connection to a place that's meant so much to Mario and me.
They'll remember the people we met, the stories we heard, and hopefully, all the laughter in between.
And the next time they share one of our favorite olive oils or balsamics with a customer, they'll have a little story of their own to tell.
That, to me, made the day all the more special.
With love,
Jenn
The Seasons Collective