Yesterday was my 59th birthday. I am a cancer patient and, as such, did not make a confirmed reservation for tasting or the wine bar as I do not know whether I will feel well enough to attend an event. I had many suggestions for wineries to visit, but I chose Testarossa because I love Italian architecture, and I was intrigued by the family history of this winery. Unfortunately, my experience was horrendous. The Testarossa tried to play up the snobby upper-class attitude from the tasting room to the members' patio to the host at the wine bar. Rather than promoting a winery of class and history, they glorified commercialism. They topped it with nothing short of an amusement park factory mentality focused on making money versus an authentic and memorable experience. To say their customer service was lacking and unclassy is an understatement. I have been to the spectrum of wineries and lovely vineyards throughout the world, from mom-and-pop precious and intimate settings to castles to places that you would feel underdressed were you not in a shirt and tie, but none have been anything short of wonderful. Sadly, Testarossa Winery was the worst winery I have ever experienced. It was sad because their history is glorious, and it truly has so much potential for authenticity. Their ancestors would be ashamed of them.
Nancy F.
This winery I used to come to as a child to visit my parents dear friend who was a priest at Novitiate. This winery is a beautiful place nestled in the hills of Los Gatos. Back in the day, sheep grazed the hills. Today, it is a pleasant winery, and now I come occasionally with my own daughter who is a member. I like that they still talk of the history of the priests that used to make alter wine here, and since the land is still owned by them, they still live here. However, one issue I have is that members who receive free tastings, are always being pressed to buy wine. The upsell is not necessary to wine club members. A bronze membership is easily over $100 every few months. Also, if you just want a glass in lieu of a tasting, they will not do that. The older gentlemen said "we don't do that as we are not a bar." He also said you can go to our wine bar outside and we will sell you a glass. I found that really rude. Many wineries offer a glass in place of a tasting. Again, they are trying to upsell valuable members. I do not recommend the wine club. The tasting pours are not barely a trace of wine. No courtesy to your loyal following of members. Secondly, I watched him serve others and leave several of the loyal members waiting for a tasting while trying to sell new customers on their wine club. The wine is decent but the whites are very acidic. No buttery chardonnays. Wish they would appreciate their members. Many bring their friends and family.
James W.
Great setting and awesome staff. I was directed to the right place, offered a tasting, and found my right choice. Everyone was happy to be there(staff). Need to go more regularly.
Sarah M.
Visited for the first time a few weeks ago. I can't believe I never visited before despite being an SJ native! Tasting: Fun for a local wine tasting experience, but the tasting room was full of gnats and old/dirty. I would probably skip the tasting next time and just hangout at their wine bar. The state of the tasting room does make me wonder just how clean the wine processing area is, and how many gnats get processed into the wine.... The lady guiding our tasting was friendly and knowledgeable on all their wine offerings, and shared with us the history of the winery. The wine bar: Spacious outdoor patio with wine available by the glass or bottle. We opted for a glass of our favorite from the tasting and shared a charcuterie board. Great local spot for when you don't want to make the trek to Napa for wine tasting, just keep in mind the experience is nothing like the quality you get in Napa Valley.
Jennifer T.
Peaceful and calm during COVID-19. Reservations only. Friend took me out to wine bar and ordered two charcuterie plates: smoked salmon and cheese plates. It is a cute date/ friend gathering place if you like to talk a lot without the hustle and bustle of the city.
Meenakshi J.
Is always a great visit at testarossa winery. Very beautiful nature with great service and friendly employees We love it and my guests was really happy Thank you
Stacey B.
Members here for some time and had an amazing wine tasting afternoon for us and our guests. It was an amazing time. The grounds are always beautiful and the vibe is always real fun here. We did a combo tasting with some wine bar time afterward. Kristin in the tasting room took care of us and she made our experience so fun. She had hosted us with another tasting previously and both times she was fun to spend some time with and very knowledgeable. She was the bomb! Thanks for a fun afternoon.
Linda B.
For a beautiful, friendly place to enjoy wine sipping, it would be hard to beat Testarosa! Parking is a breeze and the walking/steps approach is not difficult. You will find outdoor tables in the shade or sun and the staff is very willing to accommodate you. I do not know if they allow picnics, but the available food is quite delicious... charcuterie platters were very popular. The patio is interestingly designed and floriferous even in very hot weather.Enjoy!
