My friends got married here. It was hot and there was a fire nearby. The road was actually blocked off before the winery, but the police let everyone through for the wedding. Nice folks, that shit never would've happened in San Jose.
My heels kept getting stuck in between the planks out on the deck. Good thing I opted for the larger-heeled pump and not the stilettos, otherwise I'd still be down the road at Valley Med getting a cast put on some body part or another. They have two large semi-permanent canopies, the aforementioned deck, some kind of chuppa/canopy/gazebo thing, and of course the beautiful view of the vineyard. I personally wouldn't have my wedding here: you could hear children playing at a nearby house, I hate outdoor weddings (my bats would get loose, ask Lysadra B.) and I'm not into the whole quaint getting-married-in-a-vineyard deal. Submarine? Russian space station ? Inside the Campbell water tower ? Sure, because if I ever get married, it's a freakin' event. A little winery would not suffice.
On to the wine. Instead of buying bottles, my friends let us purchase our wine by the glass for $5. One of the guys working in the tasting room is the grandson of the winery's owner, and seemed well-educated and nice. I tried some of the Red Velvet, a blend of... red wines, I guess (never did find out what kind/the grapes, etc) and it was smooth and good for a non-wine drinker at a wedding. That's what most of the girls were walking around drinking. I got a glass of the chianti for myself, and as I was drinking it (from a glass that was about 16oz) I noticed the pour itself was only about 8oz. I guess that's average. But the whole time I'm drinking it, I'm thinking "Gosh, I should get more wine, this glass is nearly empty !". Sneeeeaky little trick there, cheeky monkeys: you only give me a little bit of wine, and what do you know, Drunkzilla comes back for more. But you know what I didn't think about ? How I was standing in Gilroy drinking a chianti. Chianti is in Italy, not Gilroy. I think I subconsciously purchased it this wine over my favoured shiraz because I was watching the Euro Cup today. Then I started thinking about semi-generics, and before I knew it I needed another glass. But honestly, I'm not a big wine fan. I know enough to think certain things are good, what I don't like, and that chianti is kinda deadly cos you can drink a lot before you realise you've done so.
Anyway. I don't think I'd be back for the wine alone (tasted about the same as a $12 bottle from Trader Joes) but if someone threw me in a car and said "We're going to wineries ! But we're staying in the 408/831 area codes. Where to ?", it might come up on the list. read more