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Best Vineyard Getaways Near San Jose, CA

J. Lohr Winery storefront sign
Why drive all the way to Napa Valley in your new Lexus from Lexus of Stevens Creek to enjoy tasting famous wines when you can take a short drive to the outskirts of San Jose instead? San Jose is surrounded by topography and geology that allows for the cultivation of incredible grapes for winemaking. At Lexus of Stevens Creek, we took a look at the local vineyards and identified the best vineyard getaways that deliver on their promise of a great time, great wines, and a great road trip that offers you the best driving experience in your new Lexus.

J. Lohr

Image by Dale Cruse is licensed with CC BY 2.0Jerry Lohr left the family farm in South Dakota in the 1960s and took a chance growing vines in the Central Coastal region of California. He selected land with a certain type of soil that was ideal for growing different types of grapes that could be used to produce quality wine. During the 1980s, he discovered that the soil of Paso Robles was perfect for growing varieties of Bordeaux grapes. He focused his efforts on developing vineyards filled with red grape varieties and built a winery and barreling facilities nearby. All J. Lohr's red wines come from the Paso Robles vineyards, but it also bottles Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Rosé. J. Lohr offers guests a tasting experience that includes seasonal and winery-exclusive wines at the Paso Robles location and in San Jose. Reservations are required, and it's suggested that guests plan for a 60-minute experience. Wine tastings are available Thursday through Monday at Paso Robles and Thursday through Sunday at the J. Lohr San Jose Wine center.

Loma Prieta Winery

Loma Prieta Winery is a boutique winery located in Los Gatos, California, specializing in Pinotage. The winery produces around 3,000 cases of wine each year and was originally founded by Paul and Amy Kemp in 2003. The couple originally produced Pinot Noir but changed course when Paul discovered Pinotage. He proceeded to acquire as many grapes as he could and tore out his Merlot and Cabernet vines. The Pinotage grape is a hybrid developed in the 1930s and is a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault. The winery produces Pinotage across its 52 acres in Los Gatos while also manufacturing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Viognier, Merlot, Cabernet, and Petite Sirah. It's currently owned by Chris Arriaga and his daughter Samantha. The tasting room is open Saturday and Sunday afternoons year-round. It's also open on other days, depending on the season. When you visit the winery, you'll be greeted by the sight of Loma Prieta to the southeast and a view of the Monterey Peninsula. There's also a regulation bocce court available for guests to try their hand at the game. It's a wonderful place to experience beautiful views and a type of wine that changes the Pinot Noir game.

La Rusticana d'Orsa

Drive up to the gates of La Rusticana d'Orsa and you'll swear you've been transported to Italy, not the Santa Cruz Mountains. The vineyard and winery are owned by Frank and Marilyn Dorsa, a couple who have dedicated their lives to creating an Italian villa and a vineyard and winery that produces five grape varieties, including Merlot, Cabernet, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. These grapes are blended to create an award-winning red table wine. The vineyard holds different wine tasting events throughout the year, including an annual release party of the latest vintage of its signature wine. Each event has its own theme, such as painting while drinking wine, and is held on the winery's beautiful grounds. Guests can walk around the property to experience the beautiful gardens and view the vineyards as they sip the signature wine.

Big Dog Vineyards

Big Dog Vineyards are a relative newcomer to the area and the only winery located north of San Jose in the Milpitas Hills. The vineyard itself was established in 1997, while the wine and tasting room opened in 2009. It's a boutique winery that focuses on small-batch wines pressed by hand. The vineyard produces red and white wines, including a Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine that uses only Chardonnay grapes and the traditional French méthode champenoise. Other wines include Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Zinfandel. The vineyard also offers a selection of dessert wines. Even though the winery produces a large range of wines, it only puts out around 100 cases of each vintage. Guests can make a tasting reservation to try out menus that include a classic mix of red and white wines, all whites or all reds. Events with live music are held most weekends, and a weekly event known as Sunset Fridays is held so guests can watch the sunset while tasting the wines on offer.

Alamitos Vineyards

Alamitos Vineyards is located in the lower reaches of the mountains in San Jose and is a relatively new winery. One of the principals of the winery was inspired to get into the business by his grandfather's career as a vintner in Portugal. The vineyards are operated by individuals who have a passion for making wine while applying the latest scientific agricultural techniques to the vines. This yields grapes that embody the passion of the growers and the latest in science to enhance the taste of the wine. Alamitos Vineyards is a boutique winery that creates small batches of wine that include Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé, Touriga, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The winery focuses on grape varieties that grow well in the local soil and can tolerate the microclimate. We feature a large inventory of brand-new Lexus vehicles at Lexus Stevens Creek for your consideration. You can check out our selection of new vehicles and our inventory of used cars online. Get in touch with us today to learn how we can help you procure your next Lexus and enjoy the pleasure of a luxury vehicle as you drive around the local vineyards.
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Vegan salad bowl

