Tank House Winery
The Farmer and the Winemaker
by Cindy Adams , Sommelier / Wine Educator at Calerrain Winery in Gilroy Photos by Tank House Winery
There are not many people still around who remember when Santa Clara Valley was known mainly for its agriculture .
There are even fewer who remember when the Valley ’ s agriculture produced more orchard fruit than wine grapes . Al Caviglia , president of Tank House Winery in San Martin , however , remembers this very well . Raised in a farming family , which became one of the largest fruit producers in Santa Clara Valley , he developed an appreciation for the earth and the bounty that comes from it .
Born and raised in Santa Clara Valley , Al ’ s family was one of the premier growers of pears and oranges . He has fond childhood memories of playing , then working , in the family orchards , learning the techniques of farming , and developing a life-long love for this life . When Al was a young teen , his family moved “ down the hill ” to Sunnyvale where they planted a large cherry orchard . He not only worked in the orchards but helped to establish the family ’ s small store on Highway 9 , which grew over time into the Orchard Market ( now Britannia Arms ) in Cupertino . In the early 1960 ’ s the family moved south to a very rural Morgan Hill and soon established cherry orchards alongside the likes of Christopher Ranch and “ planted ” another fruit market — J . Caviglia and Sons — on Aborn Road . “ Selling fruit was much different then ,” Al said with a wistful tone . “ Very little bureaucracy and the contracts consisted of a handshake and a promise . You dealt with the top guys and relationships were built and trusted .”
While the family enjoyed homemade wine with meals , Al was really introduced to the wine world as a young man , when he played soccer . He became friends with a player from Croatia in the early 90 ’ s and visited the country , rich in Syrah vineyards and wine . This experience not only opened his eyes to the world outside of California orchards , but planted a seed of its own that would grow in his later years .
62 WINTER 2022 gmhTODAY Magazine gmhtoday . com