Eye On The Bay's South Bay Winery Roadtrip
Brian and Thuy explore the hidden and under recognized South Bay wine region. The duo road-trip their way to historical wineries and meet Olympic Gold medalist Peggy Fleming at her Los Gatos tasting room.
Cooper Garrod Estate Vineyards
22645 Garrod Road
Saratoga, CA 95070
(408) 867-7116
www.cgv.com
The Garrod family began involvement with California agriculture and open space in 1893, purchasing lands from the Mount Eden Orchard and Vineyard Company. Their label recalls glorious apricot and prune blossoms which enhanced spring views from our hillside early in the previous century. Since 1972, aging orchards have been replaced with grapes which thrive in the South Bay's microclimate. Their historic tasting room, the Fruit House, is open daily, and charges $5-$10 for tastes.
Savannah-Chanelle Winery
23600 Big Basin Way
Saratoga, CA 95070
(408) 741-2934
www.savannahchanelle.com
Just down the road from the better-known Mountain Winery, the barn that houses the Savannah-Chanelle tasting room is coming up on its 100th birthday. The grounds also include a picturesque villa and stunning views. The winery regularly treats visitors with a spread of food to sample while they swirl their glasses. The tasting fee is $10.
Fleming Jenkins Winery
45 W Main Street
Los Gatos, CA 95030
(408) 358-4949
www.flemingjenkins.com
Olympic gold medalist Peggy Fleming and husband Greg Jenkins began growing chardonnay on the hills above Los Gatos over a decade ago and fell in love with the winemaking process. That passion eventually led to a small tasting room that's a must-stop attraction on a shopping trip to downtown Los Gatos. Tastings start at $5
Byington Vineyard and Winery
21850 Bear Creek Rd
Los Gatos, CA 95033
(408) 354-1111
www.byington.com
This picturesque winery is a great backdrop to snap photos of your outing. The traditional tasting room serves up some worthy selections starting at $5 for a tasting flight. Byington is also a popular location for group events. The tasting fee is $5.
For more information on how you can take a guided "South Bay Wine Tour", visit: www.southbaywinetours.com or call (408) 867-9661. For more information on the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association and a complete list of wineries in the appellation, visit: www.scmwa.com
Eye On The Bay is the San Francisco Bay Area's source for things to do, places to go and sights to see. This Emmy Award winning magazine-style show features cheap eats, Bay Area bargains and weekend getaways.
