Widely considered to be the best French restaurant in the city – and, without question, better value than the Michelin-starred Chez T J in central San José – specialities here include wild boar, venison, bison and elk, all dressed in decadent sauces.Īnd if you don’t plan to settle for anything less than a Michelin star, never fear – San José has you covered there, too. Pick up a bottle of the syrah, then head a mile down the road to La Forêt ( ), a charming creekside restaurant in a historic former hotel, for an introduction to the local culinary scene. This newcomer produces just 300 cases a year, but is already winning double gold medals in international competitions – partly thanks to the local microclimate’s large diurnal shift and unique limestone soil. Meanwhile, tucked away on a privately owned parcel of land in the middle of Almaden Quicksilver County Park, you’ll find unassuming artisan wines at Alamitos Vineyards ( ).
It’s also the only vineyard in the country with a championship golf course, designed by Greg Norman.īigger (and slightly better known) is the Santa Cruz Mountains American Viticultural Area, just south of San José, where wineries such as Ridge, Mount Eden and House Family vineyards produce exceptional Old World-style pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay. As the largest winery in Livermore, Wente makes dozens of wines suitable for every palate, including limited-release bottles that you can only find in the tasting room. “Livermore is a small American Viticultural Area and we are a tight-knit community, but you don’t have to be a wine expert to enjoy drinking here,” explains Niki Wente, the director of vineyard operations. Founded in 1883, Wente Vineyards ( ) is now run by the family’s fourth and fifth generations, with a commitment to low-input farming and sustainable agriculture.
Most people think of Napa Valley and Sonoma when it comes to Californian vineyards, but the longest continuously family-owned and operated winery in the US is, in fact, located in the Livermore Valley, just 30 minutes north-east of San José by car.
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