Picchetti Winery

My first visit to Picchetti Winery was three years ago on an evening hike through the Picchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve.  Unfortunately, the winery's tasting room was closed already.  Unfortunately, because I wasted three years before I went back and got a taste of their wonderful wines.  Being in the peninsula's backyard up in the Santa Cruz Mountains above Cupertino (13100 Monte Bello Road), the location was right, but none of my friends ever mentioned Picchetti as a place I had to try.  I have since learned that at least three of my friends are members of the wine club, as am I now.  But prior to this fall, I hadn't taken the winery seriously.

I belong to a social group in the bay area, Bay Area Link-up.  Among other things, there are many members who like to hike.  And many who like wine.  So a friend, Jen, formed a sub-group called Peninsula Hiking Wine Lovers.  Simple enough, just combine the two interests.  Works for me.  So  my first visit to Picchetti was a test hike to the winery in advance of posting it for the Hiking Wine Lovers.  My sweetie and I started from Fremont Older Open Space, hiked through Stevens Creek County Park, and approached Picchetti on the Zinfandel Trail in Picchetti Ranch OSP.  When we reached the tasting room, I wasn't expecting much.  But the wines were superb.

Starting with a creamy/buttery Chardonnay, moving through the Napa County Pinot Noir, and into the heavier reds, including two fine Zinfandels, a Super Tuscan, a Teroldego, a Malbec, a Tempranillo, and a Cabernet Sauvignon, all were acceptably flavorful wines. My sweetie found the 2008 Leslie's Estate Chardonnay ($36.95) to her tastes, prompting a purchase for our picnic after the tasting, plus another one for the cabinet at home.  I also bought a 2008 Estate Zin ($49.95), another wonderful old vine Zin of which I'm so fond.  This vineyard is made up of 120 year old vines.  The wine is rich and dark and fruity.  Plus, I joined the wine club, so I also carried out a Cab and a Pinot Noir (2009 Truchard Vineyard, $39.95).  A little added weight in my pack on the way back, with the four bottles we took home.

We opened the Cab last night, a 2009 Bellicitti Vineyards ($39.95), grown close to the winery in Saratoga, this wine is described on the website as, "A raft of tobacco and leather, with dried red fruit aromas, a hint of black licorice, and a subtle edge of clove and nutmeg."  It was smooth and well balanced.  On a second visit to the winery (or maybe a third) we tasted the 2009 Bellicitti Vineyard Zinfandel ($39.95) which showed very well against the estate old vine Zin.

The winery only sells at the tasting room or online, there is no retail distribution.  I would highly recommend both Zins, the Cab, the Chardonnay, and the Pinot Noir.  Their other wines are also good, but, in my book at least, secondary to the others.  They also have a nice little white dessert wine (Reserve Angelica, a fortified Chardonnay, $36.95) that is bright and sweet.

Their wine club members received shipments quarterly, which average $60-75 plus $9.95 shipping, and get 15 percent off all wine purchases and invitations to winery events.  Members also have priority access to limited production wines.  Picchetti gives additional discounts for case purchases.

The website is http://www.picchetti.com/.  The location is lovely and the wines are worth the visit.