King City CHamber of Commerce and Agriculture | 2018 Business Directory

30 • 2018 King City Chamber Directory • A Publication of South County Newspapers About San Bernabe Vineyard Owned by the Indelicato family for more than 25 years, San Bernabe Vine- yard is a Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing property by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance – one of the first vineyards in California to carry this honor for stewardship of the land. It is located in King City towards the southern end of the Salinas Valley in the “sweet spot” of the Monterey growing region, with 22 distinct microclimates, well- drained soils, advanced viticulture practices and more than 20 grape vari- eties under cultivation. San Bernabe Vineyard borders the Salinas River to the east and ascends 1,400 feet up into the Santa Lucia foothills to the west. Vines are planted between 350 and 650 feet in elevation, with beautifully preserved open spaces in the higher hills for wildlife refuge. Approximately 3,045 acres are currently planted under vine and divided into many individ- ual vineyard blocks. Each block has a distinct farming program that ensures its unique set of characteristics are captured and optimized. Monterey County Wine Company ABOUT POPPY Poppy, located in Monterey Wine Country, was founded by the Silva Family who have spent over 45 years diligently tending to the land of the beautiful Salinas Valley. In 2003, the Silva family decided to channel their passions into a carefully crafted family wine–Poppy. Founded on the principles of developing consistently elegant and approachable wines, a glass of Poppy is the quintessential California wine experience. By controlling grapes sourcing and operating a state-of-the-art facility, Pop- py combines age-old winemaking traditions with new world techniques that make the California wine industry one of the best. When deciding on a name, the Silva’s wanted something that spoke to the great state of California where their family had settled so many years ago. One day, while looking at wild poppies growing amongst the vines, the name was born. Celebrating the state of California and its golden blooming flowers, Poppy is a proud symbol for our great state and this great wine. Schied Vineyards OUR STORY Al Scheid first purchased property in Monterey County in early 1972. Mon- terey wine grape growing was in its infancy and Al was drawn to the region for its untapped potential. Back then, Scheid Vineyards was called Monterey Farming Corporation and it was originally structured as a limited partner- ship. If you are over 50, you may remember that the tax laws at that time allowed investors to offset losses against regular income. Al, a graduate of Harvard Business School and an investment banker and entrepreneur, was running his own investment company and became intrigued with the idea of vineyards as a tax shelter vehicle – heavy investment on the front end and no income until at least five years into the project. After determining that it was a sound plan and Monterey County was an ideal region, Al scouted for vineyard ground, formed the Vineyard Investors 1972 limited partnership, and found a customer for 100% of the grape production before even one acre was planted. This was soon followed by the Vineyard 405 limited partner- ship and Al Scheid’s career in wine growing had begun. Wineries & Vineyards The Pinnacles, a geological marvel, offers hiking and camping to thousands and is our nation’s newest National Park. More than 23 million years ago, molten rock poured over the surface of the land, oozing through fissures as two plates comprising part of the earth’s surface ground against one another. Today rem- nants of that geological activity can be seen at Pinnacles National Park, tucked in the Gabilan Moun- tains just east of the Salinas Valley, accessible by Highway 146. Trav- elers can get there from Soledad, Greenfield and King City. Huge rock formations, caves, wildflowers, nature trails and ani- mal life greet visitors to the Park, which was created as a monument by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908. Though the park has ac- cess from both its west and east sides, the two roads leading to it don’t meet within the monument, so from either direction, there’s one way in and one way out. Several trails wind their way through the park and give hikers a close-up view of the formations which have made the Pinnacles an increasingly pop- ular destination. The huge rocks, many of them tumbled upon one another, are a fascinating study in geology and offer a marked contrast to the smooth hills which surround them. Trails dip into caves and wind past sheer cliffs, often dotted with rock climbers. Pathways take visitors through the park’s chaparral and offer glimpses of the many kinds of plant life which thrive there: live oaks, buckeye and sycamore trees, California poppies and oth- er wildflowers, owl’s clover, manzanita, greasewood, buck brush and holly leaf cherry. There’s also poison oak, so be careful. Animals that make their home in the park include black tailed deer, gray foxes, bobcats, rabbits, rodents, rep- tiles and bats. Bird watchers may see the California wood- pecker, brown towhee, Cal- ifornia quail, turkey vulture and other specimens. The Park Service has cat- egorized the various trails into degrees of difficulty, ranging from easy to strenuous. Dis- tances covered by the trails range from just over a mile to 7.6 miles. The Park is open all year. Both the west and east sides offer picnicking and rest-room facilities. The east side (accessible from King City via Bitterwater Road and Highway 25) is home to a more elaborate visitor’s center and has camping facilities. The east-side visitors center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Day-use fee is $25 per vehicle (the pass is good for seven days). For more information about the park, call (831) 389-4485, or write to Superintendent, Pinnacles National Park, Paicines, CA 95043. Pinnacles National Park