Chad Melville Spills What He Loves About Wine and Montana

If you think winemakers are a fussy bunch, you’ve never met Chad Melville of Melville Winery in California’s Sta. Rita Hills. His family’s highly rated wines may have earned cult status, but this likable guy isn’t putting on any airs. In fact, he considers himself a farmer first, “I’m not a winemaker, I’m a winegrower,” he says. That distinction means everything to Melville. “Most people aren’t involved in that but that’s the most fun for me.” His wines are 100 percent estate-grown, a rarity in the wine world. “It’s all our grapes and we do all of the farming, everything by hand, organically.”

He likens the process to a Japanese restaurant:  “You can have really beautiful fish and you can cook it if you want to, but it’s such a great product, so go sashimi style.” Melville doesn’t tinker with the grapes too much, preferring a hands-off approach. “Just allow Mother Nature to humble you to a point where you recognize that she’s in charge and you’re just lucky enough to be involved in this magical process,” says Melville.

His laissez-faire attitude toward wine is similar to one of the reasons why he loves Montana: “The whole vibe—it’s so special.” He jokes that when he returns home to California, he tells people Montana was “terrible” because he doesn’t want it to change. Melville has been a frequent guest at Paws Up, and this fall he’ll return for our Visiting Vintners Series (November 6–8), along with winemakers Amy and Dominic Chappellet, as well as cheese expert Laura Werlin.

An avid outdoorsman, Melville has played, Paws Up-style, on every visit: “I’ve been in the summer and winter and gone horseback riding, skeet shooting, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. I love just running on the property, because there are so many beautiful trails.” This visit, he’s looking forward to some new adventures, including go-karting and tackling the ropes course, but when he’s around his good friends, the Chappellets, it’s anyone’s guess. “I’m the instigator, but Dominic is always up for anything,” he says.

One thing is for certain. He’ll be showcasing some of his best bottles, including the fall favorite Donna’s Syrah, and he can’t wait to try some wines from the Chappellets. “They are an iconic Napa family, but they are some of the best people on earth,” he says, “and they just happen to make really good wine.”

The fastest shutter speeds and the quickest smiles:

Let us tell you about Barbara Van Cleve.

Make your way to Paws Up the first weekend of November, and you’ll also get the unique opportunity to meet and learn from award-winning ranch-life photographer Barbara Van Cleve. You’ll cover a lot of ground, both in acres and in wisdom, during this special fall Wilderness Workshop.

Born and raised on her family’s Montana ranch, she learned ranch life hands-on at an early age before pursuing photography. She got her first camera when she was just 11 years old. Eventually she became the youngest dean of women in the United States at DePaul University, where she taught English literature and photography. And in 1995 she was inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame.

Van Cleve has been a friend of The Resort for close to 12 years. During that time, people have loved getting to know this joyful, rough and rowdy cowgirl while gaining new camera skills and improving their techniques. But the best takeaway is always her unique approach to life, on and off the ranch.

To find out more about all the events happening November 6–8, 2020, at Paws Up, visit pawsup.com/events.

Cheese, please!

Let’s be honest: there are some things that are meant to be paired. Peanut butter and jelly, for one. Cookies and milk. And, of course, wine and cheese. But, before you’re thinking of a run-of-the-mill cheese plate sided by a glass of merlot, think again. This is our Visiting Vintners Series, so you’ll be sipping wines by Napa royalty (Chappellet) and Central Coast innovators (Melville) and snacking on cheeses that will, as Laura Werlin puts it, “blow your mind.”

Werlin knows what she’s talking about. In fact, she’s written the book on it—well, actually six books—and nabbed a James Beard Award. “I really like introducing people to the great cheeses made in this country,” she says. “The biggest misconception is that all American cheese comes out of a factory, but so much of what is happening in American cheesemaking is inspiring Spain, Italy [and other countries].”

For Werlin, the chance to pair her cheese expertise with two of California’s best wine labels is a match made in heaven. “I’m really excited to be at Paws Up and work with them, because Chappellet is legendary and their wines are tried and true, really impressive,” she says. “And, Melville has really made a name for the Central Coast wines. I love Melville wines and always have.” Find more information about the weekend here.

Learn How to Make Lobster Rolls from Top Chef Winner Brooke Williamson

Learn how to make these amazing lobster rolls with Bravo Top Chef 2017 Champion Brooke Williamson at our second-annual WildFlavor event April 19-22, 2018. The event features two other Bravo Top Chef stars—Sam Talbot (semifinalist, Season 2) and Casey Thompson (finalist, Season 3)—as well as Paws Up Executive Chef Sunny Jin. You’ll be able to whet your appetite throughout the weekend and watch these chefs “fork it out” during a live cook-off challenge. Of course, expertly crafted meals will be served throughout this delicious four-day event. And don’t forget to toast with exquisitely paired fine vino, compliments of Melville Winery.

