High up in the sun-drenched eastern hills of Los Gatos, with views of Silicon Valley and the East Bay Hills as a backdrop, sits Farm Day Family Winery. Owned and operated by the Russell family, along with assistance from a team of wine industry experts, the enterprise takes its name from their day off from their full-time jobs. Mark Russell is a commercial real estate broker and his wife Heather is an elementary schoolteacher.
Saturdays were the couple’s “farm day,” when they would garden and work outdoors. Their love of cultivating the land and planting seeds for the future eventually led to making the dream of starting a family winery a reality.
Barely 2 years old, the winery is ready to host visitors in a most hospitable style, owing to the great infrastructure the Russells inherited when they purchased the property on Wagner Road in 2015. The Russells lead vineyard tours and pour wine for guests here at the property, as well as at events all over the South Bay.
In keeping with the “family” part of the winery’s name, the Russells’ daughter Claire Rumpca does the web design and label artwork, daughter Kate makes gorgeous soaps and helps create wine design events and Heather’s mom Charmaine helps with food prep and making jam and lavender sachets. Heather says their other daughter is getting her PhD in chemical and quantum engineering. “Perhaps as a chemist, she may be involved in wine making in Farm Day’s future,” she adds.
Vines, mostly cabernet sauvignon, merlot and sauvignon blanc, had previously been established by Coastal Viticulture, a name well known among homeowners with backyard vineyards throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains. Viticulturist Ken Swegles—who began his career with Byington, followed by stints at David Bruce and Rhys—also worked at Coastal, managing over 100 vineyards before forming Rhizos Viticulture in 2017. The vineyard now known as Farm Day was among those he worked on while still at Coastal.
Swegles returned at the behest of winemaker Adam Comartin and helped plant albarino and primitivo, with the assistance of fellow Santa Cruz Mountains viticulturist Joaquin Casanueva, with whom Swegles previously worked at Rhys.
My Wild Wine Women’s group visited the nicely situated tasting barn recently for wine and food pairings; the latter is all prepared by the family and expertly matched to the wines. The place is spacious, and perfectly outfitted for groups large and small: One imagines a barn dance here overlooking the vineyards, beyond the enormous oaks that frame the barn.
We began with the 2023 Farm Day Sauvignon Blanc, a nice middle of the road approach with flavors of nectarines, grapefruit, cilantro and salty preserved lemon. We then took a walk to the upper terrace, where the Russells have several tables set up for enjoyment of the view, flanked by primitivo vines. Those plump red grapes were nicely ripening as we enjoyed the 2023 “Saturday” Albarino, a medley of stone fruit and persistent jasmine, along with French vanilla from the oak.
As we looked down up upon the cabernet block, Mark Russell explained there are only a few rows of merlot, but he has plans to install more higher up on the hill above the overlook where we tasted the albarino. The vineyard is steeply sloped in spots, and Casanueva thinks the top part might be ideal for merlot.
Returning to the barn, we sampled the 2021 “Inspired” Farm Day Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 50% new oak, made by Comartin. These vines, planted in 2012, have really found their voice, and they might be asking for short ribs over polenta, or maybe a well-aged ribeye steak from Carnico in downtown Los Gatos.
We also enjoyed the 2023 “Sanctuary” Primitivo, loaded with ripe summer blackberries, dark plum and tobacco, finishing with a spicy, smoky finish akin to Oaxacan mole. This would stand up to saucy barbecued pork or beef ribs, or enchiladas with mole.
A visit here is not just about wines and vines, it’s about the community that the Russells are building and sharing. As Mark explained, the letters in FARM stand for the business’s principles.
F is for foundation: To serve and support others with respect, dignity and compassion.
A is for authenticity: To be good stewards of the land using sustainable methods.
R is for relationships: To create opportunities to build community by partnering with local and global organizations.
M is for moments: To build memories and have a lasting impact.
Farm Day Family Winery at 18157 Wagner Road in Los Gatos, is open for tastings by appointment only, on select Saturdays from 1-5 p.m.. The next tasting date is Oct. 4. For reservations, visit https://www.farmdaywines.com/reservation#.