The First Batch
In 2006, they made their first wine, and
in 2009, Castillo Hillside Shire Winery
opened its doors to the public.
“We knew nothing about the wine
business, but Jess is a great cook and
somehow I knew his palate and his
enthusiasm would carry us through.
Thankfully I was right. Our first release
of our 2008 Cabernet Franc won the
Best in Class award in the San Francisco
Chronicle Wine Competition.”
“It became a family business and
we all learned on the job. In 2011, Jess
turned the winemaking over to our son
Nathan, who became a second level
[Advanced] Sommelier. He may pursue
becoming a Master Sommelier.”
Today, Roni Jo and Vivienne enjoy
working side-by-side in the wine
tasting room.
“Vivienne is also responsible for the
wine label art and the inhouse entertain-
ment. Jess likes to hunt and fish when
he has time, and he cooks his catch for
our annual Wild Game and Seafood
Feed. It’s a popular event.”
formally-trained opera singer! Knowing
how much I enjoy singing, but couldn’t
bring myself to perform in public, my
kids issued a challenge that if anyone in
the tasting room asked for a song, I had
to sing. I gradually got comfortable with
it. I just sing from my heart.”
Recently, she brought out her old
“RoJo the Clown” costume out of retire-
ment to entertain winery guests.
“I performed as a clown and did
singing telegrams during my twenties
and early thirties. I got together with a
magician and decided to do something
fun for our wine club members. We all
had a great time.”
Roni Jo is also a Hypnotherapist and
Aromatherapist. She makes her own
lavender oil and blends essential oils
for healing.
Sharing from personal experience,
she said, “hypnotherapy is the best
thing on this planet. It’s not a job it is
an honor. I am able to help others by
giving them tools to heal themselves
and in the process I heal too.”
Jess and Roni Jo
preparing Chicken
Mole for their
stargazing guests.
Becoming a Winery
Destination Venue
The Castillo’s make their winery
available for weddings, nonprofit events
and themed winetasting parties open
to wine club members and the public.
They host musicians, comedians and
other acts as well.
At their annual Stargazing Party,
visitors sip wine and gaze through
telescopes at the night sky while
NASA astronomers and colleagues
regale them with facts and mysteries
about the universe.
Looking back, Roni Jo said, “It’s
funny, but we didn’t set out to be a
winery. It was never a hobby. For us it is
part of our family life in a way none of
us ever expected.”
Annual Stargazing Party hosts visitors that enjoy sipping wine and gazing through
telescopes at the night sky while NASA astronomers and colleagues regale them with
facts and mysteries about the universe.
A Renaissance Woman
You might call Roni Jo a Renaissance
woman. For starters, she’s a talented
singer who once sang mass at the
Vatican with her daughter Vivienne.
“I am a singer of opera, but not a
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
FALL/HOLIDAY 2019
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