morgan hill cellars

We stumbled on this winery by accident really, just following the pamphlet we found in our hotel, and we loved it. They used to hand us a list of wines and tells us we could try them all, for free, and we bought several cases. This last visit, however, was a real disappointment. It seemed like the quality of the wines have declined, the will only pour a limited number (yes, I know, this is a federal or state requirement now), and the whole atmosphere was just more harsh and less welcoming, even though the woman pouring the wines was the same person, and the tasting room was the same; it just all felt limiting and unwelcoming. I used to visit this winery/tasting room every time I was in the area. I will give it one more try, but I don't hold my hopes too high.

The wines of Santa Clara Valley are often overlooked by folks on their way to the better marketed Napa wine area. Santa Clara Valley wineries have been in operation over 100 years and offer great wines. One of my favorites is the sweet Vino de Mocca which has a slight taste of chocolate and orange.Nearby is Sarah's Vineyard which I have found has an excellent chardonnay.These are small, family owned wineries, as opposed to many in Napa that are owned by large corporations.Also, nearby is Gilroy Gardens which is great for kids.