Follow The Prince
|
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 |
| Address | 496 Hames Rd, Corralitos |
|---|
| Phone | 831-728-5172 |
|---|
| Website | alfarowine.com |
|---|
| Tasting Room | By appointment |
|---|
| Production | 6,000 cases of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. |
|---|
| Winemaker | Richard Alfaro |
|---|
| Owner | Richard Alfaro |
|---|
| PoP coverage | Alfaro Family Vineyards & Winery |
|---|
|
| Burrell School Vineyards |
| Address | 24060 Summit Rd., Los Gatos |
|---|
| Phone | 408-353-6290 |
|---|
| Website | burrellschool.com |
|---|
| Tasting Room | Open Thursday through Sunday 11-5. |
|---|
| Production | 5,000 cases of multiple varietals |
|---|
| Winemaker | David Moulton |
|---|
| Owner | David and Anne Moulton |
|---|
| Comments | Historic school house on property. Deck with view of the vineyards perfect for picnics. Ask to see David's collection of old tractors. |
|---|
| PoP coverage | Burrell School |
|---|
|
| Hallcrest Vineyards |
| Address | 379 Felton Empire Rd., Felton |
|---|
| Phone | 831-335-4441 |
|---|
| Website | hallcrestvineyards.com |
|---|
| Tasting Room | Open daily 12-5 on a historic property. |
|---|
| Production | 20,000 cases of several varietals |
|---|
| Winemaker | John Schumacher |
|---|
| Owner | John Schumacher |
|---|
| PoP coverage | Hallcrest Vineyards |
|---|
|
| Loma Prieta Winery |
| Address | 26985 Loma Prieta Way, Los Gatos |
|---|
| Phone | 408-353-2950 |
|---|
| Website | lomaprietawinery.com |
|---|
| Tasting Room | Tuscan-styled winery and tasting room - call for hours. |
|---|
| Production | Small lots of estate and sourced Pinot Noir and Pinotage. |
|---|
| Winemaker | Paul Kemp |
|---|
| Owner | Paul and Amy Kemp |
|---|
| Comments | 3 acre estate vineyard. One of the highest vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains with panoramic views of the Monterey Bay. Call for driving directions. |
|---|
| PoP coverage | Loma Prieta |
|---|
|
| Santa Cruz Mountains Vineyard |
| Address | Near Boulder Creek, Felton. |
|---|
| Phone | 831-335-4242 |
|---|
| Website | santacruzmountainvineyard.com |
|---|
| Tasting Room | Open most weekends in Santa Cruz at 334-A Ingalls St. (431-426-6209). |
|---|
| Production | 3,000 cases of multiple varietal wines including Pinot Noir. |
|---|
| Winemaker | Jeff Emery |
|---|
| Owner | Jeff Emery |
|---|
| Comments | Historic winery, established in 1975. |
|---|
| PoP coverage | Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard |
|---|
|
| Silver Mountain Vineyards & Sonnet Wines |
| Address | Silver Mountain Drive |
|---|
| Phone | 831-644-9609 |
|---|
| Website | silvermtn.com |
|---|
| Tasting Room | Surf City Tasting Room at Surf City Vintners in Santa Cruz at 402 Ingalls St., Ste. 29, open Thursday through Sunday 12-5. |
|---|
| Production | Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Bordeaux blend. |
|---|
| Winemaker | Jerold O'Brien and Anthony Craig (consulting for Silver Mountain, the winemaker for Sonnet Wines). |
|---|
| Owner | Jerold O'Brien |
|---|
| Comments | The Silver Mountain property has panaromic views and spectacular sunsets. Open by appointment. Tony Craig crafts wine under his Sonnet label at Silver Mountain Vineyards. |
|---|
| PoP coverage | Silver Mountain Vineyards |
|---|
|
| Thomas Fogarty Winery |
| Address | 19501 Skyline Blvd., Woodside |
|---|
| Phone | 650-851-6777 |
|---|
| Website | fogartywinery.com |
|---|
| Tasting Room | Open Thursday through Sunday 11-5 overlooking the Santa Clara Valley. |
|---|
| Production | 15,000 cases |
|---|
| Winemaker | Michael Martella |
|---|
| Owner | Thomas Fogarty, M.D. |
|---|
| Comments | Established in 1981. |
|---|
| PoP coverage | Thomas Fogarty Winery |
|---|
|
