A devoted hunter, fisherman, pilot and owner of the former
Pedrizzetti Winery
– an almost century-old staple in Morgan Hill – has died. Ed
Pedrizzetti, 84, died unexpectedly on March 25 from complications
after heart surgery.
Morgan Hill – A devoted hunter, fisherman, pilot and owner of the former Pedrizzetti Winery – an almost century-old staple in Morgan Hill – has died. Ed Pedrizzetti, 84, died unexpectedly on March 25 from complications after heart surgery.
Pedrizzetti and his wife Phyllis were married 62 years and raised their three children in Morgan Hill until 2006 when the Pedrizzettis moved to the small town of Jackson, Mont. where Ed could spend retirement hunting, fishing, flying and drinking his preferred wine Barbera.
In 1913, Pedrizzetti Winery opened its doors in Morgan Hill. Ed took over the family business on San Pedro Avenue in 1949 and opened the first Pedrizzetti tasting room in 1968. The Pedrizzettis took their name with them when they sold the 80-acre winery. It now stands as Morgan Hill Cellars.
Harold Cox, a friend of Ed’s for 35 years, shared his great love of hunting and fishing. Cox even visited Ed in Montana several times over the span of their friendship.
“We liked going to lunch and trade stories. He was always an even-tempered gentleman, very slow to ire. He was an excellent friend,” Cox said.
Cox said Ed loved his Labrador Belle who traveled around Morgan Hill with him in his pick-up truck.
“He couldn’t go to any restaurant in town without people coming over to chat with Ed,” Cox said.
Another close friend, Larry Brink, worked with Ed in the wine business. They met in 1975. In 2000, Brink took a job in town at the San Martin Winery.
“He was a great man of wine,” Brink said. He said Ed like to talk about the history of the region and how much it’s changed from a span of orchards as far as the eye could see to the residential hub it’s become.
“He was a very honest, straight-up talker. He told you what was on his mind, very straight-forward. He always enjoyed a good laugh and he was a real family man,” Brink said.
Ed was born Oct. 23, 1927 on Seymour Avenue in San Martin to first generation Italian-Americans from Lake Maggiore near the Swiss border. He graduated from Live Oak High School in 1945 just before World War II ended.
“There was never any question of him going to college,” his wife Phyllis Pedrizzetti said. “His dad needed him and he really loved farming. The only time Ed made a decision on his own was when he married me. He was a good son,” she said.
Ed was active in the local Kiwanis chapter, the Santa Clara Valley Wine Growers Association, South Valley Sportsmen, and Morgan Hill Airmen’s Association. He received his pilot’s license in 1963 and “we were off flying every chance we had,” Phyllis said. “Our first vacation away from our kids was in 1966 when we flew to Baja California. How bold we were.”
Pedrizzetti’s doctor said he couldn’t fly again until he had a heart valve procedure done, his daughter Kathy Pedrizzetti said. Ed died from complications after that surgery.
“He kept flying up until the day he died,” Kathy said.
“He will be sorely missed by everyone,” Janey said.
The Pedrizzettis are honoring Ed with a “Celebration of Life” May 21 at the Goularte residence, 13747 Sycamore Drive. If you care to attend, please RSVP to the Muirheads, Ed’s daughter and son-in-law, at mu******@ga****.com.
“He lived within his means. He was a great guy, that really sums it up,” Brink said.
Ed is survived by his loving wife of 62 years Phyllis Pedrizzetti, his adoring daughters Kathy Pedrizzetti and Janey Muirhead, his son, a much-admired son-in-law Bob Muirhead, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Morgan Hill loses a legend
Ed Pedrizzetti, died suddenly from complications from heart surgery on March 25. My father was born in his home in San Martin on Seymour Avenue. My grandmother did not trust hospitals. She was afraid they would mix up the babies! My father always worked wit his father. They farmed tomatoes and prunes. They had a dipped and dehydrator. Nonie worked alongside them, they took turns putting the cars in the dehy and pulling them out all by hand. Each would take turns putting the cars in and pulling them out. It was quite a process.
Every year after prune season Dad and Nono would go deer hunting in Nevade or Colorado. Dad would also deer hunt in the hills above Morgan Hill and he would come home stinking from tar weed which would make my mother throw up when she was pregnant. To this day, the smell of tar weed makes her gag. Dad would hang the deer over in Nono’s garage, skin it and then they would cut it up and wrap it on our kitchen table. Lots of pheasant and wild duck were on the menu also. My mother says she was so happy when they started earning enough money to have chicken or beef for dinner.
Nono bought one of the first international trucks manufactured after the way and dad drove it to Paul Masson winery in Saratoga with grapes in boxes, the rest of the grape crop – all picked in 40 boxes – were sold roadside. The vineyard produced about 275 tons a year, Sebastiani winery the first producers of barbera grapes. No wine was produced under the Pedrizzetti label until 1949 that year my dad married my mom Phyllis Smith.
Mike Bo of San Martin Winery taught him how to crush and ferment his own grapes. Mom designed the label and Dad did home deliveries, cases of gallons. All labor in he winery was performed by the family, bottling. labeling and sales. Home deliveries were discontinued in 1969 at which time Mom and Dad sold out of the tasting room and by shipping.
Dad drove tractor and cultivated all the 65 acres of vineyards with his father. All the vines were head-pruned not trellised. Irrigation was done by a sprinkler pipe, moved row by row by hand. Vineyard work is extremely labor intensive. Not only did Dad work hard in the vineyards and winery, he also had 10 acres in two separate parcels in cucumbers. The vineyard was planted of mostly red wines, merlot, zinfandel, mission, matero and the signature Barbara. The whites: semillion, golden chaselais, pinot blanc and green Hungarian.
My father was gift deeded the winery that was built in 1913, purchased by my grandfather in 1946. Nono gift deeded it to my dad in 1968. Mom and Dad then opened their first tasting room. Dad used to go every Saturday to San Francisco to deliver wine that was ordered on post cards my parents sent out and the customer would mark the box and amount of cases needed. Dad took each one of us kids, one at a time with him. Those are very preciously times in my memory. We delivered all over the city and had a great time in doing it. Dad worked so hard. Mom would stay at home and take care of the tasting room and the kids left at home and always had dinner waiting for my dad.
Dad and Mom sold the winery in 2006 and retired to their dream home in Montana. Dad enjoyed his retirement to the fullest with his wife. He hunted, fished, road ATVs and loved flying until the day he died. He is greatly missed.
Janey Pedrizzetti Muirhead and Bob Muirhead, Ed’s daughter and son-in-law and Phyllis Pedrizzetti, Ed’s wife
