Have you been to any of the local wine events: Santa Clara Valley Wine Association Passport Weekend, the Gilroy Downtown Business Assocation Art & Wine Stroll, Pinot Paradise or the Vintners Festival, this year? If not, then you have missed the“ kick-off” of the new season for fine wines.
You still have a chance to join in on the festivities. The wineries of Santa Clara Valley jumped into Spring in a grand and glorious way – by conducting tastings of all of their new wines.
From Solis, Sarah’ s Vineyards and Fortino wineries on Hecker Pass Road, to Martin Ranch and Fernwood Cellars on Redwood Retreat Road, to Avery Family, Jason Stephen’ s, Kirigin Cellars and Sycamore Creek wineries on Watsonville Road, the crowds have begun to sip, sample and savor our wonderful, local winery
perfect boutique winery.
At Fortino Winery don’ t miss the gold medal-winning“ Mirabella,” a tasty red blend. Gino just oozes Italian hospitality and joy of life. He says“ every day is Saturday and Sunday for me. I enjoy them“ immensely.” Check it out! He’ s a trip.
Martin Ranch Winery is offering their delicious new reds,( Cabernet Franc, Dos Rios Cabernet Sauvignon and Lester Syrah) along with a new, crisp, Sauvignon Blanc. Therese and Dan do their thing every 3rd weekend of the month. Be sure to check out their calendar of events for their wonderful wine adventures.
Fernwood Cellars offers the refreshing 2011 Chardonnay, along with a fabulous 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, and don’ t miss one of my favorites, the 2009 Santa Cruz Mountain Zinfandel.
A Time For Wine
offerings. And there is still plenty of new and exciting offers for you to get in on as well.
I recently had the opportunity to stop in at a few of these wineries to sample the new vintage and here are a few that you might want to look for:
At Solis Winery, they are tasting a delightfully refreshing 2012 Vin Roseo( pink wine from Sangiovese grapes), their gold medal-winning 2008 Syrah and 2009 Seducente( red blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet and Merlot). Be sure to check out Richard’ s great barbeque while you’ re there.
At Aver Family, the Viognier( called“ Benevolent”) was quite crisp and tasty, with equally wonderful big reds(“ Family Album,” a Rhone blend, and“ Blessings,” an intense Petite Sirah). John Aver has created an oasis that reeks of family, friends and fun times. His Syrahs and blends are well worth the trip to find the
Open every 1st and 3rd weekend, the wooded setting in the quiet solitude of Redwood Retreat Road is worth your time to find the wonderful wines and hospitality.
Sycamore Creek offers a state-of-the-art modern approach to wine-making with terrific results, in a rustic setting. Be sure to ask Bill Holt about“ phenolic profiling,” his modern day approach to making better wines“ in the vineyard.”
Sarah’ s Vineyard is open daily from 12 to 5 and produces some of the best Pinots in the area as well as some very fine Rhone wines. Check out their Grenache wines also.
This is just a sampling of the many, new and wonderful offerings that our local wineries are producing, so give our locals a chance to impress you with their great new products for 2013. And be sure to check with the wineries, in advance, for tasting times as the can vary each week. See you on the“ wine trail.”
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