For more information, visit sanjose.org/meetings.
With its mild, Mediterranean-like climate and alluvial soil, the San Jose area’s gentle hills and nearly year-round sunshine create a wine lovers paradise.
Even if your attendees aren’t wine aficionados, they’ll still enjoy strolling through vineyards and taking in stunning vistas from hilltop wineries. If they are oenophiles, they’ll already know that the Santa Clara Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) is known for being a premium wine-producing region with a bevy of award-winning wines and labels. With over 150 wineries in the Santa Cruz Mountains’ wine region, more than two dozen in the Santa Clara Valley and even more wineries in Livermore Valley — your guests will be able to tailor their vineyard experience to their wine preference.
At Alamitos Vineyards, within San Jose’s city borders, your guests will find a local favorite that is fast becoming an international name, including recently winning two awards at the 2023 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Alamitos Vineyards grows three varieties of grapes best suited to its climate and soil: syrah, sauvignon blanc and touriga nacional — a Portuguese varietal. While the wine is top-notch, USA TODAY readers also voted it the No. 1 “Best New Winery Experience.”
Also located in San Jose near downtown, Coterie Winery crafts its wine primarily by hand without using too much technology. This approach establishes a close connection between the winery, the land and the grape growers they source from. Pressing and aging the grapes on-site, Coterie offers tastings at its cozy city winery with charming indoor and outdoor spaces.
For over 50 years the Lohr family has been making wine in Monterey’s Arroyo Seco. Using sustainable farming practices and the features of the landscape and climate, the J. Lohr Winery produces chardonnays, sauvignon blancs and pinot noirs with balanced, fruity flavors. At the San Jose Wine Center near downtown, your guests can enjoy small-lot, single-vineyard and winery-exclusive bottles at seasonal or legacy tastings.
No time in the schedule for a leisurely afternoon sipping wine, or perhaps your guests forgot to nab a bottle of their favorite varietal before leaving the winery? Send them to the Vintage Wine Merchant in Santana Row, where they can pick up bottles of their latest discoveries and perhaps even find some new ones to try with expert guidance.
With three distinct winery regions surrounding San Jose, your attendees can enjoy premium winery experiences and toast to the best — with the best in their glasses.
For more information, visit sanjose.org/meetings.
