When it comes to California wine regions, the Santa Cruz Mountains may not be the first place that comes to mind. But let me assure you that this gorgeous and diverse coastal-mountain-forest region holds some fantastic family-owned vineyards and wines.
This region is unique as there are a very small handful of Santa Cruz Mountain wineries that are spread out over a very large region. Due to this, it can be challenging to plan a wine-tasting itinerary.
Personally, I’d recommend spending a part of your time exploring the beaches, hiking trails, and cities and then do a few stops at Santa Cruz Mountain wineries either on the way to or back from Santa Cruz (or wherever you choose to base yourself in the region). As a base, I like Santa Cruz, Capitola, or Aptos best.
Below is a map of the region, with the following eight Santa Cruz Mountain wineries highlighted.
1. Santa Cruz Mountain Wineries: Alfaro Family Vineyards
Set up on a steep hill in the Corralitos area of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Alfaro Winery’s tasting room is perched at the foot of steeply terraced vineyards.
Family-owned and operated, Alfaro’s vineyard management and winemaking are led by father and son duo Richard and Ryan Alfaro, with overall management and ownership of the winery shared by Richard and his wife Mary Kay Alfaro.
Alfaro grows more Pinot Noir and Chardonnay than any other grape varietals. However, the winery also makes a Syrah and a Gruner Veltliner (one of only a small handful in the state!).
All of the wines at Alfaro are fantastic, but my personal favorites are the Gruner Veltliner and the Rosella Vineyard Pinot Noir (made with fruit sourced from a prestigious Santa Lucia highlands vineyard known for producing Pinot Noirs with delicacy and finesse).
2. Santa Cruz Mountain Wineries: Lester Estate
Lester Estate is a huge sprawling ranch with miles of forested acreage, hilltop tasting escapes, and vineyards. Originally purchased as a dream ranch for owners Dan and Pat Lester, the property was planted with vineyards in the late 90s. While the winery only makes a small amount of wine, most of which gets sold to wine club members, the estate does allow visitors one day per week (Saturdays).
A visit to the estate will most likely include a tasting in the tasting barn and a tour around the property.
3. Santa Cruz Mountain Wineries: Mindego Ridge
Located closer to Los Altos and Sunnyvale than to Santa Cruz, this small estate is tucked away into the Santa Cruz mountains in a private residential area but the detour is totally worth it! Enjoy a tasting on Mindego Ridge’s wood deck overlooking the vineyards, while being regaled with the story of how owners David & Stacey Gollnick happened upon this 10-acre farm and decided to pursue their lifelong dream of planting vineyards and owning a winery.
4. Santa Cruz Mountain Wineries: Mount Eden
This stunning winery is located at the top of a steep, winding private road overlooking Silicon Valley.
The vine-covered verandas lend an English garden-style feel to the outdoor tasting experience here. It’s definitely worth the drive up the quite bumpy, dusty dirt road to take in these views and sample Mount Eden’s wines.
While Mount Eden is well known for its historic place in the Santa Cruz mountains wine history, it’s also a winery that has racked up some pretty impressive awards and prestige on the national and international wine scene getting regular praise, critiques, and high scores from some of the country’s most respected wine writers, judges, and critics.
In a nutshell? Mount Eden is definitely a place that should be on your list if visiting Santa Cruz Mountain wineries. However, the winery currently only accepts tasting appointments on weekdays so keep this in mind.
5. Santa Cruz Mountain Wineries: Nicholson Vineyards Winery
This boutique, family-owned Santa Cruz Mountain winery may be one of the most charming, relaxed wineries to sit back and enjoy a wine tasting or wine and nibbles in the Aptos area. Just 20 minutes drive from Santa Cruz, this area of the Santa Cruz mountains offers a few different options for visiting unique and boutique wineries (both Lester Estate and Alfaro Family Vineyards are just 3-4 minutes away).
What’s different about Nicholson Vineyards Winery is the fact that they are such a small business (the winery makes less than 2000 cases of wine per year) and that they are also olive farmers. The property boasts as many (Tuscan) olive trees as it does vineyards. Guests get to sample a little bit of the winery’s estate olive oil with crackers as a part of the wine tasting experience.
Visiting on a weekend? Nicholson often invites local food trucks out for the weekend and has local musicians playing live music, which makes their outdoor tasting area even more enjoyable.
6. Santa Cruz Mountain Wineries: Ser Winery Tasting Room (Aptos)
I first had Nicole Walsh’s (Ser winemaker) wines out of a can, when I purchased a taster pack from Maker Wines that featured six different wines from six different boutique California winemakers, including Nicole’s 2020 Rosé of Grenache from Monterey County. Later, I cracked open her Cabernet Pfeffer (yes, this is a real grape-it’s rare but fantastic) and it was also phenomenal. I was hooked! Even from a can, the wine was so brilliant, I knew I had to get to know more about this winemaker and these wines. *Note, Ser Winery’s wines come in bottles, not cans.
Ser Winery’s tasting room in the Aptos Village is an open, airy, chic place that feels very ‘California coastal’ meets simplified modern. The winery has also paired with a neighboring cafe so that guests can order food to enjoy with their wine.
Ser makes some lesser-known varietals and unique wines such as Cabernet Pfeffer, Cinsault, Vermentino, and a sparkling Riesling as well as the more traditional (to the Santa Cruz Mountains) Pinot Noirs. Personally, I love Ser’s dry whites, rosé, and Cabernet Pfeffer. I am looking forward to being back in Aptos just so I can come here and drink these wines again.
7. Santa Cruz Mountain Wineries: Sante Arcangeli Wines Tasting Room (Aptos)
This Aptos tasting room located in the ‘Aptos Village’ pours wines from the boutique Pinot Noir-focused Sante Arcangeli Family Wines made by winemaker (and owner) John Benedetti.
Belly up to the tasting bar and enjoy friendly staff, a relaxed environment, and some fantasic site-specific Pinot Noirs and (vineyard) blended pinot noirs as well as a few Chardonnays and a couple of other rotating wines.
This is also a good place to pick up provisions for a picnic right across the street at the amazing New Leaf Community Market.
Staying in Aptos? I highly recommend Home Restaurant (for a farm-to-table dining experience) and Vinocruz wine bar (for small plates and wine).
8. Santa Cruz Mountain Wineries: Ridge Vineyards at Montebello
Ridge is arguably one of the most renowned California wineries in history. Known especially for their Zinfandels produced at their Lytton Springs property and their Montebello Vineyard (in Cupertino) location (the original winery site) where they grow Cabernet, Chardonnay, and a few other varietals. Ridge was founded back in 1959, when very few other fine wine producers had wineries or established brands.
What do you need to know if booking a wine tasting at Ridge?
-The wines at Ridge get a lot of new oak (even the Chardonnay here gets decanted twice, in order to open it up and make it more approachable/ready to drink). For many, this is a good thing. For others, this means these wines may not be to your taste.
-Take some time to walk around the property and enjoy the 360 views from this mountaintop estate, overlooking historic 100+-year-old vineyards.
Places to Stay in Santa Cruz:
The Chaminade Resort and Spa is a lovely place tucked into the hills featuring both a fantastic restaurant and a wealth of sport/outdoor fitness options (tennis courts, spa, fitness center, hiking trails, etc.).