Chris R.
Been a member here for a couple years. Lovely SLH based Pinot Noirs, at least that's what keeps me coming back. I have noticed the Pinots are better for aging (a few years after bottling) and not primed for consuming in their youth like they used to be. Anyway, good staff, atmosphere is relaxed. Wines are pretty solid and I'd recommend for any SLH fans out there as well. Best to call and reserve a spot. Easy drive and not as far as Sonoma.
Jessica H.
I'm so happy I found a nice spot for wine tasting that is located so close to civilization! This place offers a tasting where you can try 5 different wines for only $21 which is quite a steal. Although I will say that the pours are pretty small...but I guess you can't expect a heavy pour for the price you're paying. They also reuse the same wine glass instead of giving you a new one for each new wine you try but that didn't really bother me. There is a large grassy area with picnic tables and plenty of shade from the trees where you can sit around and socialize in between your wine tastings. The other reviews mentioned bringing your own snacks and drinks which I think is a great idea! I would definitely recommend this place if you want to go wine tasting but don't want to go all the way to napa for it.
Love this location! You have to take a windy road for about five minutes or so from downtown Los Gatos in order to get here, but that's pretty common for wineries. There are clear signs that indicate where the wine bar is versus the tasting room. On a weekday, it was pretty empty! It was hard to locate the hostess, but she arrived within five or so minutes of our arrival. Emily was our waitress, and she was so sweet!This place does not have a ton of wine selections, but it's perfect if you are more on the indecisive side :-) They have both dry and fruit-forward wines, so it's perfect for anyone. Also, perfect on a very hot afternoon! We split the fish charcuterie board, and it was great! I sort of wish that they had plates that were not paper, so to add to the experience, but I also understand that they are not going in the direction of a restaurant.We came here around lunchtime, but as someone with a pretty average appetite, splitting one charcuterie board did not leave me feeling completely satisfied. If you are coming around lunch, I would recommend getting your own charcuterie plate, or I would suggest coming here around the good ol' happy hour time!I would definitely return: beautiful ambience, decent wine selection and charcuterie plates. Service was excellent!
Beatrice V.
Really pretty winery! You have to drive up a bit of a windy road to get here but there's plenty of parking at the top. Seems like it would be a great wedding venue. My sister and I came during lunchtime on a hot day but it was nice and cool and shaded in the area where we sat. We got the Fishery platter and I got a glass of Chardonnay. They had three white wines, all Chardonnays (fine by me!), and mine was dry and easy to drink. Nice pour too! The platter was really yummy to snack on. I'm surprised they don't have more of a wine-by-the-glass selection but was overall happy with the experience and everything was tasty. Friendly service too, I think our waitress's name was Emily. Definitely worth stopping by!
Amanda V.
Recently visited with my husband and mother for a fun outing after a friend recommended this place to me. It's tucked away, but very close to downtown LG at the same time. I booked a reservation for tasting online, and the process was extremely streamlined from start to finish. I got a text reminder a few days beforehand, and I didn't have to pay until the tasting concluded. As a plus, there's also lots of parking in an actual parking lot. During the tasting, we tasted five wines. My favorite was a one with notes of watermelon, which was a really unique offering. Tasting is fine inside, but I'd like to try the wine bar outdoors next time (this doesn't require a membership, but outdoor tasting does it seems). Our sever Miguel was friendly, polite, informative, and not the least bit pushy. He told us dogs are even welcome to join next time. I'll definitely be back!
Mingshi Y.
I came as a group of four, Melissa was our server. She introduced the wine and membership offering.The tasting was okay, the pours were a bit on the small side (around a shot per pour), but we each drove so that was fine with us. Inside there is no service and the wi-fi didn't work for us.Compared to tastings I've done in Napa, I think this is on the less "bang for your buck" side. You have to pay extra for the breadsticks and they don't waive your tasting if you buy wine.
Nasha P.
