Picchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve

Very disappointing trail. The loop trail is short and not very interesting. Everything was really dry, even the view was just ok nothing more.

Still a beautiful park even with the reservoir at low levels.
Some people fish here.

Wine tasting and hiking at the same time, what can be better than that on a sunny day???
My friend and I came on a Friday afternoon and we took the Zinfandel trail (cute name right?) From the official website, the trail is supposed to be 1.9 miles, but we also took part of the Creek trail so it ended up taking us about an hour and a half to finish the entire hike. The hike back was more challenging as it was mostly uphill, but it was totally doable. Unlike many popular trails, this one was a quiet trail, which was a plus in my opinion. And we saw two deers on the way back, which was another plus!
The only downsides about this hiking trail are that it doesn’t loop back and there are quite a bit of bees and lizards. I didn’t get sting by the bees; I only got a little intimidated. Once you reach the end of the trail, you will have to go back via the same route. I would still come back again for another stroll!

A nice and quiet stroll through the woods but I am not impressed with the surrounding. There was green everywhere which is always better than seeing brown grass at many other preserves but I wish the views would be a little more interesting during the hike. There was no peak or lookout points but that’s just me being picky. We saw a few Bambi’s up close and it was nice to know that you are truly within nature with these animals. Mountain lions are also present but that is an encounter I would like to avoid as I am such an easy and weak prey to target! Good thing my boyfriend went in case I needed to break his foot and throw him as bait. :o)
If you are looking for a secluded and short hike, I would come here. The views aren’t great but the sense of being isolated and not with any other people is also nice.

I really like hiking and I enjoy wine tasting every now and then. At the Picchetti OSP (pronounced «piketti»), you can do both!
The scenery isn’t as breathtaking as some other hiking locations in the bay area, and the trails aren’t very difficult, but it’s a good place to do some light hiking. The main trail is called Zinfandel, which is super cute.
After hiking, reward yourself for the exercise with some wine tasting! They’ve increased the wine tasting fee to $ 10 (used to be $ 5, that’s a 100% markup!), but they waive it if you purchase wine from them. I’m not very savvy when it comes to wine, but my friends have said that some of their wines are really good, like the Tempranillo.
I love the design of their wine bottles — it looks like someone took a gold sharpie and just wrote on the bottle. I love the look so much that I saved an empty bottle that we bought and finished off. The next time I go back, I want to buy a bottle of the Mission Angelica, which is a very sweet dessert wine, because that bottle has an angel wing incorporated into the design — it’s very cute.
Adjacent to the wine tasting room, there is an area with tables so you can have a picnic. My friends and I did that once. We brought a bunch of food and bought a bottle of wine (they lend you some glasses to use). And there are two male peacocks that roam around while you eat.
There is a parking lot — it’s not huge, but it’s free! And the drive up here is not too windy. Hike, drink, and be merry!

Beautiful! On a warm February afternoon (thank you, California!), the scenery was absolutely gorgeous.
What this open space preserve lacks in size, it makes up for in charm and beauty.
ORCHARD LOOP TRAIL:
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My favorite part of the adventure was a serene woodsy patch along the Orchard Loop Trail that reminded me of something out of a fantasy story. There is something very magical about the vivid green grass contrasting with trees. (
) The trail continues to a small clearing with a pond. The pond was almost completely dried up except for a tiny bit of water that still supported some content and communicative frogs.
ZINFANDEL TRAIL:
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From the pond we embarked on the Zinfandel Trail that took us up the hill overlooking the Stevens Creek Reservoir. (
) On the way we encountered lots of small delicate blue flowers and interesting foliage. (
)
A very short bridge spanned a small creek that was fueled by the tiniest waterfall you’ve ever seen. (
,
) The sound of water trickling and gently flowing contributed to the already peaceful setting.
OVERALL:
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(+) Beautiful greenery and signs of nature everywhere. We spotted many deer and their cute fawns!
(+) This is the place to go for a hike of leisure.
(+) There is a winery.
(-) The nearby quarry makes things a little noisy in some parts, as you constantly hear the sound of large rocks being broken apart. You’ll also hear gunfire from the nearby shooting range.
TIP: Go on late Friday afternoon. Hardly anyone on the trails.
DATE TIP: A great venue to get to know someone better. The trail is not difficult at all, so it is conducive to conversation. Plus, there’s always the winery afterwards! (
)

My boyfriend and I talked about getting a wine membership but before we decided to what winery, I decided that we should both do the wine passport– that way we can visit different wineries and try their wines. Picchetti Winery not only won my heart but definitely my taste buds too! They have amazing wines and it’s all affordable! I absolutely enjoy the whites and the desert wines.
Aside from the amazing wines, their tasting room and the buildings around it looks very old and vintage, definitely a conversational topic to talk about with the employees. The vicinity also offers great area for a picnic too! I’m just disappointed that I didn’t see a peacock walking around, or I may have missed it!
A week later after wine passport, my boyfriend and I became a member of Picchetti Winery and are looking forward to picking up our first 2 bottles for the quarter. I am so stoke!!!

