THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF SAN BENITO COUNTY
AUGUST 14, 2020
Peaceful foothills
A supplement to the Hollister Free Lance
Bates family selling historic vineyard P2
GARDENING P4 | HOME OF THE WEEK P6 | REAL ESTATE P7
the
cowboy legend lives on BY LAURA NESS
AUGUST 14, 2020 | SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM
Bates Ranch, steeped in family history, is for sale
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bove his mask, this cowboy’s eyes match the blue skies overhead. He wears his father’s pearl-buttoned shirt with pride. Dust-covered boots carry his lanky frame across the broad graveled patio of the family house like a Western movie star. Only Charlie Bates is no actor. He’s a bona fide cowboy, horse lover, rancher and grape farmer. His parents bought this place in 1958 when he was just 5 years old, and it has been a part of his soul since. On historic Redwood Retreat Road, at the foot of Mount Madonna, Bates Ranch is also called Janaca: a composite of the initials of his father Jack, mother Nancy, Charles himself, sister Cathy and brother John. Charlie’s parents, Jack, a renowned trial attorney with San
Francisco-based Pillsbury Madison & Sutro law firm, and mother, Nancy Witter, whose father helped establish the brokerage firm Dean Witter & Co., fell in love with the place and bought what was then a 700-acre parcel for $125,000. The two enjoyed riding horseback and running cattle. The now 1,000-acre ranch, which is still home to a herd, along with 22 acres of wine grapes, is currently listed at just north of $14 million and would make someone with cowboy aspirations and a love of vines, very happy. Although it was a difficult decision to sell the family ranch when his mother passed away, Charlie wants nothing more than to share his love of this piece of dirt, where he raised his family and taught his three daughters how to ride, rope and brand. The family home, a four-bed, four-bath
stunner by architect William Wurster, former Dean of the UC Berkeley School of Architecture and the School of Environmental Design, is an homage to the western lifestyle. Huge floor to ceiling windows take in the views of the serene setting, framed by heritage oaks and tranquil gardens. A bench Charlie’s grandmother gave to his grandfather reads, “Happiness May Be Pursued While Resting.” Inside, the walls are adorned with original art evocative of early California, including a piece by Marin artist Stan Galli, “The Three Californians.” Galli later created the label for the Bates Family wines that depicts a rancher on horseback surveying his vineyard: it happens to be Jack, who complained that Stan made his nose look too long, and asked that it be scaled back to fit under the hat’s brim.
FAMILY LEGACY Bates Ranch consists of 1,000 acres
in the foothills of Mount Madonna, where the Janaca vineyard grows grapes for various local wineries.
us a lot in those days,” he recalled. “Val and Dexter Ahlgren of Ahlgren Vineyards were the first of the Santa Cruz Mountains wineries to buy from us.” The word quickly spread. Bates remembers another early customer, Ken Burnap, driving up the dirt road in an old Mercedes in search of grapes, in 1978. “He insisted on getting grapes from the top part of the vineyard,” Bates said. Burnap, of Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard, made wine from Bates Ranch continuously from 1978 through 1994, relying on a hired hand from UC Santa Cruz, by the name of Jeff Emery, to process the fruit. Emery said they hand-pressed more than 42 tons of Cabernet one year onsite, an enormous undertaking. Emery took over the Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard label when Burnap retired, and
considers Bates Ranch some of the finest Cabernet in the region. Like Emery, winemakers seek out this site for its deeply-souled, massively structured Cabernets that take decades to unspool and Cabernet Franc that epitomizes pine-scented elegance. Names like Jerold O’Brien of Silver Mountain Vineyards, Andrew Brenkwitz of Byington, Kenny Likitprakong of Ghostwriter, Matt Oetinger of Fernwood Cellars (who planted Grenache here), and now Ian Brand of I Brand Wines and John Ritchie of Bottle Jack, all seek to capture the essence of this place. As Charlie sips the phenomenal 1978 Santa Cruz Mountains Vineyard Bates Cabernet, his face floods with pride, respect and reverence. The wine is vibrant and alive: a fitting toast to the past, to the future, to the land.
SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM | AUGUST 14, 2020
Photos by Laura Ness
Which leads us to the fruits of the Janaca vineyard, which was planted in 1970. It now contains 22 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Grenache, divided into several blocks. The lower block is called “Stagecoach,” so named for the horse-drawn coach that whisked people from the plains of Gilroy and San Jose, to the secluded mountain getaways at the end of the road during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It’s rumored that famed horse-thief, Joaquin Murrieta, visited this property to water his horse at the springfed lake. The first two years of grape-wrangling proved really rough. Bates said that in 1971, they lost the entire crop to frost, and the following year, 70 percent of it was lost to rain. “Tom Kruse (Santa Clara) helped
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GARDENING
AUGUST 14, 2020 | SOUTH VALLEY MAGAZINE
Asian gypsy moths
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INVASIVE PEST Asian gypsy moth caterpillars can be easily mistaken for tent caterpillars or webworms.
Sunnyvale spotting has local gardeners worried By KATE RUSSELL
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sian gypsy moths have just been spotted in Sunnyvale and officials are worried. You should be, too, because these invasive new pests can fly to the South Valley and San Benito County. A single Asian gypsy moth caterpillar can eat one square foot of foliage in a single day. Fruit and nut trees are vulnerable, along with oak, elm, sweetgum and more than 500 other plant species. If this defoliation doesn’t kill your tree or shrub, it will be more susceptible to other pests and disease. Adding insult to injury, these caterpillars
have hairs that may irritate your skin and may cause allergic reactions that can last two weeks. Asian gypsy moths were first seen in the U.S. in May, in Snohomish County, Wash. They are now found in Oregon, Georgia, Oklahoma, South Carolina and California. Also known as Hokkaido gypsy moths, these pests are not the same thing as European gypsy moths. European gypsy moths are bad news, too. In 2017, European gypsy moths defoliated one-third of the state of Massachusetts, resulting in the loss of one-fourth of its oak trees the following year. Invasive pests, like the Asian
gypsy moth, have the potential to wipe out entire forest ecosystems, not to mention your garden and landscaping, because many of them have no natural pests and indigenous trees and other plants have not evolved their own protections. Easily mistaken for tent caterpillars or webworms, Asian gypsy moth caterpillars start out less than 1/8-inch long and tan. As they feed and grow, they may reach three and a half inches in length, with two rows of blue and red spots along their backs. Fully mature caterpillars may have a mottled grey color that can range from yellow to black. Adult female moths are white and somewhat larger than most of our native moths, with a threeand-a-half-inch wingspan. Males are grayish brown and smaller, with a wingspan of only one and a half inches. A single female Asian gypsy moth can lay 500 to 1,500 eggs. These fuzzy buff or yellowish egg masses may be seen on tree trunks and branches, as well as fences and patio furniture. Each egg mass averages one and a half inches wide by three-quarters of an inch, though they may be as small as a dime. Washington state pest agencies are spraying “Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki” (Btk). Btk is a type of soil bacteria that kills the Asian gypsy moth but is not harmful to pets, people, fish or bees. The California Department of Food and Agriculture is currently placing 2,300 traps over 81 square miles of the Sunnyvale area. If Asian gypsy moths arrive in your garden, it is critical that you report sightings to state officials right away by calling the Pest Hotline at 1-800-491-1899. Kate Russell is a UCCE Master Gardener in Santa Clara County. For information, visit mgsantaclara. ucanr.edu or call 408.282.3105 between 9:30am-12:30pm, Monday through Friday.
