Business/
Sales
Hometown: Santa Cruz, CA
At Testarossa since: February 2000
Why the wine industry? I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time when Rob & Diana needed a finance person and I was happy to leave the tech industry behind.
Favorite meal? I am a pescatarian, but my favorite meals are shared with wine and friends.
Little known fact about you: I am half Mexican.
You love: I love the ocean and love to go whale watching! Also, I love my husband and my cats. Really, I love most animals.
Hidden talent: I am a great detective.
Favorite wine/varietal: Chardonnay & Champagne.
Best quote: “There are so many – ‘I’m not worried about that’.”
Hometown: Los Altos, CA
At Testarossa since: September 2016
Why the wine industry? I get to work within a field I am passionate about.
Favorite meal? Sushi.
Little known fact about you: I like cotton candles jelly beans.
You love: Life!
Favorite wine/varietal: Pinot Noir.
Favorite quote: “Everything in moderation including moderation.”
Hometown: Boulder Creek, CA
At Testarossa since: December 2017
Why the wine industry? I’ve always liked wine tasting and love being able to help create memorable experiences for our guests through our talented staff.
Favorite meal? Anything with lemon on it.
Little known fact about you: I enjoy health and fitness and initially went to school to be a Dietitian.
You love: HGTV and anything houses.
Hidden talent: Crafting.
Favorite wine/varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon.
Hospitality/
Events
Hometown: Berkeley, CA
At Testarossa since: October 2011
Why the wine industry? The love and enjoyment of the art of wine; tasting, dinning, entertaining and creating lasting memories with family, friends and strangers.
Favorite meal? My dad’s fried chicken.
Little known fact about you: I am unbelievably funny.
You love: My family, friends and traveling.
Hidden talent: I can sing like a rock star in my car when no one is listening.
Favorite wine/varietal: Pinot Noir.
Favorite quote: “Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So, love the people who treat you right, forgive the ones who don’t and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get the chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said it would be easy, they only promised it would be worth it.” – Dr Seuss
Hometown: Florida
At Testarossa since: February 2015
Why the wine industry? I started as a Wine Bar server and fell deeply in love with the Testarossa culture and of course our Pinot Noir!
Favorite meal? Anything that is fried, especially fried chicken.
Little known fact about you: I am half Indian and Indonesian.
You love: My heart melts anytime I see a dog!
Hidden talent: I can finish a 1000 piece puzzle in one day.
Favorite wine/varietal: Pinot Noir!
Hometown: Pequot Lakes, Minnesota
At Testarossa since: I started in 2010 in the events department and left in 2012. I came back in 2017 to the Tasting Room.
Why the wine industry? Why not turn my favorite hobby into a career?
Favorite meal? I love cooking spaghetti while drinking wine!
Little known fact about you: I am an open book!
You love: I have a deep love for the Redwoods.
Hidden talent: Crashing things with two wheels.
Favorite wine/varietal: I love all things from Sancerre!
Favorite quote: “No. Not in this life-time. Over my dead body. When hell freezes over!” – Carol Dunn
Hometown: San Jose, CA
At Testarossa since: 2022
Why the wine industry? Learning about wine is fun and in the wine industry there are many more options for shifting a career within the same career.
Favorite meal? Traditional Mexican Street Food.
Little known fact about you: Born in Minnesota.
You love: Travel and Experiencing New/ Different Cultures.
Hidden talent: Photography.
Favorite wine/varietal: Champagne.
Favorite quote: The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.
Hometown: Born and raised in San Jose!
At Testarossa since: May 2021
Why the wine industry? Wine has an interplay between science and psychology which I love.
Favorite meal? Ribeye and artichoke with pesto aioli
Little known fact about you: I worked an event where Snoop Dogg opened up for Lynyrd Skynyrd.
You love: being a mom.
Hidden talent: Karaoke queen!
Favorite wine/varietal: Viognier.
At Testarossa since: 2013
Why the wine industry? Having been in catering for several years, Testarossa provided me an excellent opportunity to improve my knowledge of wine and the wine industry while also allowing me to continue to improve the skills I had learned in the catering industry.
Favorite meal? Beef, chicken, pork preferably grilled in my backyard with a Doctors or Sanford and Benedict Pinot!
You love: My family, BBQ, Dad Jokes, and the Pittsburgh Steelers!
Favorite wine/varietal: I am a big fan of our Doctor’s Pinot Noir and our Sanford and Benedict Pinot Noir. I’m also developing a taste for Cabernet Sauvignon, but I haven’t settled on a favorite yet.
Favorite quote: “Improvise, Adapt, Overcome.” – Clint Eastwood, Heartbreak Ridge.
Hometown: Long Island, New York
At Testarossa since: May 2016
Why the wine industry? Cooking and Entertaining has always been a passion of mine. When we moved to California we loved visiting the different wine regions. Soon wine also became a passion of mine. Wine is great way to bring people together.
Favorite meal? Anything with seafood.
Little known fact about you: I have always worked in hospitality but my other professions have been Paralegal and Fitness Instructor.
You love: My family and friends and gathering together with great wine and food.
Hidden talent: Speed reading.
Favorite wine/varietal: Pinot Noir
Hometown: Sunnyvale, CA
At Testarossa since: June 2018
Why the wine industry? I have always been fascinated by and passionate about the relationship that wine and food have.
Favorite meal? Soup. All the soup.
You love: My family of course.
Favorite wine/varietal: Outside of Testarossa Pinot & Chardonnay I’m really drawn to Tempranillo and other Spanish reds.
Favorite quote: “Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved”, – Winnie The Pooh.
DTC/
Marketing
Hometown: Encinitas, CA
At Testarossa since: October 2015
Why the wine industry? Wine has an interplay between science and psychology which I love.
Favorite meal? Fish Burrito from Juanitas Taco Shop in Encinitas.
Little known fact about you: I have a black belt in karate.
You love: Anything with Green Chartreuse!
Hidden talent: I am a drummer.
Favorite wine/varietal: So many, but probably Barolo or anything from Bandol.
Hometown: Thomasville, GA & Raleigh, NC
At Testarossa since: October 2022
Why the wine industry? I love how the wine industry is so varied. Learning about the different varietals and the wine making process is fascinating! I love teaching people about wine.
Little known fact about you: Before I moved to CA, I didn’t like CA wines. Before you yell at me, the variety available in other places is not the same as here!
You love: Southern Food! My annual New Year’s Day gathering is when I can introduce friends to some of our traditional delicacies!
Hidden talent: I’m an artist.
Favorite wine/varietal: Pinot Noir.
Favorite quote: “One should only drink wine. Water makes one rust.” – Lucie (Lulu) Tempier Peyraud.
Hometown: Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina
At Testarossa since: October 2022
Why the wine industry? Wine is where art, science, and good times intersect.
Favorite meal? Spider roll.
Little known fact about you: I was a refugee – twice.
You love: Meeting new people, travel.
Hidden talent: Long jump.
Favorite wine/varietal: As long as it’s fruit-forward, I will be happy.
Favorite quote: “Wine is the answer but what was the question?”