Wine

TRAIL PASS Wine lovers can sample the latest from area wineries all year long with the new Wine Trail Pass.

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Year-round passport

Wine Trail Pass now available By LAURA NESS T he Wineries of Santa Clara Valley have decid- ed to discontinue their Spring and Fall Passport program in favor of a year-round Wine Trail Pass, which allows vis- itors a lot more flexibility to plan their visits. Instead of just two months out of the year, the Wine Trail Pass, which retails for $75 (plus $4 processing fee, if purchased on- line), is good for one whole year of wine tasting.

Stacy Giannini, director of marketing for the association, explained that getting to the 30-plus wineries in the program was just not practical over the course of a single month, especially since not all wineries are open every weekend.

An annual Wine Trail Pass grants access to one of California’s original award-winning regions. “We just came home with 106 medals from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, including three awarded Best of Class,” Giannini said.

She pointed out that this is a $400 value for only $75.

The Wine Trail Pass includes three one-ounce tastings per person at the 34 participating wineries over the course of a year. Wineries will be selling and honoring the passes at tasting rooms throughout Sara- toga, Morgan Hill, San Martin, Gil- roy and Hollister. Three Trail Days will be celebrated in each territory on Feb. 1, Aug. 1 and Nov. 7, with live music, food, discounts and more. For more details, including a list of participating wineries and a map, visit www.santaclarawines.com/ wine_trail_pass.html.