WTN: Morgan Hill is Wine Country?

At the very southern edge of Silicon Valley is an actual wine country! The hills west of Morgan Hill/Gilroy are beautiful, classic California vineyard-pasture-oak woodland landscapes with small wineries along the winding country roads.

http://stefaniawine.com/

Stefania was a nice discovery. They moved to Day Road just outside of Gilroy and operate a tasting room in an addition to their home on first and third weekends. Grapes are purchased from long term sources, and the wine is produced (for the moment) in Salinas.

Anyway, they had some quite lovely, food-friendly wines. Highlights were the 2013 Chardonnay, which was almost saline in its minerality and bright crisp fruit. As an acid hound, I approved! And I don't really prefer Chardonnay. The Viognier was also similar in character, quite lithe and lively-not cloying or heavy but retaining the lovel floral notes.

The other two highlights were a San Benito County Mouvedre (2013) delicate and bright cherry fruit with, again, a nice core of acidity adding freshness.

And, my favorite: a 2012 Pinot Noir from a favorite vineyard source for the winemaker in WOODSIDE, where Silicon Valley moguls build their rustic retreats. A delicious saline, minerally edge over bright pomegranate fruit....almost like an Anderson Valley Pinot, but different!

A very nice discovery, indeed! And a fantastic bike ride, although the valley floor between Gilroy and Morgan Hill was warred a bit by scraggly "rural pretend country property" development rather than true agriculture. I don't understand this. If one wants to "live in the country" does that mean one has to scatter one's property with detritus and junk?

Thanks for the head's up on Stefania, Brian. My recollection is that Paul has some
connection w/ Northern NewMexico. Grandparents, maybe??
It is pretty country down there...even if you're not on a bike. I think a lot of very old vnyds,
much of it Grenache, still exist down there. The legendary DavidBruce LateHrvst Zin/Grenache/Carignane/PetiteSyrah
of '69-'70-'71 vintages came from the very old MaryCarter vnyd there. Long since gone, alas.
Tom

I used to drive that stretch often from Monterey to San Francisco. I sometimes stopped for lunch at a restaurant near a Gilroy exit and would always order the lasagna which contained olives. I once or twice attended the Gilroy Garlic Festival which included a crafts section and had items like garlic ice cream and garlic soup, but I like the fried artichoke hearts with garlic.

A rather bittersweet discovery was LIGHTHEART CELLARS, between Morgan Hill and Gilroy. I really enjoyed their lineup of restrained, even elegant wines! Bought a reasonably priced Barbera. Very friendly, down-to-earth owners. Casual setting.

Sadly, they are retiring, and this coming Saturday is their last day open.

[Jenise]

Yes, Morgan Hill is wine country. You forgot this post!

http://forums.wineloverspage.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=52492&p=427971#p427971

Wow. I did forget this post! I actually tasted at the Italian tourist trap near Morgan Hill (they were near the end of the amazing 19 mile Coyote Creek bicycle path-all the way from south of downtown San Jose!) .

Nice people...wines were not awful but not particularly memorable. There was a lot of made-in-China glurge for sale, I noticed. A pleasant enough stop, but not for a wine nerd!

I am probably heading back on Saturday-I have a bottle of the Lightheart Barbera to pick up. (I was on my bicycle when I tasted). I may ride out of Watsonville, Hollister, Salinas, or even Monterrey before hand and if there is no fog problem.