Local Vintners to Open Multi-Use Wine, Food, and Events Center in Gilroy.
Gilroy, CA: Local winemakers Jason and Janu Goelz (Jason-Stephens) in partnership with Tim Slater (Sarah’s Vineyard) have purchased a vacant industrial property on Brem Lane, adjacent to the Gilroy Premium Outlets, just off Highway 101. Formerly housing a roofing manufacturer, the sprawling, seven acre site will be renamed “The Stomping Ground” and will be transformed into a wine production, cellaring, storage, and fulfillment facility; plans also call for eventual hospitality operations in the form of tasting rooms, food vendors, and entertainment.
“The Stomping Ground is slated to become Silicon Valley’s hippest food and wine destination,” comments new proprietor Jason Goelz. “It will be a working winery for several artisan labels; a localvore gourmet marketplace; an exciting events and music venue; a unique experience where the area’s rich agricultural history is deliciously on display. We hope to make the Stomping Ground a fresh, ever changing, “must stop” on Highway 101.”
According to Tammy Brownlow, CEO of The Gilroy Economic Development Corporation: “We have been assisting Jason, Janu and Tim as they move forward with this exciting new project. The Stomping Ground will create a great new venue that wine enthusiasts and visitors to our region can enjoy.”
After initial site clean-up and construction, Phase One of the Stomping Ground project will see the installation of custom crush and cellaring facilities and case good warehousing for regional artisan wine brands – including the principals’ labels. Co-owner Tim Slater says that “The current timetable calls for winemaking at The Stomping Ground, beginning with this fall’s harvest; it’s ambitious but we’d like to be crushing grapes there for the coming 2016 vintage.
Phase Two for the S.G. calls for hospitality operations, with not only local wine tasting rooms but restaurants and gourmet vendors in residence. The Goelz’s Jason-Stephens Winery is hoping to open a satellite tasting room on-site at the Stomping Ground as early as this summer. Other local vintners have already expressed interest in participating with their brands, in a fun, inviting, collective space.
Phase Three for the Stomping Ground will see the entire property renovated over the next few years to be a true “wine and food oasis,” with event and office space, room for concert and live performance hosting, and a wide variety of ever-changing offerings. The Goelz / Slater team will be working closely with city and county officials and businesses to ensure the project is not only a great, regional visitors’ attraction but also a responsible, conscientious community partner, as well.;
The undertaking’s new online home is TheStompingGround.com
