Santa Clara Valley Wine Trail Opens, Promises Affordable Wine Tasting Option

The Daily Meal Staff|Aug. 22, 2014 4:58 pm EST

MORGAN HILL (CBS SF) – Napa Valley is about to get some new local competition for wine supremacy, but it isn't coming from nearby Sonoma.

The Santa Clara Valley Wine Trail officially opened Friday. The route directs tourists and residents through local wineries, vineyards farms and orchards around Morgan Hill and Gilroy.

The area is trying to boost tourism by providing an affordable wine tasting venue.

"Soon the general public will discover what the residents have known for years," said Santa Clara Supervisor Mike Wasserman. "The award-winning wineries are some of the best kept secrets in the South Bay."

Officials say one of the benefits of the wine trail singns is that they help drivers stay on course in more rural areas, where GPS may not be as reliable.

There are more than 20 Santa Clara County wineries on the route.