There are so many fabulous wines for you to try when you head to Martin Ranch for a tasting—and one of them is the Thérese Vineyards Privata Reserva 2017. A delicious blend of three red wines—Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the Privata Reserva is a little masterpiece of flavor.
Owner and winemaker Dan Martin and his wife Thérèse run the winery in the verdant hills of Gilroy. They started by growing grapes to sell—before realizing the joy that winemaking and running a business gives them. Now, in addition to the original Cabernet Sauvignon vines they planted back in 1993, their vineyard has rows of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Nebbiolo, and Pinot Noir. And with three award-winning labels under their belt—J.D.Hurley, Soulmate and Thérese Vineyards—there’s never a dull moment at the winery.
Their Privata Reserva blend is produced from barrels hand selected by Thérèse Martin—one of a handful of female winemakers in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA.
“The union of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon pays homage to the great blends of Tuscany,” say the Martins. And the wine’s extra time in the barrels provides more depth and smoothness, along with an abundance of fruit and spice on the palate. Check with Martin Ranch for cost.
A vital team member is David Dockendorf, who has been with Martin Ranch since 2008 and oversees winemaking and production “from harvest to bottle.”
Keep your eyes glued on Martin Ranch’s website for info on their upcoming events. Their last virtual tasting sold out.
Martin Ranch Winery, 6675 Redwood Retreat Road, Gilroy. 408-842-9197, martinranchwinery.com.
Kathryn Kennedy Winery
Kathryn Kennedy Winery is run by accomplished winemaker Marty Mathis (the late Kathryn Kennedy’s son). He posted a heartfelt note on his email list recently.
Here’s what he said: “I’m sincerely grateful for the strong support from customers like you. It has allowed paychecks to go (uninterrupted) to five families. With your help our small winery will have a fighting chance to bridge through this unprecedented crisis.”
Visit kathrynkennedywinery.com for info on their wines.
