New wine-ing combo in Tracy

Oakland Tribune, Nov 19, 2007 by Cheryl Winkelman

TRACY -- Just outside Tracy, past the Defense Depot in a rural part of the county sits a new winery that looks like something out of the old country.

There's a masonry stone fence with wrought iron-shaped grapes and leaves greeting visitors, as well as a white gazebo and dark wooden doors leading to the tasting room.

Opened Nov. 10, Windmill Ridge Winery is a kind of second career for owners Bill and Stephanie Prioste, two San Joaquin County residents with deep roots in the community.

Bill Prioste recently retired after owning the Tracy Awards and Embroidery shop for 23 years, and Stephanie Prioste is the principal of Monte Vista Middle School.

As Bill Prioste explains it, "We wanted to do something as a business together ... (and) perhaps bring the family into it."

The Prioste's home is right on the 3.8-acre property, located at 8350 W. Linne Rd., right next to the Ramon Rios Vineyard and Winery. Along with La Bonne Vie Cellars on Lehman Road, Windmill Ridge becomes the third winery in the Tracy area. However, the couple said they aren't worried about the competition.

They said there's more of a sense of camaraderie among the Tracy- area wine growers.

In fact, all of the growers are now part of what's known as the Tracy Hills Appellation, a hard-won U.S. Congress designation that helps trademark the area's wine from everyone else's and make the wineries a destination for tourists.

Also, each grower's wines are different.

"The wines you create to your taste," Bill Prioste said.

Windmill Ridge's wines run the taste spectrum, from a light white to a full-bodied red to a sweet dessert wine, said Stephanie Prioste.

The couple are growing cabernet sauvignon, barbera, and merlot grapes, but this is the first year they have had a harvest.

Since those grapes will need between 18 to 24 months to ferment into wine, the Priostes purchased grapes from other growers and are now selling merlot, zinfandel, chardonnay, sauzao and doce fien wines. Tasting room hours are on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

And the tasting room, with its 20-foot ceiling and custom- painted Tuscan murals, can be rented for weddings and events. A half- acre lawn and pavilion area are also available.

For more information about the Windmill Ridge Winery, call 209- 834-0005 or visit http://www.windmillridgewinery.com.

To contact Cheryl Winkelman, call 209-832-6144.