The Houserockers will entertain guests with music for dancing
Festival-goers participate in a grape stomp at a past harvest festival. Photo courtesy Guglielmo Winery
By Marty Cheek
Guglielmo Winery is gearing up for its 30th annual Harvest Festival, a beloved local tradition that celebrates the upcoming grape harvest and the winery’s rich history. The event will take place from 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at the winery.
Photo courtesy Guglielmo Winery
Gene Guglielmo, one of the Morgan Hill winery’s owners, shared his excitement about the festival. “It’s truly an appreciation of our customers, friends, and family just gathering and enjoying an afternoon of fun,” he said.
The festival kicks off with a blessing of the vines, a tradition the winery has maintained for three decades. “We bring a priest (from St. Catherine’s Church) down — and we bless the vines so that we get a better quality crop,” Guglielmo explained.
Attendees can look forward to a variety of entertainment and activities. Live music will be provided by The Houserockers, a rock ‘n’ roll band that Guglielmo promises will have everyone “kicking up their heels and dancing.”
The festival also features unique games that have become crowd favorites over the years. The “salami toss” involves throwing potatoes at hanging salamis, with successful hits winning a small salami.
“I enjoy just watching people do the salami toss. They go crazy over it,” Guglielmo chuckled.
Another popular attraction is the grape stomp competition. Participants take off their shoes and socks and get their feet sticky as they compete to extract the most juice from two boxes of grapes in a half barrel. The event culminates in a championship round to crown the “grand champion stomper.”
A delicious dinner will be served, featuring pesto pasta, barbecued tri-tip, Italian salad, garlic bread, and dessert.
Guglielmo emphasized the festival’s role in preserving the area’s agricultural heritage. As the South Valley becomes more urbanized, the tradition keeps alive the farm community feeling, he said.
“The Harvest Festival helps people appreciate our agricultural roots,” he said.
The winery itself is a testament to this heritage. Next year marks its centennial, as Guglielmo’s grandfather, Emilio, purchased the ranch in 1925.
As for this year’s harvest, Guglielmo expects it to start early due to warm weather. “We’re at the mercy of Mother Nature,” he noted
The 30th Annual Harvest Festival promises to be a day of tradition, community, and celebration. As Guglielmo invites, “Share some time with us, our family, our customers, and our staff.”
Wine club members can purchase tickets for $110, while non-members pay $125. Groups of eight can reserve a table.
The Guglielmo Family Legacy
Emilia and Emilio Guglielmo, the founders of Guglielmo Winery. Photo courtesy Guglielmo Winery.
The story of Guglielmo Winery serves as a testament to the American dream and Italian winemaking tradition. It began in 1883 with the birth of Emilio Guglielmo near Turin, Italy. At 25, Emilio embarked on a journey that would shape his family’s future for generations to come.
In 1909, Emilio arrived at Ellis Island, working his way to San Francisco. Soon after, he sent for his sweetheart, Emilia, and they married, settling among fellow Italian immigrants from their homeland.
With an eye on the future, Emilio and Emilia purchased land in Morgan Hill’s farm region in 1925, founding what would become Emilio Guglielmo Winery. Emilio, known as Emile to his French customers, built a reputation for hearty Italian-style wines among the Bay Area’s European communities.
The winery’s growth continued under the second generation. In 1945, Emilio’s son George W. Guglielmo and his wife, Madeline, expanded the estate vineyards and distribution channels after George’s return from World War II service. Their commitment to quality made Guglielmo wines a staple in San Francisco’s North Beach restaurants.
The year 1969 marked a turning point as George W. and his eldest son George E. modernized operations. They introduced refrigerated stainless steel fermentation tanks and small oak cooperage, producing their first premium varietal wine — a 1969 estate-bottled Petite Sirah.
Today, the third and fourth generations of Guglielmos continue the family tradition. Brothers George E. and Gene produce award-winning wines under the Guglielmo Private Reserve label, as well as Tre varietals and Emile’s table wines. Their 50 acres of Santa Clara Valley estate vineyards, along with sourcing from other premium California wine regions, allow them to create wines that honor their heritage while embracing modern techniques.
As Guglielmo Winery approaches its centennial in 2025, it stands as the oldest continuously operated family winery in the Santa Clara Valley, inviting visitors to experience a century of winemaking passion and Italian-American heritage.
