Ceritas Wine Dinner
Hailed California’s New Generation of Sought-After Wines
When Chef Todd Schafer curates a menu, you know you’re in for an extraordinary evening—but when it’s paired with wines crafted by one of the most elusive and talented winemakers in California, it becomes unforgettable.
On May 24th, Abel Brown presents a very limited wine dinner experience with John Raytek, the mind behind Ceritas Wines, whose work with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir has captivated sommeliers, collectors, and critics alike. This is a rare opportunity—not only to taste his wines, but to spend an evening with the winemaker himself, who almost never appears at public events.
Only 35 tickets are available for this exclusive 5-course dinner, priced at $150 per person.
May 24, 2025$150 Per Guest
6:30 PM ** joined along with special guest and winemaker, John Raytek.
About John Raytek
John Raytek has earned a cult-like following among those who seek purity and place in wine. After stints at Copain and Rhys Vineyards, he launched Ceritas Wines with his wife Phoebe in 2005. Their goal? To make wines that are transparent expressions of California’s most coastal and compelling vineyard sites.
Raytek is known for his meticulous, almost philosophical approach to winemaking—emphasizing native yeast fermentations, minimal intervention, and restrained use of oak. His wines are often compared to the great producers of Burgundy, but with a distinct California soul.
"We strive to capture what the vineyard gives us without manipulation, and to express the energy and precision of each site." — John Raytek
About Ceritas Wines
Founded in 2005 by the visionary John Raytek and a dedicated collective of winegrowers, Ceritas Wines was born from a profound connection to California’s rugged northern coast. With vineyard sites stretching across the West Sonoma Coast, Santa Cruz Mountains, Moon Mountain, and Napa, Ceritas crafts wines that are not only expressive of place—but deeply personal reflections of the people behind them.
At Ceritas, the vineyard leads the conversation. The team sees themselves not as technicians, but as stewards—students of the land, listening carefully to the subtleties of each site and each vintage. Rather than chasing a formula or replicating a style, the wines are guided by what the earth offers each year, resulting in honest, transparent expressions of some of California’s most compelling terroirs.
Rooted in long-standing relationships with conscientious grower partners, Ceritas is committed to organic and sustainable farming, with a shared belief that great wines start in living soils. Each bottle is a result of minimal intervention, deep observation, and mutual trust—a balance between human intention and natural rhythm.
The result? Wines that are pure, alive, and full of story—a direct line to the coast, where fog, sun, soil, and slope converge in the glass.
The Terroir
Raytek’s vineyards hug the cold Pacific, and that fog-drenched terrain plays a huge role in shaping the wines. With marine sedimentary soils, dramatic diurnal shifts, and extreme coastal exposure, these sites yield wines with electric acidity, mineral tension, and a purity that’s hard to find in California.
If you're a lover of Burgundy, Jura, or Loire-style restraint, Ceritas will hit your soul like a tuning fork.
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LIMITED SEATS AVAILABLE
Tickets available on our website. Click below to secure your seat.
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