PREPARING FOR WILDFIRE
Unclutter the gutter
Dried leaves in gutters are easily flammable By DWIGHT GOOD
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o matter where you live, the most common reason homes burn during a wildfire is because embers land on something easily ignitable around the home. Remove leaves and pine needles from your rain gutters. Make changes now to reduce the ember threat to your home. Rain gutters attached to the
edge of your roof are perfect for catching embers during wildfire. Burning embers can land in the gutters, and if they are filled with dried leaves, pine needles and twigs, a fire can start and possibly ignite the roof, roof sheathing and fascia. Even houses with firerated roofs are vulnerable to this type of ember attack. Rain gutters made of vinyl will melt and drop into flower beds, igniting plants
Fire Marshal Dwight Good, MS, EFO, serves the Morgan Hill Fire Department, South Santa Clara County Fire Protection District and Cal Fire Santa Clara Unit. He has 25 years of fire service experience. For questions or comments, email Dwight.good@fire.ca.gov or call 408.310.4654.
SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM | AUGUST 14, 2020
CLEAR THE WAY Remove all dried leaves, pine needles or other materials from rain gutters before fire season.
next to the house and maybe even combustible siding. To keep your home safe, we suggest that you: • Remove all dried leaves, pine needles or other materials from your rain gutters before fire season. Over the winter, debris often accumulates in them. • Keep a ladder handy and check your rain gutters throughout the fire season, cleaning them out as necessary. • If a wildfire is approaching and there is no time to clean out the debris, plug the rain gutter downspout with a tennis ball or something similar so that the rain gutter fills with water. Most people believe that wildfires ignite homes through direct contact with flames, but it is rare to have a home ignite this way. Flaming brands and embers can travel a mile or more ahead of the active front of a wildfire and up to 60 percent of wildland/urban interface home ignitions result from embers. Most of the activity that makes a home less vulnerable to ignition focuses on the home and its immediate surroundings. The Ember Aware campaign is intended to educate people on the risks of ember cast and the actions they can take to reduce those risks, to encourage residents to harden their homes against embers and/or to maintain those ember-resistant features, and to practice ember-safe housekeeping and landscaping. For information, visit www.emberaware.com.
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HOME OF THE WEEK
Food for the
Holidays Made Easy!
AUGUST 14, 2020 | SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM
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Holidays
CATERING EASY! Made Easy! Enjoy
Drop Off Free in Gilroy On Site at Cafe 152 Bread Co.
Call cafe152@charter.net
408.767.2868 Here are some ideas!
Assorted Gourmet Sandwiches How many from 10 to 100
Tell Us
Mini SandwichesWe’ll work with your budget Variety of Market Salads Drop Off Free in Gilroy
Enjoy
Site at Cafe 152 Bread Co. Audrey’s FinestOn Chocolate Chip Cookies and many other Desserts Here are some ideas! Here are some ideas!
Exceptional Breakfast • Assorted gourmetAssorted sandwiches Gourmet Goodies • Mini sandwiches Sandwiches
Pastries and Coffee • Variety of market salads
Mini Sandwiches
Fall Bites • Harvest ChocolateSmall chip cookies Variety of Market Salads Menu • Exceptional breakfast goodies
Audrey’s Finest Chocolate • Pastries and coffee Sliders - Burger BarChip Cookies and many • Burger sliders other Desserts Buffet Dinner for drop off • Buffet dinner for drop off Appetizer Party at Exceptional Breakfast • Appetizer party atGoodies Cafe 152 - BYOW
Cafe 152 Bread Co. BYOW Pastries and Coffee
Office parties and events
408.767.2868
Catering
Fall Harvest Small Bites Menu Sliders - Burger Bar Buffet Dinner for drop off Appetizer Party at Cafe 152 Bread Co. BYOW
408.767.2868 • cafe152@charter.net
Submitted photo
Call 408.767.2868 cafe152@charter.net Food for the How many from 10 to 100 Tell Us We’ll work with your budget MADE
HORSE ACREAGE This Hollister property spans 172 acres.
Equestrian facility along the river Hollister horse ranch consists of nearly 200 acres on Thomas Road
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his tucked-away horse ranch includes a recently remodeled home as well as a large barn. Located at 2751 Thomas Road in Hollister, the 2,070-square-foot home includes two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The 6,500-square-foot barn is complete with 12 stalls, a wash area, grooming area, tack room, garage, laundry room, one-and-a-half
bathrooms and a full kitchen. Its 1,400 square feet of living area makes it suitable for events. Consisting of 172 acres along the San Benito River, the property has been used for equestrian events and for grazing. It also includes a 40-by-36 shop building. The ranch is listed at $2 million by San Benito Realty. For information, visit tinyurl.com/y4c7bsnr.