| Windy Oaks Estate Vineyards & Winery |
| Address | 380 Sweetwood Way, Corralitos |
|---|
| Phone | 831-786-9463 |
|---|
| Website | windyoaksestate.com |
|---|
| Tasting Room | By appointment |
|---|
| Production | 2,000 cases of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay |
|---|
| Winemaker | Jim Schultze |
|---|
| Owner | Jim and Judy Schultze |
|---|
| Comments | One of the very best producers in this appellation, established in 1996. |
|---|
| PoP coverage | Windy Oaks Estate Vineyards & Winery |
|---|
|
Recommended Lodging
| Babbling Brook Inn |
| Address | 1025 Laurel St., Santa Cruz |
|---|
| Phone | 800-433-4732 |
|---|
| Website | babblingbrookinn.com |
|---|
| Comments | Cascading brook and waterfall amidst redwood trees. |
|---|
|
| Dream Inn |
| Address | 175 West Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz |
|---|
| Website | dreaminnssantacruz |
|---|
| 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. |
|---|
|
| Hotel Los Gatos |
| Address | 210 E Main St., Los Gatos |
|---|
| Phone | 408-335-1700 |
|---|
| Website | hotellosgatos.com |
|---|
| 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. |
|---|
|
| Inn at Depot Hill |
| Address | 250 Monterey Ave., Capitola |
|---|
| Phone | 800-433-4732 |
|---|
| Website | innatdepothill.com |
|---|
| Comments | A former Southern Pacific railroad depot. Highly recommended. |
|---|
|
| West Cliff Inn |
| Address | 174 W Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz |
|---|
| Phone | 800-979-0910 |
|---|
| Website | westcliffinn.com |
|---|
| Comments | Three story Victorian on a bluff across the street from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. |
|---|
|
Recommended Restaurants
| Gabriella Café |
| Address | 910 Cedar St., Santa Cruz |
|---|
| Phone | 831-457-1677 |
|---|
| Website | gabriellacafe.com |
|---|
| Comments | Romantic yellow cottage with outstanding California cuisine using local ingredients. Good wine list. My fav in Santa Cruz. |
|---|
|
| Gayles Bakery & Rosticceria |
| Address | 504 Bay Ave, Capitola |
|---|
| Phone | 831-462-1200 |
|---|
| Website | gaylesbakery.com |
|---|
| Comments | Eat in or take out for picnics. |
|---|
|
| La Posta |
| Address | 538 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz |
|---|
| Phone | 831-457-2782 |
|---|
| Website | lapostarestaurant.com |
|---|
| Comments | Sophisticated Italian eatery with house made pastas. Sunday prix fixe meals from a particular place. |
|---|
|
| Manresa |
| Address | 320 Village Ln, Los Gatos |
|---|
| Phone | 408-354-4339 |
|---|
| Website | manresarestaurant.com |
|---|
| Comments | Highly-rated by Michelin and Zagat, gourmet Cal/French cuisine. |
|---|
|
| Shadowbrook |
| Address | 1750 Wharf Rd, Capitola |
|---|
| Phone | 831-475-1511 |
|---|
| Website | shadowbrook-capitola.com |
|---|
| 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. |
|---|
|
| Tacos Morenos |
| Address | 1053 Water St., Santa Cruz |
|---|
| Phone | 831-429-6095 |
|---|
| Website | tacosmoreno.com |
|---|
| Comments | Boony Doon's Randall Grahm swears by this place for simple, good, and cheap tacos. I agree. |
|---|
|
| The Plumed Horse |
| Address | 14555 Big Basin Way, Saratoga |
|---|
| Phone | 408-867-4711 |
|---|
| Website | plumedhorse.com |
|---|
| 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. |
|---|
|
Recommended Wine Stores
| Soif |
| Address | 105 Walnut Ave, downtown Santa Cruz |
|---|
| Website | www.soifwine.com |
|---|
| Comments | Combination restaurant, wine bar and wine shop. Soif means thirst in French. |
|---|
|
| VinoCruz |
| Address | 725 Front Street, Santa Cruz |
|---|
| Website | vinocruz.com |
|---|
| Comments | Extensive selection of Santa Cruz Mountains wines. Tasting bar and tasting events. |
|---|
|
Appellation Websites
|
