South Valley Wineries
Rich in History
Continued from page 76
California produces such excellent wine
that 90 percent of all American wine
is produced in California, ranking the
Golden State just behind Italy, France
and Spain as the top-producing wine
grower in the world.
To this day, the Santa Clara Valley
remains the first premier winegrowing
region in the state and is home to many
world-class, award-winning wineries.
Thanks to nearby Silicon Valley, our vine-
yards employ state-of-the-art technology
measuring soil, moisture, wind, and tem-
perature conditions. Our wines are now
labeled to specify varietals and vintage
year.
Our winemakers and owners are
farmers at heart. They talk constantly
about how the very quality of their wine
starts in the vineyard. Although Mother
Nature is a strong influence on the out-
come of the grape quality, each wine-
maker has his or her own technique and
skill to bring the best tasting wine to
consumers’ glasses. Winemaking is part
science, part art form, and, some would
say, part magic.
Despite the quality wines being pro-
duced here in the South Valley, visitors
and even some residents still express
surprise to learn that there are so many
wineries between Morgan Hill and Gilroy.
To their delight, they are finding out that
each winery offers its own ambience,
decor, and accommodations, a different
feel for just about any mood or personal-
ity, ranging from Old World elegance to
rustic, contemporary, or even whimsi-
cal. Some wineries offer sweeping views,
bocce ball courts, picnic tables, and deli
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018
items. Year-round events include live
music concerts, cooking demonstrations,
holiday fairs, and wine-stomping con-
tests. But for all their differences, all are
far from pretentious. They are still family
owned and operated. Some winemakers
even have day jobs, juggling two careers
at once. It is common to find the owners
and/or the winemakers on the premises,
if not in the tasting rooms, happy to
pour a sip and answer any questions.
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