Blessing of the Harvest at Testarossa Winery

2013 Wine Harvest Off to a Great Start with

Traditional Blessing of the Grapes at Testarossa

125th Anniversary of Winemaking at Historic Novitiate Winery

LOS GATOS, CA (August 15, 2013) Testarossa Winery, producers of premier Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, is holding its traditional "Blessing of the Harvest" on Friday August 16, 2013 at 2pm as the first of this year's harvest makes it's way to the winery.

"As far as we can tell 2013 is looking to be a very bountiful harvest," said Rob Jensen, owner and founder of Testarossa Winery. "2012 was a record year for grape production and we are seeing that again in 2013. We feel very fortunate for that, especially after the horrible storms damaged the harvest in France. Our hearts go out to our fellow winemakers overseas."

Fr. Charles Tilley from the Sacred Heart Jesuit Center will be the guest of honor as he blesses the first grapes of the season to arrive at Testarossa Winery, which is located at the historic Novitiate in Los Gatos. The Novitiate is also celebrating its 125th Anniversary of consecutively making wine at this location, which is bonded as the 107th winery in the United States. Most of those 107 wineries are no longer in business.

These first chardonnay grapes come to Testarossa from the Brosseau Vineyard. Bill Brosseau has been the winemaker at Testarossa for more than 13 years. Testarossa's 2011 Brosseau Chardonnay garnered 94 points from Antonio Galloni of Vinous Media, formerly of Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate. He called it "one of the most fascinating wines of the year." Chardonnay grapes will continue to arrive at the winery for the coming weeks and then pinot noir will follow.

Photo Opportunity: 2pm August 16, 2013

Testarossa Winery, 300 College Ave. Los Gatos, CA 95030

About Testarossa

Testarossa Winery is located in the historic Novitiate in downtown Los Gatos and is one of the oldest continuously operating wineries in California. Rob and Diana Jensen started Testarossa in their garage in 1993 with just twenty-five cases of wine. Today, the winery works closely with top winegrowers in the Santa Lucia Highlands, Santa Rita Hills, Arroyo Grande Valley, Santa Maria Valley, Russian River Valley, Chalone and Santa Cruz Mountains appellations. The label has grown to national prominence among collectors and reviewers by cultivating long-term partnerships with passionate winegrowers and vineyards the likes of Garys', Pisoni, Rosella's, Doctor's, Sierra Madre and Rincon. For more information visit Testarossa.com.

Contact:

julie@testarossa.com   408.316.4586