Although I wasn’t able to make it out to the recent wine strolls held in Hollister and Morgan Hill, I did take advantage of the incredible weather last weekend to enjoy Gilroy’s Art and Wine Stroll.
The event, which pairs various wineries with businesses downtown, was a great way to spend an afternoon with one of my closest friends. Jolie and I have been friends since we met in fifth grade, and unfortunately she’s dealing with a broken foot and must wear one of those awkward “boots.” But the boot barely slowed us down as we walked along Monterey Road in downtown Gilroy, sampling wine and various snacks while checking out local shops’ and artists’ goodies.
I’m not a wine connoisseur by any means. I’m not very familiar with grape varieties or terms such as notes, acidity or aeration. And though I likely sound ignorant when it comes to wine, I enjoy wine tasting and learning about the art, as long as there’s someone willing to show me the ropes.
My favorite taste of the day was Sunlit Oaks’ Moscato, which was poured at the new downtown lingerie store Queen of Hearts Boutique. My booted friend enjoyed several, but Kirigin Cellars’ Vino de Mocca—poured at Predators Archery—and Casa de Fruta’s Pomegranate Wine—at Collective Past—stood out to her.
And though all the snacks—from cheese and crackers to chocolates and fruit—were delicious, we agreed the one that really hit the spot were the white cupcakes offered at Amoretto Boutique, where Guerra Family Cellars was poured.
Aside from tasting some amazing local wines, one of my favorite things about attending area events is running into friends who are also out and about. And sometimes, people who know me from this column have approached me at area events as strangers and walked away as friends.
So as Jolie and I strolled downtown, we ran into a number of folks—from my colleagues enjoying a day off and others working, to a former boss and a local historian who writes a blog.
We ran into Mark Derry—the formidable former editor who hired me at the Gilroy Dispatch 10 years ago; my mentor during that time and my friend today—and his wife, Miss Jenny. We also came across sweet Phidgety Phill Laursen—writer of “Barn Again!” at gilroydispatch.com—who was out promoting the preservation of South Valley’s historical treasures.
At Old City Hall, where we tried a bit of white from Satori Cellars, we paused in the shade of the patio to listen to a song or two of the Impromptu’s—and though the young girl shaking the tambourine didn’t look all that happy to be there, the band sounded great.
One of the more amusing moments of the day came when we followed a small group of people into Gilroy Medical Supply, where wines from Hecker Pass Winery were sampled. Though we didn’t know anyone in the good-natured group, we seemed to end up in the same places. As he entered the medical supply store, a young man in the group commented that it should be the last stop on the stroll so those who tasted a bit too much could purchase a cane or walker to help them along.
All the laughing and visiting and tasting made me feel so grateful to live and work in such a great community. In addition to the people, it’s events such as the Gilroy, Morgan Hill and Hollister wine strolls, the Mushroom Mardi Gras, the Garlic Festival and so many more that help make living in the South Valley so special.