PREPARING FOR WILDFIRE
REAL ESTATE
Unclutter the gutter Hollister Rentals
Located in Historic Downtown Gilroy
HOME & GARDEN SERVICES
Dried leaves in gutters are easily flammable
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SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM | AUGUST 14, 2020
next to the house and maybe even combustible siding. To keep your home safe, we suggest that you: • Remove all dried leaves, pine needles or other materials from 3 Bedroom 2 Bath your rain gutters before fire Home. Very Private, season. Over the winter, debris water included in rent often accumulates in them. • Keep a ladder handy and check your rain gutters throughout Rent $2,500.00 Month the fire season, cleaning them Security Deposit out as necessary. • If a wildfire is approaching $3,000.00 and there is no time to clean out the debris, plug the rain gutter downspout with a tennis ball or something similar so that the rain gutter fills with water. HOLLISTER RENTAL PROPERTIES For more information, call Most people believe that wild831.637.1691 fires ignite homes through direct contact with flames, but it is rare to have a home ignite this way. Flaming brands and embers can travel a mile or more ahead of the Publish active front of a wildfire and up Your Business or to 60 percent of wildland/urban interface home ignitions result Service Ad Here from embers. Most of the activity that makes a home less vulnerable • Steaks, Seafood & Pasta • Beautiful Ambianceto ignition focuses on the home and For more information • Patio Dining • Early Dining surroundings. its Bird immediate Contact 408.842.5066 The Ember Aware campaign is • Sunday Champagne Brunch 8am or email classifieds@newsvmedia.com intended to educate people on • Full Service Bar / Happy Hour the risks of 3-6pm ember cast and the actions they can take to reduce • Early Bird Dinner Specials 4-6pm those risks, to encourage resBanquet CLEAR THE WAY Remove all dried leaves, pine needles or other materials from rain gutters before fire season. • Ask About Our idents to harden their homes & Catering Services against embers and/or to mainthose ember-resistant feaWeddings, Rehearsaltain Dinners, tures, and to practice Line Dember-safe HAULING ancing MAGNOLIA LANDSCAPE Baby Showers, Receptions housekeeping and landscaping. W ed o matter where you edge of your roof are perfect for • 7pm AND CONCRETE, INC. South County Cleanup, For information,Fvisit live, the most comcatching embers during wildfire. R E E Demo & Hauling www.emberaware.com. mon reason homes Lessons Burning embers can land in the LOW RATES • FREE ESTIMATES burn during a gutters, and if they are filled with Fire Marshal Dwight Good, MS, CLEAN UP-Yards, homes, wildfire is because dried leaves, pine needles and EFO, serves the Morgan Hill Fire properties, rentals & garages Specializing, Pavers, Concrete, 8:00am for embers land on something eastwigs, a fire can start and Open possi- daily Department, South Santa Clara DEMO-Bathrooms, kitchens, Irrigation, Sod, Cleanups, All ily ignitable around the home. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner bly ignite the roof, roof sheathing County Fire Protection District Landscape Construction decks, patios, small buildings Remove leaves and pine 1992 needles and fascia. Even houses with fireServing the Bay Area since Sunday Brunch and Cal8am-1pm Fire Santa Clara Unit. He HAULING-Garbage, yard waste, from your gutters. Make rated roofs are vulnerable to this has 25 years of fire service experiCall forrain Free Estimates rock, sand & mulch Licensed, Bonded & Insured changes now to reduce the ember type of ember attack. Rain gutters By DWIGHT GOOD ence. For questions or comments, POWER WASHING 7400 Monterey Street, Gilroy • 408.842.3454 threat to your home. 408-309-2973 made of vinyl will melt and drop email Dwight.good@fire.ca.gov or www.oldcityhall.biz License # 962540 408.430.3560 call 408.310.4654. into flower beds, igniting plants Rain gutters attached to the
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