Outstanding experience. The staff was very friendly and accommodating even though we did not have a reservation. We were a party of 5 and we were seated only a few minutes.The property was very pretty also and it happened to be a beautiful sunny day which made it even better.The wines were also amazing and we took home 4 bottles.Would definitely recommend trying it out even if you don't have a reservation :)
Yesterday was my 59th birthday. I am a cancer patient and, as such, did not make a confirmed reservation for tasting or the wine bar as I do not know whether I will feel well enough to attend an event. I had many suggestions for wineries to visit, but I chose Testarossa because I love Italian architecture, and I was intrigued by the family history of this winery. Unfortunately, my experience was horrendous. The Testarossa tried to play up the snobby upper-class attitude from the tasting room to the members' patio to the host at the wine bar. Rather than promoting a winery of class and history, they glorified commercialism. They topped it with nothing short of an amusement park factory mentality focused on making money versus an authentic and memorable experience. To say their customer service was lacking and unclassy is an understatement. I have been to the spectrum of wineries and lovely vineyards throughout the world, from mom-and-pop precious and intimate settings to castles to places that you would feel underdressed were you not in a shirt and tie, but none have been anything short of wonderful. Sadly, Testarossa Winery was the worst winery I have ever experienced. It was sad because their history is glorious, and it truly has so much potential for authenticity. Their ancestors would be ashamed of them.
This winery I used to come to as a child to visit my parents dear friend who was a priest at Novitiate. This winery is a beautiful place nestled in the hills of Los Gatos. Back in the day, sheep grazed the hills. Today, it is a pleasant winery, and now I come occasionally with my own daughter who is a member. I like that they still talk of the history of the priests that used to make alter wine here, and since the land is still owned by them, they still live here. However, one issue I have is that members who receive free tastings, are always being pressed to buy wine. The upsell is not necessary to wine club members. A bronze membership is easily over $100 every few months. Also, if you just want a glass in lieu of a tasting, they will not do that. The older gentlemen said "we don't do that as we are not a bar." He also said you can go to our wine bar outside and we will sell you a glass. I found that really rude. Many wineries offer a glass in place of a tasting. Again, they are trying to upsell valuable members. I do not recommend the wine club. The tasting pours are not barely a trace of wine. No courtesy to your loyal following of members. Secondly, I watched him serve others and leave several of the loyal members waiting for a tasting while trying to sell new customers on their wine club. The wine is decent but the whites are very acidic. No buttery chardonnays. Wish they would appreciate their members. Many bring their friends and family.
Great setting and awesome staff. I was directed to the right place, offered a tasting, and found my right choice. Everyone was happy to be there(staff). Need to go more regularly.
Visited for the first time a few weeks ago. I can't believe I never visited before despite being an SJ native! Tasting: Fun for a local wine tasting experience, but the tasting room was full of gnats and old/dirty. I would probably skip the tasting next time and just hangout at their wine bar. The state of the tasting room does make me wonder just how clean the wine processing area is, and how many gnats get processed into the wine.... The lady guiding our tasting was friendly and knowledgeable on all their wine offerings, and shared with us the history of the winery. The wine bar: Spacious outdoor patio with wine available by the glass or bottle. We opted for a glass of our favorite from the tasting and shared a charcuterie board. Great local spot for when you don't want to make the trek to Napa for wine tasting, just keep in mind the experience is nothing like the quality you get in Napa Valley.
Peaceful and calm during COVID-19. Reservations only. Friend took me out to wine bar and ordered two charcuterie plates: smoked salmon and cheese plates. It is a cute date/ friend gathering place if you like to talk a lot without the hustle and bustle of the city.
Is always a great visit at testarossa winery. Very beautiful nature with great service and friendly employees We love it and my guests was really happy Thank you
Members here for some time and had an amazing wine tasting afternoon for us and our guests. It was an amazing time. The grounds are always beautiful and the vibe is always real fun here. We did a combo tasting with some wine bar time afterward. Kristin in the tasting room took care of us and she made our experience so fun. She had hosted us with another tasting previously and both times she was fun to spend some time with and very knowledgeable. She was the bomb! Thanks for a fun afternoon.
For a beautiful, friendly place to enjoy wine sipping, it would be hard to beat Testarosa! Parking is a breeze and the walking/steps approach is not difficult. You will find outdoor tables in the shade or sun and the staff is very willing to accommodate you. I do not know if they allow picnics, but the available food is quite delicious... charcuterie platters were very popular. The patio is interestingly designed and floriferous even in very hot weather.Enjoy!