Beautiful trail network at the entrance to the Picchetti Winery. I highly recommend stopping by for an afternoon hike, a wine tasting at the vineyard (literally, the same parking lot), and a picnic lunch at the tables in the front yard at the vineyard.
The views from the trail are lovely. It’s quiet and serene, and before long, after travelling along the Zinfandel trail, you’ll encounter the most beautiful panoramic views of the southern peninsula, all the way to the bay. Travel along the Zinfandel trail long enough (read: one mile) and you’ll run into the Stevens Creek Open Space Preserve and its own network of trails. We crossed walk bridges in the woods, found bay leaves growing in the wild (I’d never seen a bay leaf on a tree before!), and discussed the terrifying ridiculousness of having to fight off a mountain lion. Thank God the creature I found around a bend in the midst of this conversation was a blue-​shirt-​clad human being and not a gigantic mountain lion.
As a side note, I don’t ever want to have to fight a mountain lion. MAYBE if the mountain lion is blindfolded and only allowed to use one paw AND I have a giant walking stick.
And body armor.

For an open space preserve, this one is definitely on the small side! At just 308 acres, Picchetti Ranch OSP is a quaint and beautiful place to enjoy a leisurely hike. At the head of the preserve is the historic Picchetti Winery, established by the Picchetti family in 1896. Come here for some wine tasting, then walk off the wooziness on a nice hike!
GETTING THERE:
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The preserve is easily accessible from Silicon Valley. From 280, exit on Foothill Blvd (which turns into Stevens Canyon Rd), and turn right onto Montebello Rd. The roads are paved and not too windy. Continue till you see this sign (
). The parking lot holds about 50 cars, more than some of the larger preserves in the region.
THE WINERY:
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Enjoy walking through the winery with its rustic buildings and old wine barrels, and if you look hard enough, you may even see a peacock! Go wine tasting and enjoy live music at the same time.
There’s a restroom shack on site, with actual toilets and sinks! Compared to other preserves, that’s high class!
THE HIKE:
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Next to the winery is the start of the Zinfandel Trail (appropriately named), the main trail running through the preserve. This trail runs only 1.2 miles before entering into the adjacent Stevens Creek Country Park, and is relatively flat till near the end of the Picchetti portion.
The trail starts over a small footbridge, with a small stream running under it. Nice way to set the mood for a pleasant hike. Along the trail is a pond that apparently only has water after the rainy season!
The Zinfandel Trail also connects to the Bear Meadow Trail, a shorter trail in the preserve. If you get on this trail, be warned that coming back on the Orchard Loop Trail has a pretty serious incline. It totally kicked our butts!
Other than that one part, gentle paths and lush vegetation are the mark of this preserve. Enjoy grassy fields, the occasional stream, and a wide variety of trees lining the trails. From the Picchetti side, enjoy the view looking down the canyon into Stevens Creek County Park (
).
As you continue along the Zinfandel Trail through Stevens Creek County Park, you’re treated with a nice view of Stevens Creek Reservoir from the south (
). The trail eventually leads out to Stevens Canyon Road, next to the Cooley Picnic Area where there are outhouses and a drinking fountain. Following the road north will connect you to other trails in SCCP.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
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Picchetti is not really for serious hikers looking for a good workout. But for those looking for a place to enjoy scenery with easy walking, and maybe wine tasting too, this place is perfect. It’s probably best to come after the spring rains when the pond is full of water!

Slice of heaven on Earth. Cannot beat the fresh air. Came for a hilly stroll recently after picking up some bottles at Picchetti… wonderful, with not a lot of hikers, pace is certainly leisurely and calming. Views were nice. Peacocks reside on the winery grounds. Fun times, low-​key: my middle name.

Not bad at all =) Only a bit of a windy road and you’re there. Entrance is next to the Picchetti Winery with very nice grounds and picnicing area.
Trails are not difficult but have some up and downs for a nice relaxing workout. In and out of shaded area so doesn’t get too hot. Trails aren’t long and everything is connected.
We loved watching the peakcocks do their thing too! So entertaining!

What a nice way to avoid the Rancho San Antonio crowds — I don’t think I’ve ever seen more than two other cars parked here during the week. I’ve been here a few times to do the Zinfandel trail, connecting to the Creek trail in Stevens Creek County Park. It’s about five miles round trip with a nice creekside picnic area at the turnaround point, including everything you could ask for (clean restrooms, water fountain, trash bins, etc).
I have yet to see any water in the «pond» so am always amused by the No Swimming signs. And of course if you’d like to do a little wine tasting before or after your hike, you can step right up to the tasting room…

This review is for the hike.
Compared to other south bay area hiking locations (rancho, villa montalvo, fremont older), this hike was not only very underwhelming, it had no good views and no excitement.
At first, there is a nice picnic area by the winery, and is a good place to spend a weekend afternoon. The hike physically is not too bad, with no super steep trails. Within the first few minutes you pass a small marsh to the left (dried up in the summer). We took the Zinfandel Trail all the way to the end. The rest of the hike was decent and not too tiring, although there are a few ups and downs and narrow trails that bring you deep into the Cupertino preserve. Once you reached the ‘top’ you can make some people kayaking in the Stevens Creek reservoir. Then the trail takes you back down into a really small barbecue area on the other side. Really nothing to see here. That was pretty much it, and we had to hike all the way back to the Winery too where we parked our cars. I felt like I wasted my time here, as there were not much to see.

