The mild breezes that rustle through South County’s abundant
vineyards come summer bring a lucrative crop, and plenty of
business. Surrounded by breath taking panoramas of the lush Santa
Cruz Mountains to the west and Diablo range to the east, vintners
are beginning to offer their clients more than just the fruit of
the vines.
The mild breezes that rustle through South County’s abundant vineyards come summer bring a lucrative crop, and plenty of business. Surrounded by breath taking panoramas of the lush Santa Cruz Mountains to the west and Diablo range to the east, vintners are beginning to offer their clients more than just the fruit of the vines.
Vintners are going above and beyond the call of duty these days. In addition to producing award winning and nationally acclaimed vintages, they’re starting to capitalize on their prime real estate and natural beauty by crafting event centers that hold their own among larger urban venues.
Wine lovers and concert goers alike flock to Hecker Pass Winery every week to enjoy concerts put on by local musicians. A refreshing combination of young and old, punk and preppy mix and mingle to the mellow beat of reggae and blues under the stars at Hecker Pass. Surrounded by burgeoning grape vines and wide open spaces, the outdoor deck and polished banquet room put a fresh spin on smoky, cramped blues clubs and bars.
“The vibe is just unbelievable,” said Carlo Fortino, son of winemaker Mario Fortino, who is overseeing the winery’s transition from traditional grower and producer to much, much more. “Everyone’s dancing. It’s so much fun, so mellow.”
Constantly refocusing his vision on the importance of tradition, family and strong client relations, Fortino can be found either pouring his favorites behind the bar, greeting visitors at the gate or mixing with his guests at each and every one of Hecker Pass’s events. Lavish weddings, elegant birthday parties and summer concerts crowd the winery’s calendar and Fortino is excited to see the ball rolling. Events like these make up for about 15 percent of the winery’s revenue and can run a startlingly vast price range, at anywhere from $7,000 to $25,000, depending on the length of the guest list, the menu and the entertainment. However, Fortino will work with anyone on any event, and advises prospective clients to drop by for a chat should they be planning an upcoming event.
He believes Hecker Pass’s potential as an entertainment venue is largely rooted in the land’s natural resources and his family’s vision of winemaking and hospitality.
“Local, local, local,” he reiterated. “We try to keep everything local.” Purchased in 1970 for its rich soil composition and ideal weather patterns, the land that is Hecker Pass Winery is home to about 18 acres of carignane, zinfandel and petit sirah, among others. Each bunch of grapes sprouts from 65-year-old vines brought over from the old country – “old vines, old school,” Fortino said. The family nurtures the grapes without the spray of pesticides or insecticides, relies on the tidings of Mother Nature for food and water and hand picks the fruit before making it into one of Hecker Pass’s rich, full-bodied wines.
“Whatever Mother Nature gives us, she gives us,” Fortino said frankly, his voice resonating off the high ceiling and earth-toned walls of the banquet hall and wine bar, known as La Vigna. The simple values that guide the family’s hand in winemaking carries over to their motto for entertaining. Right now, “no one knows who we are,” Fortino said. “Who are we?” The way Fortino explains it, Hecker Pass and La Vigna are family-run operations that welcome clients with open arms and a readiness to turn beseeching customers into satisfied guests who keep coming back for more.
“A lot of people are drawn to the family atmosphere,” he said. Willing to work with any client to put on an affair to remember, Fortino claims his events “work out perfect every time.”
“People become part of the family and the let their guard down,” he said. While he’s juggling a multitude of tasks in the background, clients and guests are distracted by the natural beauty surrounding them. Behind-the-scenes chaos comes together for a “flawless” finish.
The camaraderie and warmth that envelops visitors at Hecker Pass is reminiscent of the laid back, unpretentious ambiance of Leal Vineyards in Hollister. Void of the snootiness characteristic of some big name wineries, Leal is owned by a man who’s living his dream. Frank Leal, a self-taught “wine fanatic,” learned how to craft world class wines in Napa. Not one to follow the rules, Leal took what he learned in stuffy Napa and headed back to Hollister to dig into the dirt.
The young owner crafted a winery that is second to none, its bold wines backed by a stunning location that’s a selling point in itself.
“The venue sells the event,” said Angela Russo, a tasting room saleswoman. “Our grounds? I’ve seen nothing comparable.”
Outside, party goers can soak in the scenery – delicate willows trailing their branches in a swan filled lake, 45 acres of luscious grape vines and open-air gazebos and trellises waiting to be enjoyed – before heading indoors to savor a meal in the candle lit Barrel Room. The wooden doors carved from 100-year-old oak fermentation tanks stained after years of holding wine guard the striking room, adding an “Old World” feel to the new vineyard.
Leal hosts about 50 events a years, many of which are weddings, that range from $10,000 to $50,000.
Citizens of San Benito County looking for a venue guaranteed to deliver quality entertainment can count on Leal, Russo said.
“You really get your money’s worth,” she said. “We’re here to have fun and drink some good wine and enjoy great music.”
With word-of-mouth advertising, and a reputation for “fine wines and good times,” Leal is blossoming into a highly sought after entertainment venue. Many nights laughter echoes through the Barrel Room as local comedians showcase their best material. Mark Pitta, a San Francisco comedian who’s worked with comedy giants Robin Williams and Dana Carvey, will perform at Leal in April. Acts like his keep Leal’s patrons coming back for more, Russo said.
“Because of our past history, people count on us for a good time,” she said. “Events like these are, absolutely, boosting business.”