Top Salad Shops in San Jose, CA

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle requires doing things such as exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, and eating a well-balanced diet. As part of your well-balanced diet, you must make sure you eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. One of the best ways to eat the greens you need each day is to get a tasty salad with a variety of ingredients. In San Jose, California, you can find several salad shops offering an array of menu items that’ll satisfy your cravings. Here's a list of the top salad shops in San Jose that you don't want to miss. Tomato Thyme Image by Anna Pelzer is licensed with Unsplash License Since 2003, Tomato Thyme has been serving fresh, homemade meals that satisfy young and old alike. They make everything from scratch, including the salad dressing, so you can be sure you're eating the freshest food in town. Their house salad is a customer favorite and includes lettuce, tomato wedges, pepperoncini, cucumber, croutons, and red onion. Another popular choice is the beet salad, which has arugula, frisee, goat cheese, red onions, orange, roasted pumpkin seeds, and a balsamic glaze. If you want something with fruit, try the pear salad that comes with a tasty pear vinaigrette. Location: 1560 Hamilton Ave. Hours: 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Oasis Deli Although the Oasis Deli serves more than just salad, it's worth coming just to order one. They have seven different salads on the menu, and each one is unique. Try the Fancy Chicken Salad if you want a little protein mixed in with your veggies. It comes with romaine lettuce, chicken salad with cranberries, carrots, croutons, tomato, cucumber, and a delicious Dijon mustard dressing. You can also try the Asian Chicken Salad or the Quinoa Salad if you want more than just veggies in your salad. Depending on how hungry you are, you can order a small or large portion. Location: 1737 N. First St., Suite 130. Hours: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. Mendocino Farms Whether you're vegetarian or vegan, or you need gluten-free options, Mendocino Farms is the place for you. One of their popular vegan and gluten-free salads is The Impossible Taco Salad. This one comes with plant-based Impossible chorizo, house-made superfood krunchies, chopped romaine lettuce, curly kale, succotash with roasted corn, black beans and jicama, red onions, cilantro, grape tomatoes, avocado, and house vegan chipotle ranch dressing. If you don't have any dietary restrictions, you might want to try the Thai Mango Salad or Mama Chen's Chinese Chicken Salad. They also have a kid's menu so that you can bring the whole family. Location: 3090 Olsen Drive. Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Grace Deli & Cafe A cozy place that immediately makes you feel at home, Grace Deli & Cafe provides an excellent selection of fresh salads and sandwiches that are highly rated by customers. The Oriental Chicken Salad will tantalize your taste buds, and the vegan V-Garden Salad will fill you up. Get the vegetarian garden salad with your favorite dressing if you want something simple. Sometimes, you need more than just a salad, and Grace Deli & Cafe has palate-pleasing sandwiches, wraps, and melts that’ll leave you wanting more. Get up early so you can see what's on the menu for breakfast. Location: 303 Almaden Blvd., Suite 160. Hours: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. Veggie Grill With an extensive menu of plant-based options, you're sure to love what's available at Veggie Grill. If you'd like a nourishing mix of kale, baby spinach, cabbage, carrots, marinated quinoa, dried cranberries, avocado, sunflower seeds, almonds, spiced pepitas, and red beets all tossed together in a mango-lemon vinaigrette, then go ahead and order the Super Greens + Quinoa Power Salad. You can choose from two satisfying Caesar salads: Classic or Power Greens. They also have veggie burgers, bowls, and wraps that offer a healthy alternative to meat-based foods. Enjoy your meal on the heated patio. Location: 3055 Olin Ave., Suite 1030. Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Salad Farm Nobody does fresh and healthy like Salad Farm. In fact, they'll toss your salad right in front of you. That's how fresh they guarantee your food is. You can get more than just salad here, as they have over 40 menu items. However, they do have some of the best salads around. You'll want to try the California salad with crisp romaine hearts, seasonal fresh-cut fruit, rice noodles, sweet raisins, roasted walnuts, and Hass avocado, served with a sweet and tangy honey mustard dressing. Consider adding chicken for just a little more flavor. Seafood lovers might enjoy the seared tuna, salmon, or shrimp and avocado salads. Location: 55 River Oaks Place, Suite 50. Hours: 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Chop Stop Are you looking for an excellent place to get a quick meal that's also healthy, nutritious, and filling? Then you need to head over to the Chop Shop. This small chain has a patented chopping method that allows them to serve high-quality salads in just a few minutes. This means you can spend your lunch break enjoying your meal instead of waiting for it. Each salad they serve uses the house mix, which includes iceberg lettuce and spinach. Try the Greek, Cobb, or Roasted Garlic Chop if you want to sample some menu favorites. Location: 1704 Oakland Road. Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. This is our list of top salad shops in San Jose that we're sure you'll love. If you know of another salad shop in the area that we missed, contact us so we can try it out and possibly add it to our list. Eating healthy is important, and we just had to share these places that make it easy and delicious.

