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Santa Cruz Mountains
The wineries of the Santa Cruz Mountains are scattered over a wide region. A good map, four wheel drive, and patience are required. Your GPS and cell phone may not work in several areas. Allow adequate driving time.
Recommended Wineries
| Alfaro Family Vineyards & Winery |
| Phone | 831-728-5172 |
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| Tasting Room | Open Saturday afternoons all year and Sundays all summer. |
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| Production | 6,000 cases |
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| Winemaker | Richard Alfaro |
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| Owner | Richard Alfaro |
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| Comments | Estate grown and bottled Pinot Noir, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay and Gruner Veltliner from the unique terroir of Corralitos, at the southern end of the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA. |
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| PoP coverage | Alfaro Family Vineyards & Winery |
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| Big Basin Vineyards |
| Phone | 831-621-8028 |
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| Tasting Room | 14598 Big Basin Way Thursday-Monday. Tastings at Estate vineyard and winery Saturday and Sunday |
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| Winemaker | Bradley Brown |
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| Owner | Bradley Brown |
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| Comments | Winery founded in 1998 on a historic site next to Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Estate grown Syrah, other Rhone reds, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Along with seven other Saratoga wineries, part of the Saratoga Wine Trail. |
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| PoP coverage | Big Basin Vineyards |
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| Burrell School Vineyards & Winery |
| Phone | 408-353-6290 |
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| Tasting Room | Open weekends |
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| Production | 5,000 cases of multiple varietals |
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| Winemaker | David Moulton |
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| Owner | David and Anne Moulton |
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| Comments | Historic school house on property. Deck with view of the vineyards perfect for picnics. Ask to see David's collection of old tractors. Private events and tastings available in Barrel Room, Vineyard Gazebo and Rose Garden and School House. |
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| PoP coverage | Burrell School |
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| Clos de la Tech |
| Phone | 650-722-3038 |
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| Tasting Room | Not open to the public |
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| Production | Pinot Noir |
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| Winemaker | T.J. Rodgers |
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| Owner | T.J. Rodgers and Valeta Massey |
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| Comments | A very ambitious Pinot Noir project with caves dug deep into the Santa Cruz Mountains and very steep estate vineyards. Founded by T.J. Rodgers, also the founder and CEO of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation. |
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| PoP coverage | Clos de la Tech |
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| Mindego Ridge Vineyard |
| Phone | 408-647-2579 |
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| Tasting Room | Shared tasting room at 14598 Big Basin Way, Ste A, Saratoga, open Thursday-Monday and by appointment. |
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| Winemaker | Ehren Jordan (Failla) |
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| Owner | David and Stacy Gollnick |
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| Comments | Single vineyard, estate grown Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. |
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| PoP coverage | Mindego Ridge Vineyard |
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| Rhys Vineyards |
| Phone | 1-866-511-1520 |
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| Tasting Room | Not open to public |
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| Winemaker | Jeff Brinkman |
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| Owner | Kevin Harvey |
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| Comments | Highly recommended Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from estate vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains and Anderson Valley. The winery and barrel room are completely contained underground in a 30,000-square-foot cave. The wines are highly allocated through a mailing list. |
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| PoP coverage | Rhys Vineyards |
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| Thomas Fogarty Winery & Vineyards |
| Phone | 650-851-6777 |
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| Tasting Room | Tasting room open Wednesday-Monday. Tours available. |
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| Production | 15,000 cases |
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| Winemaker | Nathan Kandler |
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| Owner | Thomas Fogarty, M.D. |
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| Comments | Established in 1981. Eight estate vineyards planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the Northern Skyline region of the Santa Cruz Mountains overlooking the Santa Clara Valley. |
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| PoP coverage | Thomas Fogarty Winery |
