Saratoga is located on the West side of Santa Clara County, due West of San Jose.
According to the Saratoga Historical Society:
Saratoga, it is said, is derived from an Iroquois word, Se-rach-to-que, literally, “floating scum upon the water,” a completely understandable interpretation to be put on the presence of mineral deposits showing up as vari-colored film on the surface of a pond.
We decided to take a trip there to see three different places. We visited Villa Montalvo, now called the Montalvo Arts Center. From there, we went to Hakone Gardens and then finished it off with a trip to Mountain Winery. Follow me below the fold for a bit of history and lots of pictures.
Since we arrived in Saratoga before the Hakone Gardens or Mountain Winery were open, we visited Montalvo Arts Center first.
Originally called Villa Montalvo, it was built by James Phelan in 1912. Phelan invited writers and artists to his home to work on their projects. It was quite an art and social center at the time. Upon his death, the property was donated to the state as an art center and park. It now hosts an artist residency program, an art gallery and two large theaters. It is also listed in the National Register of Historical Places.
According to Phelan’s will
I would like the property at Saratoga, California, known as Villa Montalvo, to be maintained as a public park open under reasonable restrictions, the buildings and grounds immediately surrounding the same to be used as far as possible for the development of art, literature, music, and architecture by promising students.
Originally at 160 acres, it now stands at 175. While the villa requires reservations for tours, the grounds are open to the public. The Montalvo Arts Center has an arboretum, a formal Italianate garden, and a cactus and succulent garden. On the grounds one can find marble statues and modern art installations.
It is located at 15400 Montalvo Road in Saratoga, CA 95070. Be sure to check their website for the park hours.
Our next stop was at the Rose International Market for a bit of lunch. I love Persian food and my chicken kabob was exceptional. They also have a great supply of spices and teas. They are located at 14445 Big Basin Way in Saratoga.
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After that, we made our way to Hakone Gardens. In 1916 Oliver and Isabel Stine purchased the land to establish a mountainside retreat for family, friends of the arts and international dignitaries. Mrs Stine traveled all over Japan to look at the gardens there. She hired Japanese landscapers to design the gardens and buildings.
Parts of the movie, “Memoirs of a Geisha” were filmed in the gardens.
It is worth a visit and it is located at 21000 Big Basin Way in Saratoga. Be sure to check the website for hours and directions.
After that, we made our way to Mountain Winery. In 1905 Paul Masson built his home and dubbed it the Chateau. A year later, following the 1906 earthquake, Masson had to rebuild the sandstone winery. He also managed to survive during the prohibition era by selling grapes and sacramental wines.
Wine making came to a stop in 1952, but it began holding concerts. Among the performers were Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, and the Beach Boys. In 2004 new owners planted new vineyards, so the winery is again producing. We didn’t taste the wine while we were there. We were more interested in the scenery.
