By Larry J . Mickartz

Lately the area as seen the influx of new wineries and younger winemakers like Lion ’ s Ranch , Ross , Miramar , Stefania , and Seeker . New energy can also be seen at Sycamore Creek Winery where Frank Léal is renovating the property . Another sign of newness in the local wine industry is out in the east foothills at the old Kruse winery … Blended , A Winemaker ’ s Studio . Tom Kruse sold his home and winery as a package . The buyer was interested in the home and farm and had little interest in the vineyards or winery . At this point enter Jeffrey Fadness and Blended .

There is a little back-story on Jeffrey . After years of work in the local corporate world , Jeffrey needed some time off to sort out a few of life ’ s questions . Within a month of starting his sabbatical , Jeffrey was tasting some local wine at Bubbles in Morgan Hill . The owner asked him what he thought of a particular wine . Jeffrey gave his little reflective review . The owner asked if he would like to meet the winemaker ! Jeffrey was then introduced to Jason Goetz from Jason Stephens … and the course of Jeffrey ’ s sabbatical and life for the next few years took an unexpected turn .

Jeffrey offered to work for Jason for free for a year , if Jason would teach him about wine and winemaking ! A friendship and a road map for Jeffrey was laid out . While learning and working at Jason Stephens , Jeffrey undertook the two-year Winemaker ’ s Certificate Program offered by UC Davis . Before long Jeffery , the compulsive planner , set-up a five-year plan for his winemaking adventure , which would culminate with him selling his own wine at his winery in 2019 .

Two years early in his scheduled winery ownership plans , the opportunity to lease the Kruse vineyards and winery came up . Jeffrey was already making wine but he was not ready to sell wine . Even so , the opportunity was a good one . A mix of opportunity and planning gave birth to Blended , A Winemakers Studio . Jeffrey needed a place to make and store wine until he could sell to the public . He found two partners who needed a place to make and store wine … and sell wine ! Blended is the partnership of Jeffrey Fadness of La Vie Dansante Wines , Ted Madeiros of Medeiros Family Wines , and Ron Mosley of TASS Vineyards and Winery . The partners are all at different places in the world of wine but complement to each other well . Jeffrey ’ s wine will not be ready for a while but he needed a place to make wine and produce some income . Ted , who many locals might know from his work at Sycamore Creek

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GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN MARCH / APRIL 2016 gmhtoday . com