Quick Bites: Chef moves, major Holman Ranch change, new tasting room.

I. Brand and Family's new tasting room at 19 East Carmel Valley Road (359-9834) has a nice spartan aesthetic to it.

The summer-appropriate pours of Rosé and lean Chardonnay were predictably tasty.

The righteous vinyl was not so expected—dude was playing some incredible Ruth Copeland.

The resulting wine tasting room mood was unique.

"You should hear the B-side," Ian Brand said enthusiastically.

Fun spot, and just a part of the inviting places that work as a great excuse for locals to scramble out to Carmel Valley while it's the sunny season.

More food-and-drink items appear below:

• After an eventful 11 years that included the launch of an estate wine, the creation of an olive oil operation and a major overhaul of a 400-acre super-property, Hunter Lowder is stepping down from her position as CEO of Holman Ranch to pursue creative writing and public speaking. 

• Jason Franey, formerly of Restaurant 1833 (643-1833), has found a new home with Proper Hotel at Seventh and Market in San Francisco's Mid-Market/Civic Center neighborhood, running four hotel restaurant concepts, including a rooftop lounge.

• A reminder the Trailside Cafe's mug club is a good thing to be a part of: a members-only mixer 5-8pm Thursday, July 6, in the beer garden with slider buffet on the house and J.C. Hill (Alvarado Street), Justin Rivard (Peter B's) and Dean Hatfield (Carmel Valley Brewing) there to talk hops.

• The Wharf Marketplace (649-1116) continues its Taste It Thursday wine sessions through the summer; the next four (July 6, 13, 20 and 27, respectively) feature Pierce Winery, Joullian, Hearst Ranch and Bernardus.

• The 18th Barrel Tasting Room recently opened with a hand-picked lineup of wine flights and craft beer on Third Street in San Juan Bautista (623-4049, 18thbarrel.com). The 18 taps flow Wednesday-Sunday.

• A rare $1,000-a-head benefit for Community Foundation for Monterey County's Big Sur fund stars Charles Phan (Slanted Door), Justin Cogley (Aubergine), Yulanda Santos (also Aubergine), Cal Stamenov (Bernardus) and Graham Gaspard (Black River Caviar) at a swanky Carmel Highlands house (375-9712 for more) Saturday, July 8.

• Went to a restaurant called Monterey Bay Fish Grotto this week in…Pittsburgh. It was outstanding—and it follows Seafood Watch guidelines, which were just updated for this summer and fall season this week. Get those online or on the app. 

• Weekly contributor and general bringer of positivity Victoria Stöcker celebrates the release of her new book Good Things We Learn From Plants with an evening of media and music at Henry Miller Memorial Library (in its relocated Carmel HQ in the Barnyard)  6-10pm Saturday, July 8.

• Big Sur is more accessible for tourists thanks to Weston Call and Sur Transportation, which allows visitors to park at Andrew Molera State Park ($10) and take a van ($5) to the trail that crosses Pfeiffer Canyon, and they can be picked up a the other end of the trail to be taken to popular Big Sur spots further south.

• Bernardus (658-3400) immerses itself in the essence of lavender with more than 1,000 lavender plants in full bloom and a lavender-inspired buffet lunch at the Lavender Harvest Celebration ($95 per person, plus tax and gratuity), Saturday, July 15, 11am-2pm.

• Hyatt Carmel Highlands (620-1234) celebrates its 100th anniversary on Friday, July 28, with a "Local Legends" event featuring acclaimed chefs like Cal Stamenov and Ben Spungin and locally sourced ingredients and wines. The event is limited to 100 guests (at $100 per, reservations required).