74 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {food coloring} words by AMBER TURPIN WINERY well-placed pinots ABOVE: Kevin Harvey is the founder of Rhys Vineyards. Those who appreciate the supple spice and cherry-berry notes of a good pinot noir are probably well aware of Rhys Vineyards. They can now rejoice that, for the first time in 25 years, the winery is open for private, by-appointment tastings. If you are lucky enough to step foot on the Rhys Vineyard estate on Skyline Boulevard in Los Gatos, you will immediately sense something special. Not only is the property stunning and meticulously farmed, with vibrant vines and captivating vistas as far as the eye can see, it is also geologically mesmerizing. For Woodside resident and software entrepreneur Kevin Harvey, this special location was the guiding light leading him to create Rhys Vineyards. A devotee of France’s Burgundy pinot noirs, Kevin was already steeped in the winemakers’ concept of “terroir.” These distinctive characteristics expressed by vineyard sites depend on the nuances of soil composition, climate, chemistry and geology. With high standards inspired by Grand Cru sites in Burgundy, Kevin became intrigued by the idea that California could produce similarly special wines. Born in Sunnyvale and raised in Texas, he returned to the Bay Area in the late 1980s to sell his Houston-based software company, StyleWare, to Claris Corporation. He decided to stay. Settling in California with his new wife led to more Silicon Valley projects (Kevin is also co-founder and general partner of Benchmark Capital), as well as the eventual launch of Rhys Vineyards. “I love Woodside!” Kevin says. “It’s an opportunity to live in a rural, beautiful setting and still be really close to civilization. It’s a rare combination.” Another rarity? PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF RHYS VINEYARDS
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