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Halloween Events in San Jose, CA

Are you looking for something fun to do this Halloween? Well, San Jose has a variety of events happening throughout the city, and we've compiled a list of the best of them so that you can have a blast this October. From family-friendly events to spooky haunted houses and costume contests, there's something for everyone. So, get your costumes ready and join us for a haunting good time. ZombieRunner Halloween Run Image by William Warby is licensed with CC BY 2.0 Runners, get ready to dust off your Halloween costumes and hit the Coyote Creek Trail. The ZombieRunner Halloween Run is a fun event for the whole family, and it's a great way to get some exercise in before all the holiday feasting. The best part is that you can run in your Halloween costume, and there's even a prize for the best outfit. The run starts at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 30 and lasts until 4 p.m. Register online now and join us for a ghoulishly good time. Halloween Edition Beerwalk The annual Halloween Edition Beerwalk is coming up soon. This year, the event theme is " Beerwalk Returns", and it will be held in Japantown San Jose on Oct. 29. From 8 p.m. to midnight, you’ll have the opportunity to sample unlimited tastings from 12 different breweries. In addition, the Beerwalk’s organizers encourage you to come in your Halloween costume and enjoy the festive atmosphere. This is a great opportunity to try out new beers and meet fellow beer lovers. So please mark your calendar and join us for a fun-filled afternoon of beer sampling. The 5th Annual Halloween Bar Crawl San Jose’s fifth Annual Halloween Bar Crawl is quickly approaching. The event will take place on Oct. 29 and will be held at The Brit - Sports Bar & Grill. From 2 p.m. to 9:59 p.m. you can enjoy drink specials at all the participating bars, a costume contest, and awesome after-parties. The organizers expect close to 1,000 people to attend, and the grand prize for the costume contest is $1,000. Professional photographers will be on hand to take pictures, so you can capture the memories of your night. This is one Halloween event you don't want to miss; it's a great opportunity to drink, dance, and socialize with friends. So put on your costume and join us for a spooktacular time. Pumpkins in the Park Bring the whole family to Guadalupe River Park for a day of pumpkin picking and fall fun. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 8 Guadalupe River Park transforms into a pumpkin patch. Family-friendly activities on offer include an obstacle course, inflatable slides, and community booths. And, of course, no trip to the pumpkin patch is complete without a visit to the pumpkin carving station. Don't forget to take a walk through River Park, where you'll learn about the history and ecology of the park. So come on down and enjoy a day of festive fall fun. A Boo-tiful Downtown Halloween The Downtown Los Altos Business Association is excited to present its annual A Boo-tiful Downtown Halloween event on Oct. 31 from noon to 4 p.m. Downtown Los Altos transforms into a Halloween wonderland with trick-or-treating, costume contests, pumpkin decorating, and more. Veteran's Community Plaza will be the site of the main stage, where there will be fun Halloween-themed entertainment for the whole family. So come on down and enjoy a fun-filled afternoon of Halloween activities. San Jose Happy Hour Halloweekend Bar Crawl San Jose, let's get freaky. Join us for a spooktacular San Jose happy hour Halloweekend bar crawl on Oct. 22 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. We'll be turning the streets of San Jose into one big Halloween party, with drink specials, live music, costume contests, and more at participating bars. Bring your friends and come ready to have a blast. The sexiest and scariest costumes will win prizes, so bring your A-game. And don't forget to enjoy some of the spooky treats that participating bars will have on offer. It's sure to be a night you won't want to miss. Cars & Coffee Showcase Halloween Edition The popular Cars & Coffee Showcase is back, and it's Halloween edition this time. On Oct. 30 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., come down to the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds and check out some amazing cars. In addition, there will be a Halloween parade contest for the best-decorated car. A $5 entry fee gets you access to the showcase, and all proceeds go to the little league fundraiser. Each vehicle and vendor will be handing out goodies, so come on and enjoy some coffee and a festive morning of car show fun. And don't forget to dress up in your Halloween costume. Haunted House Workshop With LEGO Are you ready to get spooky with some LEGO bricks? Then join Play-Well TEKnologies for a LEGO Haunted House Building Party in Mountain View Community Centre. You'll use your imagination to create a spooky structure out of LEGO bricks; add some ghosts, goblins, and other creepy creatures to give your haunted house some character. Then put your creation on display for all to see. This spooky workshop is perfect for kids of all ages, and it's a great way to get into the Halloween spirit. The Haunted House workshop with LEGO will be open on Oct. 15 from 9 a.m. to noon, and it's sure to be a hauntingly good time, so bring the whole family along. Halloween is just around the corner, and that means it's time to start planning your costume and making plans to attend all the fun Halloween events happening in San Jose. From pumpkin picking to beer tasting, there's something for everyone to enjoy. So, make sure you check out all the events happening in San Jose and have a fun and safe Halloween. Looking for a new car to take you to all the Halloween events happening in San Jose? Then come down to Lexus of Stevens Creek and check out our wide selection of new and pre-owned cars. We'll help you find the perfect car for your family to trick-or-treat in style. And don't forget to take advantage of our special Halloween financing offers. Happy Halloween from all of us here at Lexus of Stevens Creek Do you have any favorite Halloween events in San Jose? Please let us know. And don't forget to share this list with your friends to help them plan their perfect Halloween in San Jose.