Valley’s reputation for fine wines continues to grow
Published in the May 13-26, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Staff Report
Photo by Marty Cheek
Morgan Hill friends Joan Ensign and Patricia Kindred take a moment for a fun photo opportunity during the 2015 downtown Wine Stroll.
Morgan Hill’s third annual Wine Week, put on April 19-25 by the Morgan Hill Downtown Association and the Wineries of Santa Clara Valley, proved that this community is proud of celebrating its viticulture heritage.
The seven days of wine-tasting fun got off to a start with Easter eggs and wine at Creekview Vineyards April 19. April 20, Bubbles Wine Bar hosted a wine-tasting class and food pairings with Guglielmo Winery. Ladera Grill held a dinner with the wine makers, Odeum Restaurant had a special wine-pairing dinner with Jason-Stephens Winery and Bubbles Wine Bar took part in a progressive wine and chocolate pairing with Martin Ranch Winery April 21.
Wednesday April 22 saw a wine pairing dinner with Solis Winery at Rosy’s at the Beach as well as a wine-pairing dinner with Medeiros Family Wines at The Good Fork. Thursday April 23, a wine-pairing dinner of Guglielmo Winery vino was held at Noah’s Bar and Bistro as well as a wine-pairing dinner at Bubbles. Friday April 24, wine lovers enjoyed the best of Santa Clara Valley wines at a special Award-Winning Wine Celebration gala at the Community Center. Also that day, the Morgan Hill Wine Shop and Cigar Company held a wine-tasting event.
Gene Guglielmo of Guglielmo Winery toasted the guests at the inaugural Award-Winning Wine Celebration event by noting that Santa Clara County helped pioneer premium wine in California in the years following the Gold Rush.
“A lot of people don’t realize that this is the oldest commercial wine growing region in the state, so we’re very proud about what has transpired in our region and what will happen in the future,” Guglielmo said.
The winery is now celebrating its 90th year in Morgan Hill since it was started by Guglielmo’s grandparents Emile and Emilia. Many celebratory events will be held in 2015 to commemorate the nine decades.
Guglielmo said he constantly reminds local people that they live in wine country. When they say they want to go to the “wine country” in Napa and Sonoma counties to do wine-tasting, he tells them that they’re already living in California’s original wine country.
“We’re seeing it more and more that people are embracing our wine country,” he said. “You’re not looking at corporate entities. You’re looking at families who have a lot of pride in what they’re doing. And what a great experience to talk to the wine makers when you’re wine-tasting. I think that sets us apart.”
Morgan Hill Mayor Steve Tate congratulated the organizers of the Wine Week for putting on so many festive events. He also toasted the people who made the Wine Trail a reality, with the opening last August.
“Wine is growing everywhere. But where did it start in California? It started right here (in Santa Clara Valley),” he said.
Downtown Association Board Member John McKay was pleased with the overall outcome of this year’s Wine Week, describing the 2015 celebration of our historic wine-making valley as being the best since it started three years ago.
“This area’s reputation as a great wine tourism destination has growing exponentially, especially with the opening of the Wine Trail,” he said.
This year was the first year that Wine Week included a $50 a ticket celebration of the San Francisco Chronicle’s gold and silver medal award-winning wines at the Friday Wine Region Celebration event, with a large number of wineries present including J. Lohr, Jason-Stephens, Fortino, Martin Ranch, Sarah’s Vineyards, Guglielmo and others.
“The Wine Week has something for everybody,” McKay said. “The Wine Stroll itself is a great social event for people to get together and meet their friends and walk around downtown for four hours sampling wine.”
