Review of Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery

3 years ago

This is a mixed review.

This is a mixed review.

STAFF: 2 stars. We had an appointment for 1 pm but arrived about 20 minutes early. We waited at the hostess stand for 5 minutes while staff walked by ignoring us. We then walked around the corner into the tasting room, where 4 or 5 staff looked busy cleaning stemware. Despite a group of 6 people, they largely ignored us until one of us spoke up. When I informed them of our appointment, they said "We'll see you AT 1 pm", emphasizing the AT. No smile. Nothing. We then went onto the patio where another staff member shushed us for being apparently too boisterous. Well, excuuuuse us for speaking. At 1 pm promptly, a certified somm brought us into the private tasting room. Only after 20 minutes of being with our raucous group did the frost thaw from her icey personality and she finally began to warm up to us. Had we not read about the wines and known about Gary Farrell's reputation for winemaking, we would have walked out and this would end the review. Fortunately, for this winery, their products stand head and shoulders above the impenetrable snobbiness of the staff.

WINE & FACILITY: 5 stars. There aren't enough superlatives to describe the excellent wines that we tasted and truly enjoyed as part of our private tasting. Each was excellent and more than one stood out as cellar-worthy. We took the high road here and overlooked our rude treatment and went ahead and purchased several bottles.

I can only hope that future visitors are given a warmer and more respectful welcoming than was afforded to us. If we return, it will be for the wine alone.