West Valley wineries shine at 2023 Sunset Wine Competition
Vintages from Los Gatos, Saratoga and Cupertino earn gold
The 2023 Sunset Wine Competition brought gold to several local wineries, among them Gali Vineyards, who scored 93 points for their 2022 Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir from their vineyard in Watsonville. Check it out at their tasting room in downtown Los Gatos.
The 2021 Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards Chardonnay earned gold and 93 points. Kings Mountain Vineyards scored a double gold for the 2019 Bacchus Estate Pinot Noir, Pichetti Winery’s 2021 Leslie’s Estate Chardonnay was named Best of Class and Sandar & Hem Wines scored gold for both their 2022 Bates Ranch Grenache Rosé (91 points) and 2021 Mountain Winery Vineyard Chardonnay 94 points).
Virginie Boone, who penned reviews for years for Wine Enthusiast and is now writing for the New Wine Review site, where she recently gave a well-deserved shoutout to Calligraphy’s 2021 pinot noir, a collaboration between Silicon Valley resident Pooja Challa Gorthy and winemaker Megan Baccitich, who makes wine for Paul Hobbs. Gorthy, a high tech executive, said she knew she had to make pinot noir with grapes from Bootlegger’s Hill, Charlie Chenoweth’s Russian River Valley vineyard.
Boone also awarded 92 points to the 2021 Sante Arcangeli Split Rail Vineyard pinot noir from a vineyard at 1,700 feet, overlooking Monterey Bay. Sporting several decades of age, the low-yield dry-farmed vines originated from cuttings brought over from Burgundy in the 1890s by Paul Masson.
Be sure to book tickets for the Midsummer Night’s Dinner at Silver Mountain on July 14, when you can dine on cuisine prepared by Los Gatos favorite Chef Ross Hanson of Oak & Rye, while taking in panoramic mountain views from 2,100 feet atop Skyland Ridge. Wines from Silver Mountain Vineyards, Aptos Vineyard, Cooper-Garrod Vineyards at Garrod Farms, House Family Vineyards, Left Bend Winery, Muns Vineyard and Villa del Monte Winery will be featured. Tickets are $175 at https://winesofthesantacruzmountains.com/events/midsummer-nights-dinner.
Dan Lokteff of Wrights Station will lead Winemaker Workshops in the Redwood Grove. On June 25 Quinn Roberts, master cooper from Tonnellerie O Cooperagewill discuss “Eight Decisions a Winemaker Makes.” The July 23 workshop will feature an exploration of pinot noir terroir around the world, while attendees of the Aug. 20th event should gain a better understanding of their palates. Food and wine pairings will be covered on Sept. 17.
The workshops run from noon to 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $55 at https://www.exploretock.com/wrightsstation/event/417524/winemaker-workshop-series.
Fogarty invites you to Summer in the Vineyard, Saturday, July 15, noon-3 p.m., featuring the Thomas Fogarty and Lexington brands. Reservations include a choice of sliders and sides, along with five interactive wine stations offering educational side-by-side tastings. Tickets are $95 for winery members and $135 for non-members at https://www.exploretock.com/fogartywinery/event/421135/summer-in-the-vineyard.