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| Windy Oaks Estate Vineyards & Winery |
| Phone | 831-786-9463 |
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| Tasting Room | Saturday afternoon at winery in Corralitos and tasting room in Carmel-by-the-Sea. |
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| Production | 2,000 cases of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay |
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| Winemaker | Jim Schultze |
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| Owner | Jim and Judy Schultze |
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| Comments | One of the very best producers in this appellation, established in 1996, specializing in Pinot Noir and small amounts of Chardonnay. |
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| PoP coverage | Windy Oaks Estate Vineyards & Winery |
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Recommended Lodging
| Babbling Brook Inn |
| Phone | 800-433-4732 |
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| Comments | Cascading brook and waterfall amidst redwood trees. |
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| Dream Inn |
| Comments | Boutique Joie de Vivre hotel on a sandy beach a few blocks from Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Every room has an ocean view. This was formerly a 69s beachfront motel and the renovation in 2008 has retained the 60s era look, but with a touch of chic luxury. This is a property that will never be duplicated as it sits directly on the beach. 163 guestrooms and suites face the ocean are brightly decorated. Heated pool. Aquarius restaurant featuring organic, sustainable fish. |
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| Hotel Los Gatos |
| Phone | 408-335-1700 |
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| Comments | Very nice hotel in the town of Los Gatos. A highly touted Greek restaurant is inside the hotel. Close to all wineries. Breakfast is included in the rate. |
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| Hotel Paradox |
| Phone | 855-425-7200 |
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| Comments | A unique, upscale, boutique hotel experience exploring an urban forest setting inside a beach town. Designed by designers Orlando Diaz-Azcuy Design Associates from San Francisco. Solaire Restaurant + Bar is inside. 162 rooms and 8 suites with designer touches and well-appointed amenities. |
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| Inn at Depot Hill |
| Phone | 800-433-4732 |
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| Comments | A former Southern Pacific railroad depot. Highly recommended. |
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| West Cliff Inn |
| Phone | 800-979-0910 |
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| Comments | Three story Victorian on a bluff across the street from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. |
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Recommended Restaurants
| Gabriella Cafe |
| Phone | 831-457-1677 |
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| Comments | Romantic yellow cottage with outstanding California cuisine using local ingredients. Good wine list. My fav in Santa Cruz. |
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| Gayles Bakery & Rosticceria |
| Phone | 831-462-1200 |
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| Comments | Eat in or take out for picnics. |
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| La Posta |
| Phone | 831-457-2782 |
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| Comments | Sophisticated Italian eatery with house made pastas. Sunday prix fixe meals from a particular place. |
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| La Posta |
| Phone | 831-457-2782 |
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| Manresa |
| Phone | 408-354-4339 |
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| Comments | Highly-rated by Michelin and Zagat, gourmet Cal/French cuisine. |
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| Shadowbrook |
| Phone | 831-475-1511 |
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| Comments | Hillside and creek side location set in a residential part of town. Phenomenal wine list including many Santa Cruz Mountains wines. A very unique restaurant that has stood the test of time and is an institution in the Santa Cruz Mountains. |
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| Solaire Restaurant + Bar |
| Phone | 831-600-4535 |
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| Comments | Within the new Hotel Paradox, this sleek, modern setting offers American farm-to-table inspired dishes. Executive Chef Ross McKee was most recently the Chef de Cuisine at Aquarius at the Dream Inn in Santa Cruz and prior, the Executive Chef at Shadowbrook Restaurant in Capitola. |
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| Tacos Morenos |
| Phone | 831-429-6095 |
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| Comments | Boony Doon's Randall Grahm swears by this place for simple, good, and cheap tacos. I agree. |
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| The Plumed Horse |
| Phone | 408-867-4711 |
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| Comments | New owners and chef in 2007 (chef is Peter Armellino, formerly of San Francisco's Aqua) with a contemporary redo of the restaurant's interior. Cal/ French cuisine. Extensive wine list. Expensive but very stylish. |
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Recommended Wine Stores
| Soif |
| Comments | Combination restaurant, wine bar and wine shop. Soif means thirst in French. |
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| VinoCruz |
| Owner | Matt Schofield and Jordan Iversen |
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| Comments | Extensive selection of Santa Cruz Mountains wines. Wine tasting bar and tasting events. Food, local beer and cider on tap. |
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Appellation Websites
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