Wines are offered at Odeum, Morton’s Steakhouse and have been featured at the Kentucky Derby
Published in the October 30, 2013 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Staff Report
Photo by Marty Cheek
Steve (holding the 9-liter bottle) and Laura Petersen (holding the 3-liter bottle) in their west Morgan Hill vineyard.
Steve and Laura Petersen believe that goals are “dreams with dates.” Sharing a passion for fine wine, for many years the couple pursued the goal of starting their own micro-boutique winery.
In 2001 while Steve was traveling on business, Laura bought property in the Paradise Valley area west of Morgan Hill’s El Toro peak that enabled them to make their dream come true. The couple named their wine-making enterprise EmmaLily Vineyards after their daughters, Emma, the eldest, and Lily.
“My girls are highlights in my life,” Steve said. “In hindsight most of my dear friends in my life have been women, so it was only natural to focus the winery around celebrating the girls in my life. Combined, EmmaLily just flowed and allowed us to create something bigger, in a hope the girls can benefit from it for years to come.”
Lily’s birth was the inspiration for the artwork on the vineyard’s bottle label. The Petersens had planted lily flower bulbs in their backyard and when they brought their newborn girl home, the only bulb that was opened was a bright Orange Tiger Lily. They chose that flower for the winery logo, with Steve using a watercolor set he’d received as a Father’s Day gift to paint the label.
EmmaLily Vineyards is a micro-boutique winery specializing in well-balanced Cabernet Sauvignon with strong structure yet layered in the elegance the natural fruit exposes if the winemaker allows it to do so, Steve said.
“We believe you can take the same fruit and make it in different styles to create a completely different wine, yet when combined, you create characteristics that are better combined than stand alone,” he said. “Allowing the different styles to barrel age as single lots for 30 or more months refines the wine and makes them approachable. We know this is longer than the average 18 month barrel aging, but it is worth the wait.”
Because of its small production capacity, EmmaLily does not have a tasting room. Instead, it sells most of its wine to club members. Wine connoisseurs can call to schedule a private wine tasting.
The release labels include Cosmo Passion Estate Cabernet, Medeline Cabernet, and Laura’s Love Rutherford Cabernet.
The winery’s Cabernet is sold in various format-size bottles, from 750 ml to 9 liters, which weighs about 50 pounds. The winery’s product can also be enjoyed in higher-end dining establishments such as Odeum Artisinal Mediterranean Cuisine restaurant in downtown Morgan Hill and Morton’s Steakhouse in San Jose.
With the help of friendly introductions by wine club members, EmmaLily wines have also been served at prestigious events such as the America’s Cup and the Kentucky Derby.
“It has been a pleasure to get to know and expand our relationship with these great business partners and brands,” Steve said. “They keep bringing new opportunities and we not only appreciate it but also will not let them down. My wife and I pour at all the special events. We feel it’s important if someone believes in us and takes a chance to bring in a micro-boutique winery, we want to deliver personally, ensuring we give it our all to the event.”
How to become a wine club member or schedule a private wine tasting
Visit www.emmalilyvineyards.com
Contact: (408) 655-9197 or [email protected]