Been a member here for a couple years. Lovely SLH based Pinot Noirs, at least that's what keeps me coming back. I have noticed the Pinots are better for aging (a few years after bottling) and not primed for consuming in their youth like they used to be. Anyway, good staff, atmosphere is relaxed. Wines are pretty solid and I'd recommend for any SLH fans out there as well. Best to call and reserve a spot. Easy drive and not as far as Sonoma.
I'm so happy I found a nice spot for wine tasting that is located so close to civilization! This place offers a tasting where you can try 5 different wines for only $21 which is quite a steal. Although I will say that the pours are pretty small...but I guess you can't expect a heavy pour for the price you're paying. They also reuse the same wine glass instead of giving you a new one for each new wine you try but that didn't really bother me. There is a large grassy area with picnic tables and plenty of shade from the trees where you can sit around and socialize in between your wine tastings. The other reviews mentioned bringing your own snacks and drinks which I think is a great idea! I would definitely recommend this place if you want to go wine tasting but don't want to go all the way to napa for it.
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Love this location! You have to take a windy road for about five minutes or so from downtown Los Gatos in order to get here, but that's pretty common for wineries. There are clear signs that indicate where the wine bar is versus the tasting room. On a weekday, it was pretty empty! It was hard to locate the hostess, but she arrived within five or so minutes of our arrival. Emily was our waitress, and she was so sweet!This place does not have a ton of wine selections, but it's perfect if you are more on the indecisive side :-) They have both dry and fruit-forward wines, so it's perfect for anyone. Also, perfect on a very hot afternoon! We split the fish charcuterie board, and it was great! I sort of wish that they had plates that were not paper, so to add to the experience, but I also understand that they are not going in the direction of a restaurant.We came here around lunchtime, but as someone with a pretty average appetite, splitting one charcuterie board did not leave me feeling completely satisfied. If you are coming around lunch, I would recommend getting your own charcuterie plate, or I would suggest coming here around the good ol' happy hour time!I would definitely return: beautiful ambience, decent wine selection and charcuterie plates. Service was excellent!
Really pretty winery! You have to drive up a bit of a windy road to get here but there's plenty of parking at the top. Seems like it would be a great wedding venue. My sister and I came during lunchtime on a hot day but it was nice and cool and shaded in the area where we sat. We got the Fishery platter and I got a glass of Chardonnay. They had three white wines, all Chardonnays (fine by me!), and mine was dry and easy to drink. Nice pour too! The platter was really yummy to snack on. I'm surprised they don't have more of a wine-by-the-glass selection but was overall happy with the experience and everything was tasty. Friendly service too, I think our waitress's name was Emily. Definitely worth stopping by!
Recently visited with my husband and mother for a fun outing after a friend recommended this place to me. It's tucked away, but very close to downtown LG at the same time. I booked a reservation for tasting online, and the process was extremely streamlined from start to finish. I got a text reminder a few days beforehand, and I didn't have to pay until the tasting concluded. As a plus, there's also lots of parking in an actual parking lot. During the tasting, we tasted five wines. My favorite was a one with notes of watermelon, which was a really unique offering. Tasting is fine inside, but I'd like to try the wine bar outdoors next time (this doesn't require a membership, but outdoor tasting does it seems). Our sever Miguel was friendly, polite, informative, and not the least bit pushy. He told us dogs are even welcome to join next time. I'll definitely be back!
I came as a group of four, Melissa was our server. She introduced the wine and membership offering.The tasting was okay, the pours were a bit on the small side (around a shot per pour), but we each drove so that was fine with us. Inside there is no service and the wi-fi didn't work for us.Compared to tastings I've done in Napa, I think this is on the less "bang for your buck" side. You have to pay extra for the breadsticks and they don't waive your tasting if you buy wine.
Outstanding experience. The staff was very friendly and accommodating even though we did not have a reservation. We were a party of 5 and we were seated only a few minutes.The property was very pretty also and it happened to be a beautiful sunny day which made it even better.The wines were also amazing and we took home 4 bottles.Would definitely recommend trying it out even if you don't have a reservation :)