Opinion

It’s that time of the year again, when we start to see the events on the horizon that many in the region look forward to year after year: the Spring Passport Weekend, Wine Stroll, Mushroom Mardi Gras and more…I have to suppose that most people have no idea how much advance planning and time goes into making sure we have the types of events that will bring people back every year.As an example, work on the Wine Stroll and the Wine and Food Week events starts about four months before the events, with weekly meetings on the schedule until the event happen.If the planning is successful, it should appear these events were a breeze to put together and there will be smiles all around as you enjoy the festivities.The first big event that I usually attend in the Wineries of Santa Clara Valley Spring Passport Weekend. This celebration is planned to kick off Friday, March 17, with a special night of fine wine tasting, and then continue on through the weekend.The Friday Night Passport kickoff is one of my favorite events at the Community and Cultural Center in Morgan Hill. It is an invitation only event for those that have a ticket for the entire Passport Weekend (don’t worry—you can purchase the Weekend Passes at the door).This year, 16 wineries will pour tastings Friday night, all in one location. Most of the people pouring will be the winemakers themselves. One of the main reasons for the creation of this event was to provide some of the wineries unable to participate in the entire weekend an opportunity to pour samplings of their hard work. Now this event is attracting other wineries who love the thought of being able to show off the fruits of their labor in the festive atmosphere that pervades this night.I can’t think of a better way for this Irishman to enjoy Saint Patrick’s Day than to spend it with about 200 friends enjoying fine wine.The rest of the weekend can be spent sampling wines at 23 different wineries throughout the Santa Clara Valley AVA. The AVA part stands for American Viticultural Area which means that perfect conditions for the growing of grapes and wines made from this fruit are unique to the Santa Clara Valley. And our local wineries take full advantage of these conditions. Their many awards over the years are only one testament to this.When you’re out on this Passport Weekend I hope you fully appreciate more than just the award winning wines. Stop and meet the people whose passion is not only to make great wines, but to provide you with fun and memorable experiences. Most every winemaker I’ve met has a unique story to tell. They love to tell those stories and talk about just about anything related to wine, including how a curry flavored chocolate pairs well with a red wine.This is a great way to kick off a new season of events in the South Valley, now get out and enjoy yourself.For more information about the Spring Passport Event, visit santaclarawines.com/passport.html.John McKay is president of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association, city planning commissioner and co-founder of the Morgan Hill Tourism Alliance. This is a special edition of “Our Town,” timed to give extra notice for the upcoming Spring Passport Weekend, which takes place in South Santa Clara Valley March 17-19. The column will return March 24.

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