There are 27 winery members in the Wineries of Santa Clara Valley directory , from Saratoga to Gilroy , and no two are making the same vino . Because of the various microclimates in this diverse region , wine drinkers can enjoy anything from a Chardonnay — grown in the cool coastal breeze of the Chittenden Pass on the east side of Gilroy , to the rare dark reds of the dryer climate in western Morgan Hill . Of course , it wouldn ’ t be California without a classic peppery Zinfandel--and here there ’ s plenty .

Award Winning Wines

According to Gilroy Welcome Center Director Jane Howard , Santa Clara Valley wines took home seventy awards at the 2017 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition — the largest competition of solely American wines in the world . Kirigin Cellars on Watsonville Road and Martin Ranch on Redwood Retreat Road even took home Best of Class awards . But their winnings never get to their heads . “ Every year , wineries in our area bring home baskets of gold medals from well respected statewide competitions and high scores from major wine publications , but remain humble , low key and friendly ,” said Tim Slater , owner of Sarah ’ s Vineyard on Hecker Pass Highway .

Entertainment Fun

“ We may not have big ornate buildings but we have that personal touch . Our wineries are making good wine--but more importantly , they are having fun . And I think that makes us so unique .” Summer is alive with activity at the wineries . There ’ s music and dancing , harvest dinners , wine tasting , and fun . They also host weddings and nonprofit fundraisers throughout the year .

Santa Clara Valley Wine region might be the most family friendly out there , which speaks to the area ’ s relaxed vibe . Stop at Cafe 152 , Nob Hill , or Lawson ’ s Bakery and grab picnic items , pile in the car and enjoy a casual meal in a natural setting with a bottle of wine , suggested Howard . “ This is down-home winemaking--almost every vineyard has a resident dog ,” she said , laughing . Friendly dogs , bocce ball , cozy nooks , vintage tasting rooms , live music are all found amongst the wineries here .

The new Tankhouse at Fernwood Cellars

In 2014 , Supervisor Mike Wasserman introduced the Santa Clara Valley Wine Trail , an official country designation of area wineries with road signs for travellers to follow . “ We ’ ve heard anecdotally from a lot of wineries that they ’ ve seen a big jump in foot traffic since the Wine Trail was implemented ,” said Elizabeth Sanford , a policy analyst from Wasserman ’ s office . From the County ’ s perspective , the wine industry creates a “ full package ” for tourism , bringing up revenue for area restaurants and shopping . “ Anytime we can support local agritourism , that ’ s a good thing ,” Sanford said .

Economic Boost

The wines here are as diverse as the people making them . “ When you visit our wineries , you ’ re meeting the owner , the winemaker , and you ’ re hearing the stories behind the wine ,” Seeker said . “ We do this because we love it and we want to share it with you . “ Some are third-generation winemakers , while others are plumbers and tech executives by day , she said . There ’ s a fascinating story behind how each of them ended up in the wine industry , and they are ready to share it with their customers over a glass of Sangiovese . “ Not all of us are making big money from this ,” Seeker said . “ We are here because we love making wine .”

The wines may be artisan and made in small batches , but the vast majority are affordable enough to drink every evening . Most bottles are in the $ 15- $ 50 range , with further discounts for members . And for those needing a beautiful country setting for their next event , the wineries offer many spaces with competitive pricing — especially compared to venues in Silicon Valley , Howard said .

An Escape

A trip to the wineries in Santa Clara Valley is a tour of the area ’ s most beautiful countryside . While sipping Syrah , the backdrop could be anything from towering redwoods , to the Santa Cruz Mountains , to rolling hills and pastoral farmland . Plan a hike in Mount Madonna County Park or Uvas Canyon and relax the legs at the end of the day at a tasting room or two . The demands at home or work can wait . “ We live in a mad paced region , where people are going 24 / 7 . Our tasting rooms are an escape from that ,” Seeker said .

GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2017 gmhtoday . com

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