Morgan Hill Today 2014 03 Spring | Page 27

Guglielmo

Paradise Valley

Sycamore Creek Ross

produces labels and art in the tasting room . She and mom , Roni Jo , sing . Nate produces great wine and with a dramatic flair . He says , “ We blend the wine that blends people .” Roni Jo keeps an eye on all the happenings . For Jesse , the winery gives him a chance to demonstrate his construction and landscaping skills .
Castillo ’ s Hillside Shire Winery is open on weekends and has a wine club . ( castilloshillsideshirewinery . com )
Clos LaChance is a relative newcomer to local wineries but it has turned into a powerhouse . It started in 2001 as the agricultural arm of the upscale CordeValle Golf Course and Vineyard Estates . Bill and Brenda Murphy had a small but growing wine business and needed a bigger home for their CV wine business . The partnership with CordeValle was perfect .
Clos LaChance is the Murphy family business . LaChance is the maiden name of Brenda Murphy and thus the winery name . Daughters Cheryl and Kristen also work at the winery .
They produce around 60,000 cases a year using over twenty varietals . The Lion ’ s Gate Valley in San Martin is a wonderful area for vineyards . The map of CLC vineyards is a colorful introduction to the extensive vineyards at CLC .
Clos LaChance has been able to combine a beautiful location with an elegant hospitality center and some outstanding wines . CLC hast become a much sought- after wedding location . It
has also become something of a “ foodie ” destination . There are on-site wine and cheese as well as chocolate and wine tastings . There is Brenda ’ s Kitchen . There are fabulous wine dinners and soon Bistro Clos with menued dinners paired with CLC wines .
For locals , Clos La Chance has become the go-to place for great music and wine . There are numerous events , including the popular Thursday evening Time for Wine Music Series . They have an active wine club with two levels , Gold and Platinum . Watch for the new outdoor tasting room in the Mulberry Grove .
Clos LaChance is committed to environmentally sound , economically viable and enhanced social equity sustainability . In 2009 , CLC was “ sustainably certified ” by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance . ( clos . com )
Teri & Gregory Peterson turned an interest in wine making into a real life adventure . Creekview Vineyards is nestled up against the east foothills in San Martin . It has a backyard vineyard and tasting room . Appropriately , the property has a creek in back and is on Creekview Drive . But don ’ t think this is just a small time operation . Creekview has expanded to a tasting room and retail sales at Sherman Cellars in downtown San Jose . The 1.5-acre estate vineyard is behind the backyard tasting area and is planted with Zinfandel , Cabernet Sauvignon , Merlot , Syrah , and some Cabernet Franc , Petit Verdot and Malbec for blending . The Petersons also purchase fruit from local premium growers .
The Petersons make some great wines and have the awards to prove it . The website notes over 75 awards . The backyard tasting area is like visiting a friend ’ s backyard . Visitors enter by a path along the side of the house and walk into a comfortable , welcoming backyard . There are a variety of seating areas , plenty of trees , a wood-burning pizza oven and a good feel to the whole setting . The wine club is active . The winery is an involved partner in both Morgan Hill and Gilroy . There is an endless list of events .
The winery is open the third weekend of the month and the San Jose location is open Wednesday to Sunday . Creekview is well worth a visit ! ( creekviewvineyards . com / home . php )
Tucked behind El Toro is a small winery with a big reputation . Steve and Laura Petersen named the winery after daughters Emma and Lily . By day , Steve is a marketing consultant but free time , nights and weekends are consumed with making the very best Cabernets .
EmmaLily Vineyards ’ cabs are a blend of cabs that have aged differently with various yeasts and barrel toasts . For example 2009 Laura ’ s Love has cabs with four different yeasts and three toats . The taste is a “ round mouth ” full and complex . Most of his wines spend 30 months in the barrel . Steve is building his cellar one year at a time and will soon cap his production at 500 cases .
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