fortino winery

Okay, they work at a winery and serve wine all day so maybe it's a given they are having fun but we've been to many places where they seem to be going through the motions. Not here!Lots of local information (ask about the family feud) and pretty good wine.

This is a wonderful winery with many activities such as a lobster fest, grape stomp, barrel tasting, and weddings. Plus, the wine is fantastic! They offer traditional wines as well as almond champagne and dessert wines.

Fortno Winery is a nice winery to visit; it often is referred to as the best winery for Gilroy. The grounds are nice; there are grapefields; nice tasting room, and nice places to sit outside. On a nice day sitting outside with a glass of wine - perfect. The winery has events there as well.

My husband and I visit several vineyards across California each year. I even write a blog about our experiences. This visit, was by far the worst experience we had at a vineyard. We decided to enjoy our wine outside since we were accompanied by our dog. We were given "special" glasses in the event we broke one outdoors. It was slightly off putting to wait for each selection while the individuals behind the tasting bar were chatting (to what appeared to be people they knew), but we figured it was a nice day and we were not in a hurry. A few moments later, I broke a glass. I went inside, apologized and offered to pay for the broken glass. The young man behind the bar looked utterly confused, as though I was speaking another language. I waited for quite some time to receive another glass and the next tasting. On my way out, a gentleman stopped me and said, "you know, those glasses cost money". I explained that I already offered to pay for the glass and apologized again profusely. He said, "I'm just trying to tell you you should be more careful because it costs money". I was horrified, went outside, took $5 out of my purse and placed it on the wine bar next to the man who thought it would be ok to chastise a grown customer. If he was the owner, shame on him. If he wasn't, then perhaps the owners should be aware that people are speaking on their behalf in the most inappropriate of ways.

Attended a wedding here on Aug 31st and even though it was a little warm the venue felt fresh and open. The event staff were friendly including (and especially) the bartender at the (open) bar! He even tried to give me water towards the end if the night, how kind! And the food was GREAT! They served salmon and chicken at each tar and they were both yummy. Overall a great night.

Well this place is just overall beautiful, the tastings are great, they have nice places to sit outside and drink. There is bocce ball they let you use and a course. As far as nice people, there are plenty. The staff has always been courteous and polite. Not quite sure what the other review is talking about- pretty sure she woke up on the wrong side of the bed. This place is good and their wines won medals in competition and by far are my favorite.

I arrived at Fortino's tasting room about 3:15 p.m. on May 11, 2013; my first stop of the day. Three ladies and a gentleman were serving 6-8 people. For the next 15 minutes or so, the two middle-aged ladies were constantly speaking to two or three customers, also middle-aged ladies, who I assumed were either friends and/or wine club members. Speaking is the wrong term. The were screeching back and forth at each other at a drunken volume, and the volume increased as a few more customers entered the tasting room. The four or five of them were all you could hear in the room. The two older employees never stopped screeching at each other and their friends the entire 15 minutes or so I was there (when did they breathe?); and never attended to anyone else other than the two or three ladies they were screeching at, who were screeching back at them. It was what it must be like to be caught in the middle of a group of drunken cougars at a Chippendale's show.The young Hispanic lady serving me was quiet and efficient; but I had to get out of the cave of the screeching Harpies, so I drank fast and left. The wine was OK, but I might have liked it better had the Harpies not been there. The older African-American gentleman never said a word, nor did I see him pour any wine while I was there.At one point a tall young woman entered the employee side of the bar and spoke to the Harpies, in only a slightly lower volume than the Harpies. I gulped my last pour and hurried on outta there and went next door to Hecker Pass Winery where I had a nice quiet conversation with the tasting hostess and bought some wine.Word to management—quiet the Harpies. I gave you the date and time of my visit, so you know who was on shift.