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Live In Los Gatos

Los Gatos, California

Los Gatos real estate, neighborhoods, condos, houses, homes, market trends, history, events, lifestyle, parks, events, businesses, home, Mary Pope-Handy

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Live In Los Gatos

Los Gatos Wine Tasting Opportunities Abound

May. 20, 2007
Categorized in: LG Lifestyle
Tagged with: local, tasting, vineyard, wineries


Like wine?  You don't need to drive a few hours to enjoy fantastic tasting.

It's all right here, within Los Gatos, or a very short drive of town.

Los Gatos and the hillside & mountain communities have an abundance of wineries and tasting rooms.
The Santa Cruz Mountain Winegrowers Association has a wonderful map that make this clear. 

GrapesRight in town, we have
Testarossa Vineyards, which is located on the Jesuit property up on College Avenue (the winery is open daily from 11-5). Also presented there is Fleming Jenkins Winery (yes, as in Peggy Flemming, the famous ice skater - she is a resident of our fair town).  Just into the coastal range (sometimes called the Santa Cruz Mountains, sometimes called the Los Gatos Mountains) there's Byington and also Muccigrosso, both on Bear Creek Road.  There are dozens more in the nooks and crannies of both sides of "the hill".  Back in the flatlands of Silicon Valley, you can enjoy tasting some vino without ever climbing a hill by visiting Pinder in Campbell.   Further "in", close to the San Jose airport, and not on the list of the Santa Cruz Mountain Winegrowers Association, you'll find J Lohr, just off the Alameda, between Hedding and Race. 

IGrapes from Casa de Handy can't say I've been to all, but I've been to many of these. My very favorite Chardonnay wine is made by a local vinter in Saratoga, but the winery, Cinnabar, is closed to the public - it's invitation only. Sigh.

Ridge on Montebello Road in Cupertino has a gorgeous picnic area with fantastic views of the Santa Clara Valley below. Several times we have been there and been in sunshine, while looking at the valley encased in fog, below. What a joy to be above the fogline when that happens!  (If you go there, wander into the barn and note a large corkboard that says "RIDGE" with the letters spelled out using the wine-drenched side of the cork. The artist of that fine piece was none other than my own Jim Handy.)  Cooper-Garrod has great wine and the unusual combination of winetasting and horseback riding nearby care of Garrod Stables (beware: you can, indeed, smell the horses when you picnic there).

This is just the tip of the iceburg. There are many dozens of great, local wines, without having to drive north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

I would suggest just one thing, though. Since many of these scenic and enjoyable spots are in hilly areas with very curvy roads, bring along a designated driver.   The roads can be tricky under the best of circumstances as shadows dance in and out between the trees and cars unfamiliar with the roads weave out of their lanes a bit.

Happy tasting. Is it any wonder that this area was once called "The Valley of Heart's Delight"??

Why Live in Los Gatos?

Nov. 18, 2006
Categorized in: Los Gatos Events

Why Live in Los Gatos?

All of the San Jose and Silicon Valley area has great weather and low crime. Lots of areas are pretty.  Several cities have schools that rival Los Gatos for excellence. So why chose Los Gatos to call home in particular?
 
It’s a fun town.    It has a strong sense of community.   And there is truly something for everyone. (And yes: excellent schools, low crime, scenic beauty are all here too.)

The outdoors is great in Los Gatos, and it is a big part of what makes this town special.  In summer, the townsfolk enjoy free music on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays with Jazz on the Plazz, Vasona Vibrations, Music at Borders in Old Town and  Music in the Park.  Oak Meadow Park features Shakespeare in the Park under the stars too. The Los Gatos Creek Trail pleases athletes, who can enjoy fabulous scenery for biking, rollerblading, running, or walking.  We have great parks throughout the town, and they have everyone in mind from little tots to people on horseback. Our county park, Vasona, has boating and kids and adults can take sailing lessons. Doglovers even have a dog park.  Outdoor wintertime festivities include the tree lighting ceremony the first Friday evening in December, carriage rides through the historic downtown, and a holiday parade the first Saturday in December plus a beautiful Fantasy of Lights display each night at Vasona Park from about Thanksgiving through the last day of the year.   There is an arts & crafts fair, a Fourth of July town picnic, and an annual carnival too - you name it!

There’s plenty to do indoors too, from shopping and dining toan art museum, a history museum, clubs, volunteer opportunities and spas!  Los Gatos boasts a community movie theater on North Santa Cruz Avenue, in the heart of the downtown. Dinner and a movie? Park once: dine, view, and stroll. This is the town experience! Testarossa Vineyards is located at the historic Jesuit Novitiate just steps from downtown and there are many more wineries just into the Santa Cruz Mountains – a very quick drive from town. There are restaurants galore, at every price point and with every taste in mind (steakhouse, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Japanese, Thai, Viet Namese, Indian, Romanian, Mediterranean, hamburger and hot dog joints). One of them, Manresa, has won many culinary awards. Another one, Campo de Bocce, features bocce ball courts – you can eat and play! Additionally, there are many coffee houses (unique as well as the chain stores), a great gelato shop (Dolce Spazio) and even a Belgian Chocolate store.

Shopping is a dream, from toys to clothes to household and electronics to the most expensive cars on the road today.

For a more day-to-day example of the variety that exists, let me use grocery shopping as an example.  Though a small town, Los Gatos has every kind of grocery store you could hope for: Trader Joe’s, Nob Hill, Lunardi’s, Whole Foods to Safeway – all without leaving the town.  In summer we still have available an old style produce stand on Winchester Blvd, and every Sunday there’s a great Farmer’s Market at the Town Plaza Park.

Many Los Gatons also belong to a faith community of some sort. We have much variety there too!  Here you find the sense of community in action each Thanksgiving, as there is an interfaith Thanksgiving celebration hosted by several groups.

The town has a teen center and a senior center. Parks & Rec has classes and "funstuff" for all.

Investigate Los Gatos. It enjoys being a part of a large metropolitan area, but is not swallowed up in it. Los Gatos is distinct. It's fun. It's got a great sense of community and belonging and there really is "something for everyone". 
 Living here is wonderful.  Contact me if you'd like more info on the town and living here.  It is a great place to call home!

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