LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The third annual Six Sigma Cowboy Cook-off was another memorable event for Six Sigma Ranch and Winery.  

The Cowboy Cook-off is a cooking competition held each year between three members of the Six Sigma Winery Team.

All guests can vote for their favorite cook and dish while sipping on what Six Sigma is known for – award-winning Sauvignon Blanc, Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon.

This year the cooks were Christian Ahlmann, vice president of Six Sigma, who created a tender pulled pork sandwich; Walt Campbell, direct to trade manager, who wowed the crowd with smoked chicken thighs; and Matt Hughes, winemaker, who made two creative types of chili, one using the Six Sigma wood-burning pizza oven.

Nyla Norris, who helps the team with hospitality, tried out this year to see if her skills were good enough to compete in next year’s cook-off. Her lamb sliders were a hit qualifying her as one of the three chefs in next year’s competition. Christian Ahlmann’s pulled pork took the honors of the best dish.

Many enthusiastic guests arrived in festive cowboy and cowgirl costumes. The winners of the costume contest received gift certificates for Pinzgauer tours of the 4,300 acre ranch. This is a unique opportunity to experience the entirety of the ranch and see the highest altitude vineyard on the property, the Diamond Mine Vineyard.

It felt like a step back in time, watching cowboys and cowgirls surround the historic old stagecoach stop that doubles as the Six Sigma Ranch tasting room. The large, ancient oak trees shaded the guests as they mingled, sipped, and savored the cooks’ masterpieces while listening to original country soul music of Michael Barrish and Scott Sommers.

Kaj Ahlmann, proprietor was particularly pleased with the cook-off, which he said was Jacquelyn St. Martin’s second event as the ranch’s hospitality manager since she joined the Six Sigma Team a few months ago.

“Our release party with Chef Tyler Stone and the Cowboy Cook-off were both sold out which makes me proud of the efforts of our team,” he said.

“The decorations were beautiful,” said proprietor Else Ahlmann. “Judy made lovely flower arrangements and decorated the tasting room in a western theme. The comments about the wine, food, and the ranch were all extremely positive.”

Six Sigma Winery, located at 13372 Spruce Grove Road in Lower Lake, is open for tasting every day from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.