History is something Guglielmo Winery in Morgan Hill has under its belt just fine. Since 1925, Guglielmo has been selling its Italian inspirations to Bay Area wine enthusiasts, building relationships that have spanned generations. Under the careful direction of third generation winemakers – George E., Gene and Gary Guglielmo – Events Coordinator Tammi Roberts executes dozens of weddings during the peak summer months. ÂRoberts meets with every bride and groom that walks through Guglielmo’s doors and loves every minute of it.
“We’ve been around so long we get a lot of word-of-mouth advertising,” Roberts said. And the years of family tradition has paid off. Couples are turning to Guglielmo to host their big day. The flowers, the vines, the cobblestone piazza – these are mere first impressions. The follow up is what’s key, Roberts said. Basically, her job is to “deal with it,” meaning the glitches in the day, so that the bride and groom can focus on each other.
“Your cake’s going to get cut, your guests fed, your drinks poured,” she said.
The best part of her job – watching the event come together, she said.
“It’s pretty awesome especially when you have a really big wedding. Watching it all come together? It’s priceless. I love it. I love working with the family.”
One significant factor that pulls patrons to the winery is the idea of a beautiful, outdoor wedding. Coastal weddings held on the edge of a cliff overlooking the crashing waves can be spectacular, Roberts said, but impractical.
“You get better weather at a winery. Less wind. Better hair. Don’t get me wrong, beach weddings are gorgeous, but the whole coast thing doesn’t always work.”
And once guests meet the staff and tour the winery, in the hope of scouting a suitable site for a wedding, they’re hooked.
A member of the Wineries of Santa Clara Valley, Guglielmo and other local wineries like Hecker Pass have formed strong partnerships with each other and the Gilroy Visitors Bureau.
“Because wineries had not been marketing as an organization or a group, they got lost in the shuffle,” said Jane Howard, president of the visitors bureau. A whole new section showcasing local wineries was added to the visitors bureau Web site in September 2006. After the events calendar, the wineries section is the most visited feature of the site, Howard said. Between drawing visitors based on their “outstanding wines” alone and teaming up to market themselves as group, they’re gaining “more and more notoriety.”
With regular events like weddings, parties and concerts, or just a day spent tasting wine, wineries are drawing visitors that need lodging for the night and a bite to eat.
“We’re finding that in addition to wine tasting, they might frequent a local restaurant, shop at the outlets, spend a night in Gilroy at a hotel and take advantage of our parks for hiking or boating,” Howard said. Hotels like the Hilton Garden Inn on Monterey often lodge guests that are visiting Gilroy for a special event at a winery, Sales Coordinator Stacie Vuksanaj said. Last year, quite a few guests were visiting for the annual Passport Weekend, an event the local wineries put on that will take place this year on March 29 and 30.
“There are more and more reasons to come down,” Howard said. Over the years, she’s noticed an increase in events centers and events coordinators at wineries. “They have really stepped up and are doing more and more events. They’re really taking advantage of each other’s synergy.”
Although wineries are taking on more than ever, they never stray far from the tradition the vineyards of the Santa Clara Valley has established over the years. Behind each successful winery seems to stand a caring, enthusiastic staff that is truly invested in their customers’ experience.
“Customer service is everything,” Russo at Leal said. “People always remember the way we make them feel. Everyone wants to feel noticed, feel wanted. That’s what we do.”
Wineries in the region
Calera Winery
11300 Cienega Road, Hollister
(831) 637-9170
Clos LaChance Winery
1 Hummingbird Lane, San Martin
(408) 686-1050
Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards
22645 Garrod Road, Saratoga
(408) 867-7116
Creekview Vineyards
12467 Creekview Court, San Martin
(408) 686-0534
DeRose Vineyard
9970 Cienega Road, Hollister
(831)636-9143
Emilio Guglielmo Winery
1480 E. Main Avenue, Morgan Hill
(408) 779-2145
Enz Winery
1781 Limekiln Road, Hollister
(831) 637-6443
Fernwood Cellars
7137 Redwood Retreat Road, Gilroy
(408) 848-1237
Flint Wine Cellars
13160 Cienega Road, Hollister
(831) 636-8986
Fortino Winery
4525 Hecker Pass Highway, Gilroy
(408) 842-3305
Hecker Pass Winery
4605 Hecker Pass Highway, Gilroy
(408) 842-8755
J. Lohr Vineyards & Winery
1000 Lenzen Avenue, San Jose
(408) 288-5057
Kirigin Cellars
11550 Watsonville Road, Gilroy
(408) 847-8827
Leal Vineyards
300 Maranatha Drive, Hollister
(831) 636-1023
Mann Cellars
7475 Crews Road, Gilroy
(408) 847-1556
Martin Ranch Winery
6675 Redwood Retreat Road, Gilroy
(408) 842-9197
Pedrizzetti Winery
1645 San Pedro Avenue, Morgan Hill
(408) 779-7389
Pietra Santa Winery
10034 Cienega Road, Hollister
(831) 636-1991
Rapazzini Winery
4350 Monterey Road, Gilroy
(408) 867-7116
Red Sage Cellars
2825 Day Road, Gilroy
(408) 842-4143
Sarah’s Vineyard
4005 Hecker Pass Highway, Gilroy
(408) 842-4278
Solis Winery
3920 Hecker Pass Highway, Gilroy
(408) 847-6306
Summerayne Vineyard
1781 Limekiln Road, Hollister
(831) 902-5638
Sycamore Creek
12775 Uvas Road, Morgan Hill
(408) 779-4738
Thomas Kruse Winery
3200 Dryden Avenue, Gilroy
(408) 842-7016
Zanger Vineyards at Casa de Fruta
10021 Pacheco Pass Highway, Hollister
(800) 548-3813
