Published in the July 6 – 19, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life
Aiello to be honored with Leadership Excellence Award
Joe Aiello
Longtime Uesugi Farms farmer Joe Aiello will be honored with the 2016 Leadership Excellence Award at an evening outdoor celebration/fundraiser at Guglielmo Winery on July 16. The Leadership Excellence Award is the group Leadership Morgan Hill’s way of annually recognizing a local man or woman for their vision and leadership that advance the spirit of community and charity; reflect courage and insight; and inspire others to lead in a like manner.
Karl Bjarke, this year’s president of the LMH organization, is delighted with Joe’s selection, saying “Joe’s leadership in the farming community and indeed, in all of the community perfectly mirrors the values of the Leadership organization.”
Aiello grew up in Campbell when Santa Clara Valley was known as the “Valley of the Heart’s Delight,” but his family did not farm. He gained his love of farming from summer jobs and decided to major in crop science at Cal Poly. Graduating in 1971, Joe started a small 16-acre farm on Malaguerra Avenue in Morgan Hill where he grew sweet corn and married his wife Katie. Some of his early crops were grown on contract to George Chiala, the 2014 Leadership Excellence Award honoree.
Aiello and Chiala remain close friends and greatly respect each others’ leadership. Chiala said, “There is no doubt in my mind that Joe is a perfect selection for this honor. He is a perfect example for the community, a giver and a community builder and a great guy.”
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Jason-Stephens moves tasting room to ‘The Stomping Grounds’
Jason-Stephens’ popular visitor center is moving to ‘The Stomping Ground’ development in Gilroy.
Local vintners Jason and Janu Goelz of South County’s Jason-Stephens Winery announced today that they will be relocating their popular tasting room and production facility from its current site on Watsonville Road to their new “The Stomping Ground” development, off U.S. 101 in Gilroy. Aug. 1 is the target date to open the doors on the new visitor center. “We still have a lot of work to do,” said owner Jason Goelz. “But the construction phase is almost finished and then it’s just a matter of moving wine and equipment. We should be ready to go on the first of August.”
Jason and Janu, in partnership with Tim Slater of Sarah’s Vineyard, purchased a vacant large industrial property three months ago, close to the Gilroy Premium Outlets and Gilroy Crossing Shopping Center. They named the sprawling seven-acre site “The Stomping Ground” and are transforming it into a wine production, cellaring, storage, and hospitality facility. Jason–Stephens Winery will be the first of several planned tasting rooms to open there.
Janu Goelz said, “We’ve outgrown our current tasting room and cellar on Watsonville Road. We’re very excited to introduce our loyal fans and club members to our new Jason–Stephens home at The Stomping Ground. The huge potential of the space there will allow us to offer a wider range of visitor options, as well as a more quality-driven cellar and winemaking operations.“
The Stomping Ground and the new Jason-Stephens Winery tasting room are located at 6500 Brem Lane in Gilroy.
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Christopher High School grad gets winery scholarship
The Wineries of Santa Clara Valley handed out its 2016 scholarship to Nicolas Fortino, a 2016 graduate of Christopher High School. In addition to his academic achievement, Fortino was a member of the varsity baseball team and was involved in various community organizations and activities. His family has been making wine in the Santa Clara Valley for more than 40 years. He will be attending California State University, Chico.
– By Staff Reports
