Merced County's Vista Ranch and Cellars becomes blossoming business
Two women in the North Valley have created a growing tourist attraction on the route to Yosemite, but it also caters to local residents.
MERCED COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- The signs along Highway 140 just outside Merced are hard to miss -- each one inviting tourists to make a memorable stop for fresh produce, wine tasting and much more at the Vista Ranch and Cellars.
Renae DeJager and Stephanie Marchini bought this sprawling 20-acre property in 2010. They both come from well-known farming families and wanted to give visitors a taste of the Valley.
"For me that was one part of it, being farmers, 3rd generation here actually in the Le Grand-Planada area, that it was how can we showcase what we have here in our Central Valley to let people around the world know we are the bread basket," said Marchini.
The Vista Ranch and Cellars has continued to expand on this parcel, which was once part of a massive Del Monte peach orchard.
The owners now grow a variety of fruits and vegetables that are served daily during lunch and at special events, including the weddings that are held nearly every weekend. The Vista also has wine grapes that will be harvested for the first time next year, and it's offering more family-friendly activities for local residents -- from pizza nights in the summer to a Halloween pumpkin patch.
"October is huge, we get 10,000 visitors in the month of October, 2,500 schoolchildren," said DeJager.
Now these women hope their business will continue to grow just like the produce they're so proud to share.
