Written By Bev Stenehjem

Owner Dhruv Khanna was on the look-out for property that would be suitable to hold his beloved cricket games , when in 2000 , he came across a winery for sale . In need of maintenance and updating , Dhruv went to work transforming it into one of the most beautiful destination wineries in the Santa Clara Valley . Kirigin Cellars now boasts 33 acres of rolling vineyards , nine acres of cricket lawns , over 1000 rose bushes and 100 redwood sequoias . Their new Tuscan-style club house , complete with a commercial kitchen , is ideal for weddings , celebrations and corporate events . Throughout the year Kirigin Cellars hosts a classic car show , dog events , and a harvest festival . They are open daily from 10 am to 5 pm offering complimentary wine tasting and beautiful picnic areas for families and pets .

How did you get started in wine ? I purchased a very old winery , with an existing professional winemaker , in 2000 after falling in love with the property .

Do you have a degree in winemaking ? No . I ’ m not a winemaker but knew enough to realize that it is a sufficiently complicated job and that one must have a seasoned professional handling winemaking . Each harvest and each grape potentially throws up curve balls that only an experienced winemaker can handle properly . Consistently good wine-making is not for amateurs . Our winemaker , Allen Kreutzer , began working with Nikola Kirigin in 1984 , and continues to lead all viticulture and winemaking processes at Kirigin Cellars . Allen ’ s BS in Fermentation Science from UC Davis and Master ’ s Degree in Agricultural Chemistry from Fresno State have provided him with a strong scientific background for viticulture and winemaking . Allen also successfully opened his own winery , Drytown Cellars , in November 2001 in the Sierra Foothills of Amador County . He is the proud recipient of many prestigious accolades , including “ Best of Show ” at California ’ s largest wine competition , the Orange County Fair ; and “ Best of Class ” in the San Francisco Chronicle ’ s competition . Allen is one of California ’ s best winemakers .

What goals in winemaking are you still working to achieve ? We consistently try to make soft , drinkable wines that reflect the best characteristics of each varietal .

What do you find to be the hardest part of harvest ? Obtaining slots on the pickers — calendars consistent with our own timing of picking needs for each varietal .

What kinds of wine do you specialize in ? Any new releases or anything special on the horizon ? We are famous for our dessert wine , Vino de Mocca . We also have a very unusual white called Malvasia Bianca which offers up wonderful tropical fruit aromas – lychee specifically . As for special wines or new releases on the horizon , we definitely have some plans that we are not disclosing right now .

Worst disaster story at your winery ? A burst water main .

What wines do you drink when you are not drinking your own wine ? Good ultra-dry champagnes .

What kind of vibe does your winery have ? Unpretentious , old , charming , family-friendly , relaxed and beautiful .

Funniest customer story ( something they said or did )? An elderly lady asked if her 17 year old grandson could drive her to our tasting room because some wineries do not permit under-21 year old youth at their wineries .

Most coveted award or accolade that you ’ ve received ? Sauvignon Blanc , Best of Class , from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition .

What recipe do you like to add wine to ? I like to add spices to our warmed up Vino de Mocca for mulled wine offered during Christmas time .

What kind of a job did you have before getting into the wine business ? I ’ m a lawyer by education and training and maintain my law license . I have plenty of business experience and believe that there are two types of wineries : commercial wineries ( which the owner ( s ) run as a business ) and recreational wineries ( whose owner ( s ) is / are not 100 % devoted to running the winery as a business ). Kirigin Cellars is a commercial winery because it is my obligation to keep the winery in business as a sustained and sustainable winery to honor its legacy of being in operation for 100 + years . Kirigin Cellars is an iconic California winery , and we will keep it that way . No if ’ s or but ’ s about that !

Bev Stenehjem is a local wine enthusiast , author and freelance writer focused on the wineries of Santa Clara Valley . Bev wrote “ The Wineries of Santa Clara Valley ,” a historical photo book published by Arcadia Publishing in 2015 . Bev conducts occasional wine and food pairing events at the local wineries and through Gavilan College Community Education . She is passionate about shining a light on the world-class wines of the Santa Clara Valley and the people behind them .

GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN JULY / AUGUST 2017 gmhtoday . com

83