I’ll admit I’m venturing into WineGuy’s territory here, but I
did give fellow columnist David Cox the heads up about the great
time anticipated by all at Fortino’s Winery before writing this
column.
I’ll admit I’m venturing into WineGuy’s territory here, but I did give fellow columnist David Cox the heads up about the great time anticipated by all at Fortino’s Winery before writing this column.
I am no wine aficionado, but I did enjoy the Burgundy Reserve served last Saturday at the fundraiser for the Fortino Winery Cancer Stompers Relay Team. All proceeds went to benefit the American Cancer Society’s efforts to cure cancer.
Nestled in a mustard-filled valley laden with ancient oaks and redwoods on Hecker Pass, the winery was a great setting for a sunny afternoon spent sipping Fortino Burgundy Reserve with good friends.
It’s true that Burgundy has developed a poor reputation over the years, but this is a classic case of “you can’t judge a book by its cover.” The Burgundy at Fortino’s, a delightful blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, and Grenache, is medium-bodied with loads of fruit.
Personally, I prefer my Burgundy Reserve in a glass of ice, with a shot of soda water added to it, which makes for a great wine cooler. Yes, I apologize to all the wine purists shuddering in unison out there.
Another highlight at Fortino’s was the band. Let me just say that “Cold Storage” is hot, hot, hot! Cold Storage is the name of the band who entertained us all afternoon.
They take their name not only from the fact that they specialize in bringing back oldies favorites from the days of doo-wop to the early British Invasion, but also that they used to rehearse at an old nut factory in – you guessed it – what had been a large refrigeration area.
Let’s just say I’m glad they didn’t decide to call themselves “Nut Storage.”
The band members collectively combine the expertise of many years of musical experience and include “Groovy” Gus Gatto on vocals and rhythm guitar, Johnny “Fingers” Darsey on lead guitar and vocals, “Killer” George Carson on keyboards and vocals, Mark “Break it Down” Cvitkovich on bass and vocals, and Dennis “Back Beat” Brooks on drums and vocals.
Starting with “Under the Boardwalk,” you could feel the crowd letting out its collective breath with a relaxing “Ahhh,” for the good time they knew they were going to have.
Crowd favorites included, “Love Potion #9,” “Twist and Shout,” and “Secret Agent Man,” which one youngster could be heard singing as: “Secret Asian Man.”
Lesser known tunes that seemed to amuse and thrill the audience included “Little Sister” (“don’t you do what your big sister done”), “Mother-in-Law” (“she worries me so, sent from down below”), and the lively “Bristol Stomp” (by the Dovells), which showcased how surprisingly synchronized the members of the band are with each other after just a short time together.
Groovy Gus Gatto did a mean imitation of Frankie Valli’s three-octave falsetto on 1962s “Sherry,” by the Four Seasons, one of the fastest-rising songs ever released in pop history.
“Gus doesn’t sound as angry as John Lennon on “You’re Going to Lose That Girl,” was one of the only criticisms voiced in the crowd. With a receding hairline here or an exceeding waistline there, the band may not have been entirely convincing singing, “Teenager in Love,” but audience members seemed to enjoy the energy and enthusiasm in the way the band performed it just the same.
Mrs. Fortino, working the bar, commented on the band, “Everyone’s really enjoying them. They sound really good,” she said.
When it came to “Dream, Dream, Dream, Dream, Dre-ee-ee-ee-am,” Gilroy’s Tak and Carol Jio were inspired to take to the dance floor for a romantic moment together.
“Runaround Sue” brought oldies to a whole new generation as a little girl ran around waving her pinwheel in the air to the music.
To hire Cold Storage, call John Darsey for more information at 847-0929. Visit Fortino Winery at 4525 Hecker Pass Highway, or call 842-3305.
Kat Teraji is communications coordinator for a non-profit organization benefiting women and children. Her column appears every Thursday in the Take 2 section of the Dispatch. Reach her at ka****@ve*****.net.
