At Hecker Pass Winery, we believe family is the cornerstone for creating wines with a devotion to tradition. It is this commitment to the practices and customs of our viticultural ancestry that allows us to produce wines with true Italian character.

 

This Philosophy in wine making has its roots in 150 years of history and experience.  Our family tradition of wine making began in the early 1800's in Calabria, Italy in the town of Cozenza.  After learning the art started by his great-grandfather, third-generation winemaker Mario, carried the ideals of the "old-country" to California in 1959.  He chose the Southern Santa Clara Valley for its rich soil composition and weather patterns of hot summer days followed by cool nights, which make this area ideal for producing the rich, premium full-bodied wines of his Italian heritage.

   

  The basis of fine wine begins in the vineyard.  Our grapes are produced from vines stemming from 65-year-old rootstocks brought over from the "old-country".  Centuries-old practices of dry-farming, head-pruning, and hand-picking only select berries create the foundation for premium, fruit-forward, well-balanced wines.  Within minutes of harvest, the grapes are destemmed and crushed, then sent to open-top oak tanks where the natural fermentation process starts.  Once the fermentation process is complete, the juices are extracted using an old-style wooden basket press, which has been used since our first harvest.  The wine is then matured to perfection with the proper balance of aging time between redwood tanks and premium French Oak barrels.



     Mario's family tradition of wine making and commitment to excellence continues in the oldest wine-growing region of California, as his son Carlo integrates the time-honored methods of 150-years of experience and the wisdom of three generations of winemakers, with the innovative ideas of the future.

    

The tasting room is open daily from 9 to 5 for tasting and purchase of our premium table and dessert wines.