Nice, open easy to moderate trails. We took the easiest, stroller friendly one and trekked it through. Somehow, we got off the path and found ourselves by the roadside and had to walk along the busy local road back to the winery.
The wine tasting area is located at the entrance to the trails. There is an enclosure with peacocks close to it.
What would make this place better:
–They could probably do a better job with the markings along the trail path.
— Perhaps some free sample wine tasting for the tired and thirsty hikers?(yeah, you wish)

Beautiful nature. The walk is not bad; do-​able for most everyone. I especially love the crisp, fresh air surrounded by green shrubs and cute small animals like the rabbits, squirrels, and deers… okay deers aren’t «small» but cute enough. One of the walks has a pear tree, too. The Pichetti winery is available with wine tasting for the wine epicures. Overall a great place to go for a fresh air, and bask in serenity in the techy Silicon Valley.
Nature never fails.

I was looking for something more challenging.
This was a super short trail unless you want to trace back on your paths… and it’s pretty easy too. Not a bad place but more suited for a leisurely hike with your friends and family.

Pretty nice open land and scenery and conveniently located with a winery to boot! So get tanked on some tastings and pass out in nature! Awesome :)

Simply beautiful.
Came up with a good friend for a hike recently on the Zinfandel trail and was just amazed at how peaceful and quiet this place is. It is truly a gem and surprisingly really not that far from town. The best part was we saw so few people throughout the entire hike, it almost felt as if we were there by ourselves.
It is by no means a rigorous hike or anything like that, however, it is a place where you can go to truly appreciate nature and your surroundings.
Walking along the trail provided me a chance to step away from life and just spend time reflecting and immersed in my own thoughts. That coupled with a thought provoking conversation made it a great afternoon.
Best part of getting back to the start/​end of the trail– Picchetti Winery where we were able to do a wine tasting and sample some delicious local wines. Our favorite was their homemade fudge coupled with a glass of port, yum!
My ideal day at this place: After a relaxing hike, bring a blanket, some snacks, a couple of glasses, pick up some wine and have a nice picnic with someone who can truly live in the moment and enjoy :)

Be-​U-​T-​ful!
I don’t think I have ever been that close to a peacock before this hike.
We encountered at least 2 on this hike, and were even greeted by one in the parking lot. The color of the peacock was so brilliant, it was surreal. The nice peacock even walked with us towards the trail. I think he was actually trained to guide us to the winery, but they were closed.
Boo hoo… However, I am not sure how I would fair on some of the narrow sections of this hike after a few sips of vino. Eeeek! If you go further into the mountain side, the drop is steep! Keep your footing and you will be good.
I like this hike because it reminds me of Castle Rock up on Highway 9 near Saratoga, and you get a great view of the Santa Cruz mountains without a hefty drive into the hills. The lake is also very inviting but kinda felt like there could be a murky creature living in there. I know, I know. I am a grown woman, but the kid in me likes to creep into my consciousness once in awhile.

No, these trails don’t exist… so stay where you are, and don’t go near.
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…Okay, that was my futile attempt to keep this place a secret. :-P
When parking is impossible at Rancho San Antonio Preserve (which is almost always on weekends), I drive further down Foothill Bvld. to this preserve located right behind Picchetti Winery. Mostly likely there will be parking, and it’s much less crowded.
First, there are shorter trails, including Orchard Loop Trail, stemming from the winery. All less than a mile in distance, they provide perfect paths to stroll after some wine.
Then there are two longer trails — Zinfandel and Bear Meadow. They’re great for both hiking and running. Neither loops, so you’ll have to make a u-​turn at some point or at the end. Both are approximately 2.5 miles in distance, roundtrip from the winery. However, with Zinfandel trail, you can proceed further onto Stevens Creek trail for a longer hike. Both trails are partially shaded, partially narrow (must walk in single file) and offer panoramic views of Stevens Creek Reservoir.
Lastly, there’s a cute little pond about 0.2 miles from the winery where you can sit and relax.
MY PERSONAL HIGHLIGHT: Half way into the trail, I stopped a girl to ask for directions. I vaguely recognized her face… and later upon looking at her profile photos, realized that it was Tomomi S. (
)! AWESOME! We had been messaging back and forth, but had never met in person. Furthermore, I wouldn’t have found this place had it not been for Bryan K.‘s (
) recommendation. I’m sure we’ll cross paths sooner or later on one of these trails.
What a small and amazing world this Unilocal COMMUNITY is!