In between meals, go horseback riding, clay shooting or ATV riding and then wind down in the comfort of your luxurious Paws Up home. Featuring many other available wilderness adventures, WildFlavor is the perfect blend of food and fun this spring at The Resort at Paws Up.

Lobster Roll Recipe

courtesy of Brooke Williamson

Yield: 7 (5-ounce) lobster rolls

Lobster sauce

1 quart mayonnaise

2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 lemon, zested and juiced

 

Directions

  1. In a large bowl combine all ingredients, mixing well. Sauce flavor develops more if made ahead of time. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Lobster roll mix

2 pounds lobster meat, cooked (claw, knuckle, tail)

1 cup celery, minced

2 lemons, zested and juiced

1 tablespoons kosher salt

1 1/2 cups lobster sauce (recipe above)

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, mixing well. Add lobster sauce, mixing well.

Pickled mustard seeds

1 cup yellow mustard seeds

1 1/2 cups sherry vinegar

1 cup honey

3 cups water

1 tablespoon kosher salt

Lobster roll buns

7 brioche buns, sliced and toasted

1 cup micro celery

Crushed Maui onion chips

Directions

  1. In a medium saucepan, bring mustard seeds to a boil. Immediately turn to simmer. Cover and cook 30 minutes. Set aside.
  2. Place buns on a work surface. Place lobster mixture evenly among buns and garnish with pickled mustard seeds, micro celery and crushed Maui onion chips. If micro celery is not available, substitute celery leaves. Plain or onion-flavored chips can also be substituted for Maui onion chips.

Fall Culinary Offerings at The Resort at Paws Up

Montana Master Chefs at The Resort at Paws up

From James Beard Award winners to Bravo Top Chef stars, we have been featuring a steady stream of highly esteemed chefs for our unique culinary weekends. The Resort invites guests to dine on cutting-edge cuisine from a select group of gastronomic geniuses during Montana Master Chefs: Rising All-Stars and the launch of Live Life Love Food with Paws Up’s own Executive Chef Ben Jones. Guests will have the opportunity to experience menus that have foodies clamoring for a chance to try. The events include exquisite wine, chef workshops, live music, wilderness adventures, spa treatments and more—all set under a never-ending Montana Big Sky.

culinary events at the resort at paws up

Montana Master Chefs: Rising All-Stars, September 21–24: As part of the weekend event, guests can partake in a myriad of wilderness adventures like horseback riding, river rafting or fly-fishing and will enjoy one-on-one interaction with some of the finest chefs, distillers and winemakers in the U.S. Montana Master Chefs 2017 will also feature cooking demonstrations and multicourse dinners prepared by up-and-coming all-stars in the culinary world including Chef Michael Corvino of Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room (Kansas City), Chef Kevin Gillespie of Gunshow and Revival (Atlanta), Chef Annie Pettry of Decca (Louisville), Chef Garrison Price of Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria (New York), Chef Amanda Rockman of South Congress Hotel (Austin) and Paws Up’s own Executive Chef Ben Jones. The chefs will also duke it out in a lighthearted (read: highly competitive) Master Chef Cook-Off Challenge.

food and wine at the resort at paws up

Paws Up is proud to welcome Montana’s Whitefish Handcrafted Spirits as the featured distiller and the celebrated California vintners Kosta Browne Winery, Melville Winery and Steele Wines to provide tastings and pairings throughout the weekend. Among the many highlights will be nightly private concerts by Cory Branan, a punk-influenced country artist from Memphis; John Floridis, a talented Missoula guitarist, singer-songwriter and composer and Ali Solomon, a captivating singer and cover artist also from nearby Missoula. Chef Ben Jones

Live Life Love Food, October 20–23: For a delicious course on how to incorporate exhilaration (Adrenalin) and renewal (Zen) into your everyday life, join us for our first-ever Live Life Love Food daily exercises. As a complement to AdrenZen: Fall wellness weekend, Paws Up Executive Chef Ben Jones shares the philosophy behind his cooking—and his life. Watch firsthand as he mixes, twists and lifts his way through this brand-new weekend event. Guests will gain new insights into using food as nourishment and experience the dual health benefits of energizing activities and a ranch-based diet. They will learn how to translate locally sourced ingredients into artistic creations on the plate. Basic training has never tasted so good.

homemade Kombucha

The weekend will feature a hands-on “clean eating” cooking class with Jones, a tour of the greenhouse, early-morning workouts alongside Jones, world-class dinners and more.

For reservations, please call 877-588-6783. The Resort at Paws Up is also on Facebook, Instagram (@theresortatpawsup) and Twitter (@Paws_Up).The Resort at Paws up