In 1975, a man with a quest to make the best possible pinot noir on American soil found just the spot he’d been seeking: the limestone hills of Mt. Harlan in the Gavilan Mountains of San Benito County. There was no power or telephone service, and little water, in these arid hills, but Josh Jensen was determined to plant vineyards.
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But for a few investors, including his Dad and two family friends, everyone else in Jensen’s circle thought he was crazy. “You’ll lose your shirt!” they all told him at a 50th birthday part he threw for himself. Turns out, that shirt was likely a Versace, and he didn’t lose it. Instead, against low yields and high odds, he built Calera Wine Company.
Jensen passed away in 2022 after selling Calera to Duckhorn, three years shy of his winery’s 50th anniversary. Winemaker Mike Waller continues to produce intense, enduring and collectible wines. Celebrate with them Omakase-style at the winery on Hollister on July 19.
Tickets are $175 for club members and $225 general at https://www.calerawine.com.
New releases means it’s time for tasting events. To wit:
Santa Cruz Mountains Passport Day, Feb. 22 – Time to buy your current passport for local winetasting. Price is $90 for one and $150 for two at https://winesofthesantacruzmountains.com. Other passport days are set for June 21 and Oct. 21.
Santa Cruz Mountains Grand Tasting, March 30 – There is no better or easier way to get a flavor of the Santa Cruz Mountains than the Grand Tasting at The Mountain Winery. Score VIP and library tickets to taste some golden gems from the likes of Kathryn Kennedy, Cooper-Garrod, Silver Mountain and Kings Mountain Vineyards. $79-$170 at https://winesofthesantacruzmountains.com.
House Family Welcomes Girl Scouts, Sunday, March 2, noon-4 p.m.—Troop 61324 will be in the House for the second annual Girl Scout Cookie and Wine Pairing at House Family in Saratoga. Enjoy a wine flight, playfully paired with your favorite Girl Scout cookies. $10 for members, $25 for non-members at https://www.exploretock.com/housefamilyvineyards.
Later in spring, Pebble Beach Food and Wine, April 10-13, offers myriad ways of experiencing culinary delights and educational seminars, whether you’re interested in learning more about Italian wines or Creole cooking, or just indulging in epic lunches and dinners. Check it all out at https://www.pebblebeachfoodandwine.com/events.
The Santa Lucia Highlands Gala, a celebration of extraordinary wines from this storied strip of Monterey County, takes place May 3. Testarossa usually pours at this, along with Bernardus, Caraccioli, Morgan, Pisnoi and Talbott. https://www.santaluciahighlands.com
Tickets are on sale for the 2025 Half Moon Bay Wine and Jazz Festival, happening May 10, noon-5 p.m. in downtown Half Moon Bay. You can taste and buy direct from local wineries while listening to a great jazz lineup. https://hmbwineandjazzfest.com
