The Interstate 5 freeway (known as I-5
to Californians) stretches for hundreds
of miles as it traverses California’s
Central Valley "breadbasket."
Hugging the base of the Diablo Coastal
Range Mountains between San Jose and Merced,
I-5 ranges past the little town of Patterson
in Stanislaus County, home to the endangered
San Joaquin Kit Fox and KitFox Vineyards.
A third generation Patterson family is
growing a new crop just a half-mile off
the freeway. The new crop is grapes. The
family is the Vogels. And the dream is
a new future for this farming territory,
where people still do business on a handshake
and cottage industries are just that.
The dreamers are KitFox principals Hunter
and Fred Vogel, son and father, and Hunter’s
wife, Laura. KitFox is part of their dream
- but only part. They have just
received county approvals for plans to
build a winery facility that far surpasses
the typical small family winery vision.
As a heritage center, wine education experience,
family entertainment and tourist attraction,
event facility and artisan cuisine center,
KitFox winery is designed to put western
Stanislaus County on the map.
"We’ve been here since the ‘40s,
and it’s a terrific place to farm,
with terrific people," says Fred.
"We want to see it become a destination.
Thousands of tourists pass by here, but
they don’t stop. This is an under-appreciated
area. It’s a field of dreams."
Living among those fields is the San Joaquin
Kit Fox, an elusive animal that few people
here have ever seen. More in evidence
are the many families producing high quality
foods of all kinds, on a small scale and
sometimes known only to their neighbors.
With their KitFox facility, the Vogels
hope to put the spotlight on those cottage
industries. "Local families
are making apricot jam, honey, olive oil,
cheeses, and there is no market here for
them. We want to help them promote
their great products," says Hunter.
"Maybe a farmer’s wife makes
jam every Christmas. She can pack
it, create a brand and we can sell it
at our facility, grow sales, start internet
sales, and help her get to a place where
she might outdo her husband’s farm!
In addition to promoting our wines,
we want to encourage the agricultural
heritage of this valley."
As for the Kit Fox, the Vogels want to
make it the mascot for the Central Valley,
even though many farmers hate it. "So
much of their land is turned into Kit
Fox mitigation land. We understand
that. But we also know the San Joaquin
Kit Fox is endangered and totally unique
to this area." They plan to
donate a part of their profits to environmental
groups that benefit the Central Valley.
Hunter and his dad planted their 44 acres
of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Viognier
and Sauvignon Blanc in 1999, after UC
Davis confirmed their property’s
soils and climates would be good for grapes.
Stan Grant, a vineyard consultant,
has helped them transition from almonds
to grapes, while Chad Joseph of Narcizo
Winery handles the winemaking.
According to Fred, the winery idea was
Hunter’s. "I’ve always
been a grower. But our family has never
taken a product into processing and marketing
before. Hunter and Laura are doing this,
and I’m growing the grapes for them."
As Hunter explains, "We realized
we can grow almost anything here, and
of all the things you could grow, wine
is the most complex and exciting,"
explains Hunter.
If your plans include traveling I-5, call
and arrange a tasting with Hunter and
Laura: (209) 892-8020, PO Box 1153, Patterson,
CA 95363.
. Rich berry
aromas wrapped in coffee and cedar notes.
Deep flavors, smooth tannins. Ninety-five
percent of the Cabernet fruit for this
Cab came from KitFox’s estate vineyards.
Five percent Cabernet Franc was added
for tannins and structure from Watts Vineyard
in Lodi. The wine was aged in French,
American and Hungarian oak for 8 months
(all new). Delicious with lamb, venison,
lasagna and well-aged filet mignon. Enjoy
now or hold up to 5 years.
. Tropical, citrus and
apple flavors on a refreshing palate.
Crisp finish. This Sauvignon Blanc is
100% estate produced at KitFox’s
valley floor vineyards, just across from
the Diablo Grande foothills in Stanislaus
County. A small portion of Chardonnay
was added, purchased from Olde Lockeford
in Northern California. "We
tasted about 50 Chardonnays and decided
to go with Olde Lockeford Vineyard, for
its tropical flavors," says Hunter.
The Chardonnay aged in American oak for
10 months. "We like the vanilla quality
of the American oak," says Hunter.
The Sauvignon Blanc was kept in stainless
steel. An extremely food friendly wine,
great with chicken or fish, and for quaffing,
too! Enjoy now or hold up to two years.
Name: KitFox Vineyards
Owner: The Vogel Family
Established: 2001
Winemaker: Chad Joseph
Annual Production: 14,000 cases
Website: www.kitfoxvineyards.com
The
California Wine Club has provided this
wine country story. For more information
visit www.cawineclub.com
or call 1-800-777-4443.
