San Benito Wineries are on the Pacheco Pass Comeback Trail

San Benito County may well be California’s next big wine country. The post-prohibition rebirth of the area is on and it’s hot!

While San Benito’s wine history dates back to the days of the California Missionaries, the winemakers in the area hit their stride in the early 1900s.

In the 1950s, wine-giant Almaden moved into the area and took over most of the vineyard acreage during the next 30 years. As a matter of fact, historians say anything involving grape growing and winemaking within San Benito County could be directly traced to Almaden Vineyards between 1953 and the mid-1980s, when their vineyard acreage exceeded 4,500. However, when business began to diminish in the 1980s, new owners came onboard and immediately closed their facilities in the county and moved all operations to Madera in the central valley. That move brought wine production in San Benito County to a near halt.

That was then. Today the San Benito appellation is well on the way to re-establishing itself as a viable and dynamic viticultural region, say members of the San Benito County Winegrower’s Association. The county today is made up of four viticultural areas, including Paicines, Cienega, Mt. Harlan and Lime Kiln Valley. The Association says inspired vineyard projects, notably Dyson’s Vista Verde and Diageo’s Blossom Hill, combined with appellation-committed wineries are putting San Benito County back on the map!

Holiday Winery Open House

Speaking of mapping things out, plan a weekend getaway to San Benito and start your holiday season off in wine-style. The San Benito County Winegrower’s Association will host their holiday open house on Saturday, Nov. 24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Cienega Valley wineries that will be pouring this weekend include Calera Wine Company, DeRose Vineyard, Enz Winery and Pietra Santa Winery. The event is passport style, inviting guests to travel to all four wineries. For more information, visit www.sbcwinegrowers.org.

Casa de Fruta

Along with the wineries in the area, a wine-tasting stop of a little different flavor is Casa de Fruta, a landmark in the San Benito area. The Zanger Family, now in its third generation, owns and operates Casa de Fruta. Along with fruit orchards, the family planted their first vineyards in 1908. They create their own wines and gourmet fruit wines, at a level that has gained awards from the New World International Wine Competition, the Monterey Wine Competition and the Orange County Fair.

Casa de Fruta’s varietal wines include Zinfandel, Cabernet, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Merlot. They also produce champagne. Their unique fruit wines include apricot, raspberry, blackberry and pomegranate.

Their wines pair with a wide selection of fruits, baked goods and candy treats. While you can shop and buy mostly all of their products online (www.casadefruta.com), this amazing fruit stand is a destination location unto itself.

Here the fruit trees set the pace. Some of the more prominent orchards on the grounds include apricots, cherries, pears, walnuts, and prunes.

Some of the more prominent fun on the grounds includes a miniature locomotive train that runs along the creekside, allowing guests to see the natural wonders that make Casa de Fruta’s setting unique in the world. The main train station – aptly titled Casa de Choo Choo – is next to Casa de Sweets, where you can enjoy fresh baked goods, homemade candy and a selection of ice cream. Specialty coffees and fresh pies are always ready to welcome any guest.

Casa de Wine is where you can do some wine tasting, both the more common varietal and the unique fruit wines they offer. Gourmet groceries and deli selections round out the wine tasting experience.

Not to be overlooked is the original fruit stand. It sits (or stands) among waterwheels, antique farm machinery and, of course, fruit trees, bringing back the slower, gentler feel of yesteryear.

Homegrown fun at the stand takes place throughout this month with Casa de Fruta’s annual Pumpkin Junction pumpkin patch. Children and adults both will enjoy picking their pumpkin while trying to avoid some spooky characters sure to be lurking in the fields of orange. It’s all in great fun and it runs through the end of the month, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

As you can see, this is an American success story that blossomed from an immigrant Italian family’s dream of building a new life in the new country – from a modest fruit stand to a large-scale business development. No matter how big they have grown, the warmth and recollection of more humble times draws visitors back regularly.

Casa de Fruta is two miles east of the junction of Highway 152 and Highway 156. They are located at 10021 Pacheco Pass Highway in Hollister (95023) and their telephone numbers are (800) 543-1702 for mail order or (408) 842-7282 for their business office. Their website, which includes a catalog of their products, online shopping, hours or operation and other information, is www.casadefruta.com.

Visit the Mission In Town

As you travel through the Pacheco Pass area, save time for a visit to the Old Mission San Juan Bautista.

On June 24, 1797, Fr. Fermin de Lasuen, Presidente of the California Missions successor to Blessed Junipero Serra, dedicated the land upon which the mission was built. Construction began almost immediately under the care of Fathers Jose Manuel de Martiarena and Pedro Martinez. By Christmas, because of the friendly and cooperative indigenous people, not only was there an adobe church built but also a grainary, barracks, a monastery, and some adobe houses.

This mission was one of four established by Fr. Lasuen in the summer of 1797 and the 15th of the 21 missions in California.

The cornerstone was laid for the present church in June, 1803, and it was dedicated on June 23, 1812. Of note is that Padre Esteban Tapis is buried in the sanctuary of the church. He was Presidente of the Missions at one time and founder of the Mission Santa Ines. When He retired, he moved to San Juan Bautista where he wrote liturgical music and brought fame to the mission and the community. The mission became known as the “Mission of Music.” Two of Tapis’ handwritten choir books can be seen in the mission’s museum today.

The mission continues to serve and is an active parish today with regular Masses offered throughout the week. Many restoration projects have taken place over the years, as well, generally due to damages from earthquakes. The mission sits adjacent to the San Andreas fault.

The Old Mission San Juan Bautista is located at 406 Second St., San Juan Bautista, (95045) and can be reached at (831) 623-2127. Their website is www.oldmissionsjb.org.

Back in town, you’ll find shops and restaurants reminiscent of days gone by. This small, quaint town with friendly merchants and locals is a perfect place to spend some time in between winery visits. If you really want to get into the “spirit” of the town, visit on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. when the folks there (both alive and not-so-alive) celebrate Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). There will be artisans, performers and plenty of local food vendors on hand to pay honor and respect to those who have passed on, while those of us still here celebrate. For more information on this event visit www.sjbdayofthedead.com or telephone (831) 623-4616.

No matter when you go, you’ll find California’s rich history along the Pacheco Pass trail and in the towns that line it. Of course, build your adventure around the wineries in the area and stay tuned… this is California’s soon-to-bloom hot winery region.