Local Wineries … wine and a whole lot more ! |
Satori Cellars |
Martin Ranch |
Sunlit Oaks |
DID YOU KNOW THAT IN THE GILROY ( 17 ), MORGAN HILL ( 9 ), SAN MARTIN ( 6 ) AREA , THERE ARE SOME 32 BONDED WINERIES , ACCORDING TO SANTA CLARA COUNTY RECORDS ? THEY RANGE FROM THE VERY SMALL , PRIVATE , BOUTIQUE TYPE WINERIES ; TO THE MEDIUM SIZED WINERIES WITH WINE CLUBS AND TASTING ROOMS ; TO THE RATHER LARGE WINERIES THAT FEATURE EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT AS WELL AS HOST WEDDINGS .
Many local wineries are family owned and operated and have great extended families in their wine clubs . They are welcoming and the source of some great wines . Local wineries recently garnered 70 awards at the 2014 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition . Double Gold winners were : Martin Ranch , J . D . Hurley 2012 Chardonnay ; Sarah ’ s 2010 Zinfandel ; and Satori ’ s 2009 Petite Sirah Ha Ha . Sycamore Creek took a Best in Class for their 2010 Mosaico . The list of winners is available on the Gilroy Today website .
In addition to providing great wines , our local wineries give us a tremendous number of activities to enjoy . There are cricket games at Kirigin , ladies nights at Fortino , concerts at Clos LaChance , cooking classes at Aver , vineyard management classes at Kruse , Sunday afternoon jam sessions at Satori , gourmet dinners at Fernwood , bottle your own at Martin Ranch , weddings at Hecker Pass , food shopping at Rapazzini , bocce ball at Sarah ’ s , picnics at Sunlit Oaks … and the list goes on .
The following pages highlight the wineries you will find in the Gilroy area . Every year Wineries of Santa Clara Valley ( WSCV ) host two “ Passport ” weekends . The Spring Passport Weekend will be March 29-30 , 2014 .
Aver Family Vineyards is a family owned and operated winery that is very much family . The tasting room is part of the family house . John Aver takes family to another level with their wine club events by making them a celebration of all things local . They have had chocolate and wine pairings featuring a local , Hollister , chocolate company , Marich Premium Chocolates . Local artisans were featured at another event . A local chef offers cooking classes that finish with the entrées paired with Aver wines .
Aver wines are of the Rhone variety . One of the more famous French Rhone wines is Cateauneuf-du-Pape . Keeping with the family feel , Aver wines have familiar theme names like “ Blessing ,” a tribute to escaping the 2008 wild fire . “ Hope ,” a blend of Grenache , Mourvèdre , Syrah , and Petite Syrah , celebrates the power of hope in life . “ Heritage ,” an Estate Cabernet , honors the farmers who planted the land . “ Family Album ” is a tribute to the Aver family . ( averfamilyvineyards . com )
Fernwood Cellars is located at the end of Redwood Retreat Road . While getting there can be a challenge , it is a picturesque challenge . The Redwood Retreat area has a colorful history even before Charles and Annis Sanders moved there in 1863 . Matt Oetinger is the greatgreat- grandson of the Sanders .
Matt is committed to the philosophy that “ quality is timeless .” He only produces wine from grapes he grows , putting him in a rarefied group of wine-
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