San Martin Wineries: Your Guide to Wine Tasting in South County
Most people think of Napa or Sonoma when they hear "California wine country." We get it. But we live in San Martin, and the vineyards here are real, the tasting rooms are relaxed, and you will not spend forty-five minutes looking for parking. Santa Clara Valley wine has been around for over a century, and the tasting rooms scattered between San Martin, Morgan Hill, and Gilroy are some of the best-kept secrets in the South Bay.
Here is our local guide to San Martin wineries and wine tasting, with the details you actually need: hours, what to expect, and which spots are worth building a Saturday around.
Clos LaChance Winery
Clos LaChance is probably the most well-known winery in San Martin. It sits at 1 Hummingbird Lane, about 30 minutes south of San Jose. The property is gorgeous: rolling hills, a big lawn, bocce courts, and plenty of room to spread out a picnic blanket.
Tastings are available Wednesday through Sunday, typically 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed Monday and Tuesday). Hours shift by season, so check ahead. They produce a range of wines from estate-grown grapes, and the tasting room staff is friendly without being pushy.
We bring friends here when they visit from out of town. The bocce courts and picnic areas make it feel like a weekend outing, not just a wine stop. More info at closlachance.com.
Source: TripAdvisor reviews
Little Uvas Vineyard and The Garage
This one is unlike any tasting room you've been to. Little Uvas sits at 255 Fitzgerald Avenue in San Martin, and the tasting room is called "The Garage" because that's exactly what it is. Owners Rich and Rosy Bergin opened in 2022 and built the space around seven acres of estate-grown grapes, plus a collection of classic cars on display inside.
They share the building with the DeRose Tasting Room, so you get two wineries in one stop. Hours are Friday 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Friday afternoons feature pizza parties, and Thursday nights they run "Corks & Pasta" events for $50, which includes wine and two pasta dishes.
There are picnic tables outside and Airstream trailers set up for tasting when the weather cools down. It's a fun, unpretentious spot. Visit littleuvasvineyards.com for the latest events.
Kirigin Cellars: One of California's Oldest
Kirigin Cellars has been making wine since 1916, which makes it one of the oldest continuously operating wineries in the state. The address is 11550 Watsonville Road, technically in Gilroy but right on the San Martin border and always grouped with the San Martin wine scene.
The property itself is worth the visit even if you're not a big wine person. Thirty-three acres of vineyards, nine acres of cricket lawns, over a thousand rose bushes, and a grove of redwood sequoias. The current owners, the Kirigin family, purchased the historic Bonesio Winery in 1976 and have kept the old-world character intact.
More at kirigincellars.com.
Lion Ranch Vineyards and Winery
Lion Ranch is a smaller operation at 645 West San Martin Avenue, just a mile off Highway 101. Kim and Todd, the husband-and-wife team behind it, planted their estate vineyard in 2011 and opened the tasting room in 2015.
They specialize in Rhone and Provence varietals with 13 different grape types grown on site. The winemaking is hands-on and low-intervention. The outdoor seating area is kid-friendly and dog-friendly, which we appreciate. Hours are Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Source: Lion Ranch official site
Miramar Vineyards
Miramar sits on ten pastoral acres at 12255 New Avenue in San Martin, tucked into the eastern foothills. It's a smaller, quieter tasting room that feels like visiting someone's property rather than a commercial operation. Open Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. If you want a mellow stop away from any crowds, this is it.
Details at miramarvineyards.com.
The Morgan Hill Wine Trolley
If you want someone else to do the driving, the Morgan Hill Wine Trolley runs every weekend year-round. The trolley is an actual cable car that picks up at Luxe Flower Bar & Cafe at 1st and Monterey in downtown Morgan Hill. Cost is $149 per person, which includes a champagne welcome reception, a gourmet box lunch at the second winery, and tasting fees at three different wineries.
The tour rotates among local wineries in Morgan Hill, San Martin, and Gilroy, so you get a different experience depending on the weekend. Private tours are available Monday through Friday (contact them for pricing).
Book through mhwinetrolley.com.
Planning Your Wine Tasting Day
A few things we've learned:
Most San Martin tasting rooms are small and open limited hours (Friday through Sunday for many). Check before you drive. Saturday afternoon is the busiest time, so Friday afternoon visits tend to be quieter and you'll get more attention from the staff.
You can easily hit two or three wineries in an afternoon without rushing. Our favorite pairing is Clos LaChance for the picnic and bocce, then Little Uvas/The Garage for something different, then Lion Ranch to wind down.
Bring a cooler for your car. You'll want to buy a few bottles, and San Martin afternoons get warm.
Drink Local With Us
San Martin wine country is one of those South Valley secrets that deserves more attention. If you want weekly updates on wineries, events, restaurants, and everything happening across Morgan Hill, Gilroy, and San Martin, subscribe to South Valley Spotlight. We live here, we drink here, and we'll keep you posted.