KMPH Fox 26 Central San Joaquin Valley News Source in Fresno, California Entertainment, News, Sports and Weather | Special Assignment: Vineyards in the Valley

Special Assignment: Vineyards in the Valley

By: Ashley Ritchie

When you think top-of-the-line wine tasting, images of rolling vineyards that last for miles and views that look straight off a painter's canvass probably come to mind.

But you can find images like that somewhere besides Napa.

You can find them in your own backyard.

"I call it a paradigm shift because it's a huge shift in people's perception," Jim Van Haun, Cedar View Winery, said.

 At Cedar View Winery on the Blossom Trail near Sanger, they're busy bottling some of the 2,000 cases they sell each year.

"When the hear San Joaquin Valley, they think big jug wine, or something in a box. And here what we're doing is breaking that barrier," Van Haun said.

A little more than ten years ago, Jim and his wife lived in Orange County.

He wore a suit and tie and ran a water district.

But their love of wine took them north, not to Napa, but to the Central Valley.

"Our wines are winning international medals. So that's really important," Van Haun said.

Cedar View specializes in wines like Viognier, Muscat Blanc and Alicante Bouschet.

But they say the experience here is so much more than sipping.

"I'm always here. So you can get to talk to the winemaker. If you want to talk about wine, we can do that," Van Haun said.

In addition to the winery, Cedar View offers a bed and breakfast with three rooms and a spectacular 20 acre panoramic view right outside your door.

"Even though we have an economic downturn, our sales here in '09 versus '08 are up 20%. So that's quite dramatic," Van Haun said.

On the Madera Wine Trail alone, there are ten wineries to choose from.

And you're guaranteed to have a one of a kind experience no matter which direction you choose.

"This is something that people don't realize that's right in their backyard. They can come out and enjoy these dessert wines that the rest of the world just goes ga ga over," Mike Blaylock, winemaker at Quady Winery, said.

At Quady Winery in Madera, it's all about tantalizing your taste buds.

"We specialize in orange Muscat and Muscat type wines. We specialize in dessert and aperitif wines. So we make a totally different product than a lot of people in Napa," Cheryl Russell, General Manager at Quady Winery, said.

Blaylock has been at the winery about 25 years.

At 50,000 cases sold each year, he says the biggest challenge isn't getting people to like the wine; it's getting them to get over a stereotype.

"Location, location, location. You put Napa on the label; pretty much you're selling your wine for top buck and everything else. You put Madera on the label, it's a little more difficult," Blaylock said.

And situated on 40 acres of sprawling vineyards, also on the Madera Wine Trail, is Ficklin Vineyards.

It's a winery that's been pleasing palettes since 1946.

"I just really enjoy being here and working here and continuing that family tradition," Peter Ficklin, owner of Ficklin Vineyards, said.

Ficklin didn't initially intend on following in his grandfather and father's footsteps.

He went to college to pursue Ag engineering.

But the sweet smell of the family business lured him home.

"Most of what we do is our ports. So we have a wide variety of ports and again from those authentic Portuguese grape varieties to produce them from," Ficklin said.

With buildings dating back to the 40's and the "wine library" holding bottles just as old, visitors get an experience unique to the Valley.

"I think people are looking to learn and get a little education. Because the bottom line is they want to find out what things taste good to them," Ficklin said.

Brad and Jennifer Ellis of Clovis both work in hospitals and never get days off together.

So they're spending this one at Ficklin.

"We just got a tour of the ancient cellar, looking at some vintages from the 40s and 50s. You don't get that somewhere else," Jennifer Ellis said.

"You don't walk into most wineries and see the barrels right here, making the wines. You really get a more personalized experience," Brad Ellis said.

And after tasting what this winery has to offer, the Ellis' are hooked.

"Oh totally, we're over Napa. Been there done that. We're done," Jennifer said.

For these three winemakers around the Valley, theirs is a labor of love they want to share.

And for Jim Van Haun and Peter Ficklin who both started out heading in a different direction, they say working with wine definitely fills up their life.

"This is a lot more fun," Van Haun said.

"They're gonna have to drag me out of here kicking and screaming someday as an old man. I'll be the guy wandering around with a cane," Ficklin joked.

It's not what you'd expect when you picture "wine country", but the winemakers here say grab a glass and have a sip, and you just mind change your mind.

Ficklin Vineyards is open for tasting daily, 11am to 5pm. Quady Winery is open for tasting Monday through Friday 9:30am to 4:30pm and Saturday and Sunday 12pm to 4pm. Cedar View Winery is open Saturday and Sunday 12pm to 5pm.

Some of the local wineries will have events during the holidays.

But they say, their next big event is the wine and chocolate weekend, which runs during Valentine's Day weekend.