Growing Community for over 20 years

Across the centuries, around the globe, wine has always brought people together. Here on the Peninsula, in the modest town of Redwood City, a team of hardy and hardworking wine lovers, wine growers, event planners and community builders, have created a place for people to celebrate, connect with one another and meet local artisans and food providers.

Once a month, La Honda Winery opens its doors to the public in the humble industrial neighborhood it has called home since 2004. They showcase vendors like Brookside Bakery, run by a Portola Valley high school senior who started the endeavor in middle school to fund Second Harvest Food Bank and the “Large Marge” Cheese Truck, a modified Vespa, operated by Redwood City resident and cheese lover Georgette Nelson. They’ve also featured the gourmet food truck of local caterer Chef Daniel Sanchez, and empanadas by El Sur Café, also in Redwood City.

Each month, a different vendor is tapped to help create excitement in this largely residential area off Highway 84. Outside, the brightly painted façade of La Honda Winery sets it apart from the largely automotive specialty businesses that dot the street. Inside, stone floors and dramatic ceilings create the impression of a well-lit castle. A generous bar is lined with wine and friendly faces, and the massive space feels like the perfect setting for anything from a Medieval Banquet—complete with jousting—to a birthday party or family reunion.

Unlike most wineries in the region, though, La Honda Winery has no views, no vines, no outdoor spaces to hang out. No other winery could survive on a onc-a-month business model that charges a modest $10 tasting fee. And yet, this one has stayed open for over 20 years, achieving a recipe for success that rises above prediction or comparison.

How? Sure, the vendors are a big draw. But the real secret is the vines you don’t see.

“We hand-cultivate grapes grown in 50-plus private estate vineyards between Atherton, Woodside, Portola Valley, Los Altos Hills, Saratoga and Los Gatos,” La Honda owner David Page explains.

He personally planted 71 of the 153 small vineyards he and his intrepid team of 12 manage along the spine of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The total acreage is about 60, small than most single vineyards in Napa and Sonoma. “All are entirely hand-tended and hand-grown,” says Page. He bought the business behind the vines, Post & Trellis, from Ken Warnock, who founded it in 1999.

The owners of these front-and backyard vineyards are some of the wealthiest people in Silicon Valley, their homes sitting on prized real estate valued at upwards of $4 million per acre. It’s hard to imagine a more expensive form of landscape. But for these owners it’s a point of pride, and for the few who actively tend to their vines, it’s a labor of love and an investment in future enjoyment.

“Trying to farm in Silicon Valley without this community would be impossible,” says Page. “We say, ‘Let’s plant a vineyard and work together.’ About 20% of them actively keep an eye on it, and five of them do the actual physical work. All of them come to the winery and taste wines in barrels with their friends. One guy gives a bottle of wine to every attendee at meetings… it’s a unique calling card!”

Among the Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in the Post & Trellis portfolio is Marcia Francis Vineyard. Says Emma Brunner, the COO for Marcia Francis Vineyard, “We have created a full-body-flavored wine through farming organically. It’s our hope that people can gather with friends and family, have a glass of our wine and know we farmed it with care. We look forward to having Post & Trellis help keep the vineyard healthy so it continues to yield exceptional grapes.” Note that while Post & Trellis manages the vineyard and La Honda Winery does their custom crush, Marcia Francis Vineyard wines are only available directly through them.

“Trying to farm in Silicon Valley without this community
would be impossible. We say, ‘Let’s plant a vineyard and
work together.’ About 20% of them actively keep an eye on
it, and five of them do the actual physical work. All of them
come to the winery and taste wines in barrels with their
friends. One guy gives a bottle of wine to every attendee at
meetings … it’s a unique calling card!”
—David Page

La Honda Winery produces approximately 4,000 cases of wine annually from vineyards like this one, all made by Andrew Vingiello. Each label says “La Honda” on the front, and the location from which that wine hails is indicated on a map on the back label.

“All 153 families get an allotment of wine every year,” says Page. This represents about 30% of the winery’s production. “They give it to friends and family members, so the wine filters out to thousands of people. That’s our immediate and extended community.”

Another 20% of production is sold through the hundreds of corporate and private events held throughout the year, involving anywhere from 20 to 200 attendees, and coordinated by Lise Sutherland. She says it’s an honor to be a place where people can gather, like the group of ICU nurses who recently came in to “blow off steam.” The winery hosts toy drives and back-to-school backpack drives as well as birthday parties. She uses local caterers like Cheat a Little Catering in San Mateo, as well as Far Out Catering from San Jose, but guests can also bring in their own food if they like.

“Everyone is welcome at the winery,” says Sutherland. “Our philosophy is building relationships. We make a little money, but we don’t count pennies.”

Speaking of pennies, wines that are not allocated to the vineyard partners are made available for sale to the public, at prices Page feels are more than fair.

“There’s a lot of $50–$70 Pinots out there and ours is $36,” says Page. “Every single wine wins 90+ points at various wine competitions, and not one is more than $40. People tell us we are easy to get to and they can afford to drink our wine.”

He emphasizes that La Honda Winery constantly engages with communities in their backyard. “We donate to many local charities and foundations, and we sponsor Redwood City downtown events by donating wine, and pouring at them. Our name is on the glass and on the bar. So many people discover us because of this, and the wine is pretty good, so that helps!”

The wines they don’t allocate to vineyard owners or sell through events go out to local retailers and restaurants, including BevMo, Safeway, Whole Foods, Bianchini’s and Piazza’s.

Page acknowledges this is a tricky time in the wine business, but credits his business model for insulating his winery from the pain others are feeling. “We’re building community around good value, quality wine and high-quality experiences. We’re fortunate that we can afford to make only the best wine.”