Wrights Station Vineyard & Winery site has a storied history. It is named after James Richards Wright who owned a parcel of land there in the 1800s and had a town named after him called Wrights.
Railroad workers were housed in the then-remote area while boring the 1.2-mile Summit Tunnel through the mountains. Completed in 1880, the station in the town of Wrights was “a vital link between the Santa Clara Valley and Santa Cruz.”
Wrights Station Vineyard is making some mighty good wines, including a superb 2018 Zinfandel ($45). Grapes are from Ormsby Trail Vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where the earth and the vines are carefully tended to by hand, resulting in a Zin with intense jammy flavors of raspberry, blackberry, cherry and plum. Underlying hints of licorice, pepper, cinnamon and herbs round out this well-made wine. We have owner and winemaker Dan Lokteff to thank for the excellent wines produced at Wrights. He found his dream property with this bucolic piece of land, and he goes all-out to make rich and rewarding wines of complex flavors.
Wrights Station Vineyard & Winery is a charming place to visit, and you can bring your own food to enjoy with your tasting.
Wrights Station Vineyard & Winery, 24250 Loma Prieta Ave., Los Gatos. 408-560-9343; wrightsstation.com.
Mobile Paella Parties
Throwing a party but don’t want to do all the cooking? Chef Brandon Miller will deliver home-cooked paella to your door. Miller is an experienced and respected chef who has cooked at upscale restaurants in the Carmel area and beyond. Orders must be placed 72 hours ahead of time—email bc*****@ya***.com .
The Santa Lucia Highlands 2022 Sun, Wind and Wine Festival
The Santa Lucia Highlands appellation celebrates 30 years, and more than 100 SLH wines will be poured, paired with bites from some of Monterey Peninsula’s best chefs. Saturday, May 14, 11am-2:30pm. Mer Soleil Winery, 1290 River Road, Salinas. santaluciahighlands.com.
