Saratoga News

Jim Massey, shown here at last year's Wine Tasting Festival at The Terraces in Los Gatos, will participate again this year. Massey owns an interest in Oak Ridge Vineyards.

Terraces hosts annual wine-tasting festival

Winemaker from Oak Ridge Winery will be on hand

One of the wine country's and the Los Gatos community's own, Jim Massey, will share his vintage expertise at The Terraces of Los Gatos Wine Tasting Festival on Sept. 11, from 4 to 6 p.m., an event open to the public.

Oak Ridge Vineyards, Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards and Mirassou Vineyards will be featured at the wine tasting along with other local wineries.

Massey owns an interest in Oak Ridge Vineyards, one of California's oldest continually operating wineries, an investment he made more than 25 years ago.

Oak Ridge winemaster Lee Eichel will demonstrate the art of wine-tasting at the festival.

"Lee will talk about how to make wine, what to look for when buying wine and how to taste it," Massey says.

Oak Ridge first opened its doors in 1934 as East Side Winery, initially beginning as a co-op organized by a consortium of growers. Today, it remains a co-op owned and operated by many of the original grower families.

Oak Ridge will feature its 1996-97 white and red zinfandels and a 1996 cabernet.

Saratoga's Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards occupies 21 acres in the eastern Santa Cruz Mountains above the community of Saratoga.

"The vineyard was started in 1972, and for 10 years we had a private reserve for the family," says Doris Cooper, family member and marketing director for Cooper-Garrod. "In the spring of 1994 we starting selling commercially."

The family-owned and -operated vineyard will present a 1995 estate chardonnay and a 1995 estate cabernet franc. Its wines have received notable recognition, including gold awards for both wines at the 1997 Indy International Wine Competition.

"We have gathered a sampling of the finest vineyards in the area," says Pamela Bancroft, director of sales and marketing and community relations at The Terraces. "Guests will have the opportunity to taste their wines and champagnes and talk directly to winery representatives."

Mirassou Vineyards, owned by one of the nation's oldest winemaking families, established its vineyards in the Monterey County in 1961. Mirassou is providing two of its most popular sparkling wines, a 1991 Brut Reserve and a 1992 blanc de noirs. The vineyard has received much acclaim for its wines, including a gold award for its blanc de noirs at the Orange County Fair in 1997.

The festival will be held in The Terraces fountain courtyard to the accompaniment of musical entertainment. Hors d'oeuvres, including breads, cheeses and fruits, will be served. The cost is $5 per person.

Reservations are requested by Sept. 7. To RSVP, contact Lynn Burns at 356-1006. The Terraces, a continuing-care retirement community, is located at 800 Blossom Hill Road.

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