Whether you’re an experienced, lifelong connoisseur of fine wine, an enthusiast often in search of the perfect vinous pairings for your next dinner party, or a neophyte who just wants to learn more about South County wineries, downtown Morgan Hill’s first-ever “Wine Week” probably has something for you.
Wine Week, organized by the Morgan Hill Downtown Association and local businesses, starts Sunday, April 21 and ends Saturday, April 27 with the MHDA’s annual Spring Wine Stroll.
During the Wine Stroll, which takes place downtown from 1 to 5 p.m., attendees will be able to sample wines from more than 18 different local wineries, all in one day. With about 20 downtown shops and restaurants hosting the different wine samplings, the Wine Stroll is also a chance for residents and visitors to see what downtown Morgan Hill has to offer, according to MHDA Office Manager Raquel Crowell.
During Wine Week leading up to the stroll, local businesses will help the MHDA feature a different winery each day, and offer wines that will not be available for tasting on the day of the Wine Stroll, “in a more intimate setting,” Crowell said. The events are also designed to illustrate how local wines pair with local cuisine.
“(Wine Week) is geared more toward serious wine drinkers who are more interested in tasting, and education, so that people will know what they’re tasting. They’ll be taught that right before the Wine Stroll,” Crowell said.
The full slate of Wine Week events has not been finalized, but one of the events, titled “Meet the Winemakers of Santa Clara Valley” scheduled for Tuesday, April 23, will allow patrons of Ladera Grill to mingle with 10 regional wine makers as they taste their wines and sample some new appetizers the restaurant’s kitchen has been developing behind the scenes, according to Ladera Grill owner Dan McCranie.
Ladera Grill will also be the site of the “Wine Stroll Wine Dinner” on Wednesday, April 24, which is in fact a regular event at the restaurant on the corner of Third Street and Monterey Road, McCranie said. On April 24, the five-course dinner will pair wines from the Morgan Hill area, and local vintners will be on hand to discuss their wines with patrons.
Wine has become an increasingly important part of Ladera Grill’s menu over the last year or so, McCranie said. It was about a year ago that he hired house sommelier Susan March, and since then the restaurant’s wine list has grown from about 25 bottles to about 110 different labels.
“Like everybody here, we’re very proud of our local wineries,” McCranie said.
Other notable Wine Week events include:
-No Corkage Sunday, April 21 at Rosy’s at the Beach restaurant, who will not charge a corkage fee for diners who bring in bottles they might have purchased earlier Sunday from local wineries. Also, Wine Stroll ticket holders will receive a free dessert with a meal purchase.
-Monday, April 22 and Tuesday, April 23: 30 percent off local wines purchased by the bottle at The Good Fork restaurant.
-Tuesday, April 23, 5 to 9 p.m.: Wine Stroll Ticket Holder Night allows those who have already purchased their Wine Stroll tickets to take advantage of specials and promotional offers available at participating downtown businesses.
-Thursday, April 25, 6 to 9 p.m.: Guglielmo Winemaker’s dinner at Mama Mia’s restaurant.
-Friday, April 26, 5 to 10 p.m.: Cigar and port pairing at Morgan Hill Cigar Company.
Tickets for the Wine Stroll, which cost $25 each in advance and $35 each on the day of the event, are available at participating downtown businesses. But they’re selling out quickly.
For more details, go to the Morgan Hill Downtown Association’s website at www.morganhilldowntown.com.
