From farm-to-table dining set amongst verdant vineyards to a DIY flower crown station bursting with color and legendary local winemakers who know how to elevate any celebration, Dawn’s Dream Winery recently hosted its first Summer Solstice dinner party in the heart of Monterey Peninsula’s very own wine country destination.
Deep amongst the rolling hills of Carmel Valley, California, towards the last stretch of road where cell service starts to fade and the hills close in on either side, sits Hilltop Ranch, a private property owned by the family of Dawn and Jack Galante’s daughter-in-law, whose own roots run through the local wine industry.
In honor of the Summer Solstice a few weeks ago, we arrived on the evening of June 20th just in time for golden hour, and the ambiance could not have been more picturesque. The warm evening sunlight was casting a magical glow over the vineyards, creating a twinkle of light on the pond set amongst a grove of trees, surrounded by lush foliage.
Drawing about 40 attendees, including a mix of VIP guests and wine club members, up the mountain for the evening for a farm-to-table winemaker dinner, this intimate affair was designed to reflect the winery’s hospitable spirit and community-focused philanthropy, all while enchanting guests through a thoughtfully curated evening of gourmet food and wine pairings.
Jack Galante, who owns Galante Vineyards, greeted arrivals near the barn, and it took about ten minutes for strangers to start talking like old friends. That is, by all accounts, the effect Dawn and Jack have on people. They are known around the Monterey Peninsula for being as down-to-earth and generous as they are accomplished, and it showed all night.
As we came to learn, Dawn’s own path to winemaking wasn’t a straight line. She spent years as a CFO in the auto industry before meeting Jack, who pulled her into the world of wine. Today her tasting room sits in the heart of Carmel-by-the-Sea, one of the town’s most visited stops, and Dawn’s Dream Winery has become known as much for its wine as for what it gives back.
In addition, we discovered that, because family and female empowerment are integral to both her life and business, she named several wine bottles after her own daughters (Rachel, Alyssa, and Nicole).
The reception unfolded near the pond, with passed appetizers and glasses of sparkling wine, while a table set up by The Little Shop of Horticulture (a botanical-based design and event studio) encouraged guests to build their own flower crowns from the blooms and greenery spread across it, which was especially fun, as it inspired each of us to express our unique creativity. Throughout the evening, a guitarist played a melodic set that filled the space, creating a relaxing environment for everyone to mingle.
Guests wandered between the pond and the flower table while enjoying passed appetizers from Chef Tim Wood (who has appeared at premier culinary festivals such as Pebble Beach Food & Wine), including an oven-roasted foraged mushroom tartlet made with Carmel Valley Creamery fromage blanc, black truffle, and chives; a cold smoked salmon brioche toast layered with farmers’ chive cheese, capers, and dill; and an ahi tuna poke spoon over marinated seaweed salad with a soy citrus ponzu.
Both the 2024 Juniper Jane Brut Rosé Sparkling and the 2023 Nugget Chardonnay were poured throughout, giving guests a reason to keep circling back for another taste of each bite alongside a different glass. It was the kind of pairing that rewards going back for seconds, getting acquainted the way people do at these gatherings: comparing favorite wines and swapping stories about life on the Monterey Peninsula.
Eventually everyone made their way down to a long communal table set among the vines, dressed in white linens with olive branches running its length.
Dinner opened with a spring panzanella salad, vine-ripened tomatoes, torn bread, cucumber, asparagus, avocado, and radish tossed in a garden basil and dill vinaigrette, paired with a 2023 Escolle Chardonnay from the Santa Lucia Highlands, bright enough to hold its own against the acidity of the tomatoes. Next came casarecce pasta with pecorino romano, English peas, and fava beans, a simple plate that let the spring vegetables do the talking, poured alongside a 2024 Clone 236 Rosé, also from the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation.
Then the main course: braised Angus beef over olive oil-charred potato gnocchi with a Swank Farms heirloom carrot puree, finished with a Dawn’s Dream Pinot Noir braising sauce that tied the dish back to the wine in the glass, a 2023 Nicole Pinot Noir, also SLH.
Dessert closed the meal with a Carmel Valley berry gallette and chantilly cream, a nod to the valley we were sitting in, paired with a 2022 Dare to Dream Zinfandel out of Sonoma as the sky went from gold to blue.
It was somewhere between courses that the conversation turned to what the evening was really about – giving back to worthy causes that are near and dear to Dawn’s heart.
Dawn’s Dream’s Dare to Dream label donates five dollars from every bottle sold to a nonprofit partner chosen each year, this year Set Free Monterey Bay, an organization working to end human trafficking and help women and children rebuild their lives.
The winery also gives its featured nonprofit 14 cases of wine annually and opens its tasting room for a donor appreciation evening, so the organization gets a direct line to supporters, not just a check. Since philanthropy is such an important part of the winery’s mission, this intimate experience reminded wine club members and guests that their participation enriches the lives of people in Monterey County who need it most, which made the evening feel even more special and meaningful for attendees.
Dawn later put into words what seemed to be moving through the whole evening:
“For me, wine has always been about bringing people together. The Summer Solstice Dinner was created as a celebration of community, gratitude, and connection, sharing great food, wine, and conversation around a table in the heart of Carmel Valley. That same spirit is what drives Dawn’s Dream Winery. While I love winemaking, my greatest passion is using the winery as a platform to support organizations that help women, children, and families reach for the stars. At the end of the day, it’s not just about what’s in the glass; it’s about the lives and relationships we have the opportunity to impact along the way.”
By the time dessert wound down, most of the table was still wearing their flower crowns, a little crooked by then, and nobody seemed in a hurry to leave. Dawn mentioned afterward that she has a feeling this dinner will become a Dawn’s Dream tradition. Having been there, it’s easy to understand why she’d want to do it again.
To discover other upscale events, top-rated wineries and restaurants, and VIP parties, explore the Special Events section on Inspirations & Celebrations.
[Complimentary media access provided by Dawn’s Dream Winery. Image credits: Christina-Lauren Pollack for Inspirations & Celebrations. All opinions are my own.]