Its soil so rich and its climate so sweet that natives named
it
”
the Valley of the Heart’s Delight,
”
the Santa Clara Valley isn’t just home to high-tech. And there’s
more to Gilroy than just garlic.
Its soil so rich and its climate so sweet that natives named it “the Valley of the Heart’s Delight,” the Santa Clara Valley isn’t just home to high-tech. And there’s more to Gilroy than just garlic. More than two dozen wineries have established roots in the valley and, together, they’re offering a special blend of world class wines and homegrown goodness.
The Wineries of Santa Clara Valley expects about 1,000 visitors – from the seasoned connoisseur to the eager newcomer – to attend its biannual Passport Weekend. The two-day event is a chance for wine lovers to experience the best the valley has to offer: music, food, hospitality and, of course, top-notch wines.
Even though grapes have been growing along the winding rural roads of South County for more than a century, it’s only recently that vintners have banded together to market their award-winning products as a team.
“It’s amazing how often we hear people say they didn’t even realize there were wineries around here,” said Vic Vanni, president of the Wineries of Santa Clara Valley and co-owner of Solis Winery on Hecker Pass Highway. “Even people who live in Gilroy have never been out this way.”
Just a few miles past city limits, the majority of the member wineries are a short jaunt from downtown Morgan Hill and Gilroy. Still, they don’t have the big name brands boasted by Napa, Sonoma and Paso Robles. But a more concentrated marketing effort is spreading the word.
“Because of the new energy within the association as of recently, we’re really trying to push out into the Silicon Valley market,” Vanni said.
Marketing dollars are devoted toward radio and print advertising in the greater San Jose area and many wineries have jumped on the social media bandwagon with Facebook and Twitter accounts.
“It’s remarkable the organization that has solidified” in the past few years, said Jane Howard, executive director of the Gilroy Visitors Bureau, adding , like Vanni, she’s “constantly amazed” by the number of people who don’t know Gilroy is home to a dozen or so wineries.
Passports, which can be purchased for $30 at any of the wineries, the Gilroy Visitors Bureau or the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce, buy visitors a souvenir wine glass and access to barrel tastings, hors d’oeuvres, barbecue, winery tours, special discounts and new releases.
At Solis, Vanni plans to pour three reserve cabernets from 2001, 2002 and 2003 plus a 2008 straight from the barrel.
“Each one is doing something unique,” Howard said. “It’s a very festive weekend. Good luck if you can reach all 24.”
Passport Weekend
Hosted by the Wineries of Santa Clara Valley
11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Passport is $30 and can be purchased at any of the winery tasting rooms, at the Gilroy Visitors Bureau or the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce
Passports purchased earlier this year during the March 2010 Passport Weekend are still valid
For a complete list of participating wineries, visit www.santaclarawines.com or call the Gilroy Visitors Bureau at 842-6436
