Trout Gulch Vineyards

Producer of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from vineyards located in Aptos, California in the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation. Bernie Turgeon planted 300 acres of grapes in the Arroyo Seco, Monterey County, in 1972, and co-founded Turgeon & Lohr Winery with partner Jerry Lohr. In 1984, Bernie Turgeon and his son, Gerry, sold the Turgeon & Lohr Winery to Jerry Lohr. The winery had become too large to manage enjoyably. The Turgeons then founded the Santa Cruz Brewing Company and the Front Street Pub, one of the first brew pubs started since Prohibition. After this project was successful, the Turgeons turned again to their first love - wine.

The Turgeons purchased the Miller Ranch above the seaside village of Aptos. They renamed this 25-acre mountain meadow Trout Gulch Vineyards. The site, located at 720 feet and within four miles of the Monterey Bay coastline, has warm days and cool nights, ideal for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The long growing season is risky,with grapes often picked in late October, but the results have been spectacular.

As of early 2010, the current release was a 2007 Pinot Noir from Amaya Ridge Vineyard (high above Soquel) and Regan Vineyard (southern end of the Santa Cruz Mountains).

The website was outdated 12/09 when I wrote this. At Pinot Paradise in 2009, I sampled Pinot Noirs produced by the Turgeons from Trout Gulch Vineyards and was very impressed. There is no tasting room or visitor's facility at the vineyards. I believe the wines are sold through a mailing list. 831-471-2705.