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Small manufacturing vineyard makes its mark with daring and distinctive wines.
Although Guerra Family Cellars planted their first vines at Pepper Tree Ranch comparatively not too long ago, beginning with malbec, petite sirah, and viognier in 2006, the vineyard is firmly grounded in a neighborhood agricultural custom that stretches again to the Twenties when Antonio Guerra along with his son Frank and his brother Carl settled in Hollister and commenced farming.
The principle household enterprise was farming and shelling walnuts, however Antonio began a small vineyard which he continued to function till his dying in 1941. Frank’s son Anthony got here dwelling in 1947 after serving in World Battle II, and the household started the Guerra Nut Shelling Company, one in every of Hollister’s most profitable companies, using over 100 individuals.
The vineyard started as a tribute to Anthony, who had been president of the corporate and died in 2003.
“Dad had a ardour and dream of being within the wine enterprise,” stated Anthony’s son Al Guerra. “He was our mentor and the man we adopted, so when he handed we stated ‘Let’s attempt what dad needed to do.’ A buddy of his dug a effectively for us and we had been capable of plant 20 acres. We went into it as a enjoyable factor for our dad and to see why he needed to do it.”
Guerra presently oversees the vineyard and has the relaxed air of somebody who has found the pleasure his father was looking for, as he chats with guests, a glass of wine in hand.
“We didn’t attempt to determine for ourselves what to do,” Guerra stated. “We acquired quite a lot of recommendation from our neighbor, Frank Leal. He helped information us and used a number of the concepts of the place we didn’t need to go or had been too afraid to go. Fortunate our household has an excellent enterprise that may enable us to attempt another factor.”
Leal helped select the varietals primarily based on vines much like these he grows at close by Leal Vineyards. The entire wine manufacturing for Guerra is finished at Leal, virtually completely with Pepper Tree Ranch grapes.
“I don’t need to say it’s a passion, however it’s type of a passion,” Guerra stated. “Our grape manufacturing shouldn’t be small, however what we produce to promote is small. We need to keep small—that’s what we really feel our area of interest is correct now. We’d produce 600-700 instances of viognier however we promote lower than 200 ourselves. The remainder of the grapes get bought to different winemakers.”
Guerra doesn’t market the wine by way of the standard retailers, as a substitute promoting solely by way of their vineyard, their wine membership, and on-line ordering by way of their web site. Wine membership members obtain simply eight bottles a yr, partly as a result of Guerra doesn’t need individuals ending up with “closets stuffed with wine from all of the wine golf equipment they be part of.” The vineyard has twice-a-year launch events and presents a 30% low cost to members.
Additionally they promote their wine at their Hollister Concerts venue, a grassy amphitheater positioned a brief stroll from their tasting room. The summer time live performance sequence options cowl and tribute bands and Guerra payments the reveals as ‘The one live shows with ‘Angle,’ a reference to their wine label.
There are 5 live shows scheduled this yr beginning on June 19, with performances by Lucky Son and Caravanserai, that are Creedence Clearwater Revival and Santana tribute bands.
One distinctive function of the vineyard is that the reds are typically held again from early launch, permitting clients to purchase wine that has aged a bit relatively than having to cellar the wines themselves.
“You don’t need to get a case and sit on it for six years earlier than you may drink it,’ Guerra stated. “The wines are usually not filtered, so there may be nonetheless some grape in there to maintain it from dying, which helps the wine final.”
The vineyard is positioned on the sting of Hollister. As you flip off the always-busy Fairview Street, the method to the vineyard down John Smith Street twists and turns by way of the tranquil countryside. It’s simple to assume you’ve wandered within the unsuitable route, however there are indicators posted to guarantee you that you’re going the correct method.
The tasting room is a small barn surrounded by a garden and tables. The scene earlier than you is pure San Benito County magnificence: rolling hills and distant mountains. I met Guerra and his daughter Danielle Nino there to style the 5 wines presently being supplied.
The Pepper Tree Ranch ‘Angle’ wines of Guerra Household Cellars
2019 Viognier ($32) “Should you develop chardonnay, you’re simply one in every of one million chardonnays,” Guerra stated. “However since this was not going to be our foremost method of constructing a dwelling, we needed to be a bit bit completely different. That is our solely white and it has been enjoyable for us to see that not many individuals round listed below are producing viognier.” The wine is fermented in chrome steel, then transferred to French oak barrels. The aroma is wealthy and stuffed with fruit with a touch of a bitter word. The wine itself is refreshingly mild and barely candy within the end. It lacks the metallic tones present in some viogniers, making it a tremendous cheese-and-prosciutto type of wine, good for snacking on a sizzling summer time day. It might go effectively with meals ready merely, like salmon with a lemon garlic cream sauce.
2015 Cabernet Sauvignon ($40) That is the inaugural classic of this wine, from the final grapes planted within the winery. “We went with the opposite varieties first, then determined to attempt a cabernet,” Guerra stated. “It’s important to have a cabernet. I prefer it and typically on the finish of the day that’s what issues. How else are you able to stand behind it?” The wine is a deep, deep purple with an aroma that leans in the direction of berries and robust tannins. “This one is a bit drier and woodsier than a few of our wines,” stated Nino. “It’s one in every of my favorites, good with meals.” It’s a supple wine with a chic end. The dryness would enable it to compete properly with meals with bolder flavors, like pasta with purple sauces or grilled spicy sausages.
2014 Malbec ($40) “This wine is a bit completely different,” Al stated, “However we came upon malbec grows effectively right here. Our first malbec received finest of sophistication within the San Francisco Chronicle wine competitors, which we thought was spectacular.” A French grape extra related to Australian winemaking, this malbec has most of the similar notes because the cabernet, however extra toned down and extra delicate to the palate. The fruit comes by way of extra clearly, with hints of tobacco and darkish chocolate. “Lots of people come for our malbec,” stated Nino. “It has the strongest aroma of our wines, very clean and distinctive.” What struck me about this wine was its mild versatility—it’s a nice approachable purple wine. If I had been bringing a bottle of wine to dinner with no clue as to what was being served, I’d trust on this wine as a sensible choice.
2013 Three Sisters ($38) That is Guerra’s solely mix, made up of 63% petite sirah from Guerra’s winery, with 28% grenache and 9% sirah grown at Leal Vineyards. “We needed to have greater than 4 wines to pour and since we had the sirah and Leal had the others, we went with that. Blends like this are typically named ‘three one thing.’ The Three Sisters mountains are within the distance behind us, my son has three sisters, and a grandson with three sisters. It’s important to have some lore, they informed us, so that’s the story.” Of the three reds, that is the lightest and fruitiest, with vibrant taste tones that excite the mouth. I’d have cherished to have an enormous plate of spaghetti to go together with this, with a wealthy purple bolognese and a few garlic bread. “That is a day purple wine for me,” Nino stated. “It’s a go-to for me you could loosen up with at 2 o’clock with appetizers or snacks.”
2011 Petite Sirah ($38) Deciding on a bottle to take dwelling was a troublesome name. It was a coin toss between this and the Three Sisters mix, however the sirah received ultimately. It’s a barely daring wine that also maintains a smoothness that holds the flavors collectively. The balanced acidity and tannins be part of with blackberry and black pepper tones to supply a outstanding wine that will be acceptable for particular events or simply to sip within the night with associates. That is an instance of Guerra’s intuition in releasing a wine after an ideal growing older time—you may cellar this wine for a bit longer, however there actually is not any want to take action. I’d fortunately serve this with prime rib and grilled mushrooms however it might be scrumptious with ravioli in an alfredo sauce with contemporary floor pepper.
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