Exploring the Santa Cruz Mountains Wine Region
Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and Silicon Valley, the Santa Cruz Mountains wine region is a large, yet hidden gem for California wine lovers. Steeped in history and blessed with several unique terroirs, this region produces distinctive wines that reflect its rugged beauty and independent spirit.
History of the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
The Santa Cruz Mountains boasts a rich viticultural heritage dating back to the 1800s. Early pioneers, drawn by the region’s fertile soil and Mediterranean climate, planted vineyards and established wineries. The region’s cool nights and warm days, influenced by the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Cruz Mountains, create ideal conditions for cultivating a wide range of grapes, from cool coastal Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to warmer climate Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.
One of the most influential figures in the region’s history is Paul Masson, who established a renowned winery in the late 1800s. Other notable pioneers include Martin Ray, known as the “father of Pinot Noir” in California, and Paul Draper, who founded Ridge Vineyards and championed the region’s potential for producing world-class wines.
Current Stats and Trends
- Vineyard Acreage: The Santa Cruz Mountains AVA encompasses nearly 500,000 acres, 1,600 of which are planted under vine. For context, Napa Valley is 122,000 acres with 43,000 planted.
- Grape Varieties: The Santa Cruz Mountains (SCM) AVA offers a wide variety of varietals, which are more concentrated depending on the location within the region. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon remain the region’s most popular grapes, but other varieties, such as Merlot, Zinfandel, and Grenache, are also gaining popularity.
- Terroir: The region’s vineyards are characterized by their steep slopes, elevation changes (which can range from 400 to 2,700 feet) and diverse soils including clay, sand, limestone, shale, volcanic, granite, and decomposed rock. This diversity contributes to the complexity and character of the wines.
- Wine Tourism: Wineries scattered around the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA have a more rustic feel; less Disneyland-esque than the neighboring regions to the north like Napa and Sonoma. The region is becoming an increasingly popular destination for wine tourism, with visitors drawn to its scenic beauty, charming towns, and diverse range of wineries.
A Modern Renaissance
After a period of decline, the Santa Cruz Mountains experienced a revival in the late 20th century. A new generation of winemakers, inspired by the region’s history and potential, began to experiment with different grape varieties and techniques. Today, the region is home to over 200 small wineries, each with its own unique style and philosophy.
Where to taste wine in the Santa Cruz Mountains
If you haven’t noticed by now, the size of the SCM AVA is massive. There’s no way to hit all of the wineries in one day, so we’ll break it down by three subregions:
Corralitos & Watsonville
- Windy Oaks – Windy Oaks produces some of our favorite Pinots in California, if not the world. Their winery is tucked away in the woods of Corralitos and features a spectacular drive from the small town. Jim Schultze has owned the winery since 1996 and runs it with his wife Judy and sons Spencer and James. We’ve been fortunate to know the family for years after our harvest internship several years back. When visiting, don’t miss the Corralitos Market for lunch (sausages) and a stroll through the Byrne-Milliron Forest.
- Florez – A single man operation with only a few thousand case production, yet there are over 30 different cuvees! The founder, James Jelks, creates thought-provoking natural wines–most without any added SO2. Each bottle tasted had a ton of character and long finishes. One favorite is a skin-contact carbonic Viognier.
- Stirm Wine Co – Ryan Stirm’s operations are based in Aromas, a small farming town near Watsonville. Like James at Florez, Ryan runs a very lean shop, yet produces a wide variety of labels and varietals. He spends most of his time working rugged dry-farmed vineyards in the SCM as well as San Benito county. We absolutely love the intimate, yet casual tasting environment in his winery and his wines even more: Zinfandel and Cab Pfeffer are our favorites.
Santa Cruz Coast
- Big Basin Vineyards – With a winery up in the mountains and a tasting room in Santa Cruz, this producer technically straddles both categories. We are continually impressed with Big Basin’s execution on a wide range of different varietals. Founder Bradley Brown consistently produces delicious larger reds like Syrah and Grenache along with coastal favorites like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
- Madson – After blowing us away at the Wines of Santa Cruz Mountains festival, Madson has always been on our radar to visit. We recently had the chance to visit with founder of Madson, Cole Thomas, and he led us through his portfolio. Aromatics are beautifully pronounced in each glass as Cole places importance on gentle macerations and gravity flow juice movement. One standout was a lovely Vin Jeaune, inspired by the esoteric wines of Jura.
- Rexford – Another small batch producer that we met from the SCM wine festival. We love the delicate nature of these Pinot Noirs, resembling a Volnay from Cote de Beaune. Rexford was started by Joe Miller, Professor Emeritus of Astronomy and Astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz, and has been making wine for over 50 years!
Santa Clara County
- Ridge Vineyards – The most famous and largest operation on our list. While it’s usually not our style to highlight the “big boys”, we do enjoy the wine produced here as well as the tasting experience and view. Started in 1962, Ridge is most known for their larger reds: Cabernet, Zinfandel, Rhone Wines and blends. However, don’t sleep on their Grenache Blanc!
- Mount Eden – Not too far from Ridge is another historic estate of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Founded in 1945, Mount Eden focuses on small lots of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Pinot Noirs have wonderful complexity and present a very interesting contrast to the Pinot producers mentioned above.
- House Vineyards – Adjacent to downtown Saratoga is one of the more unique tasting experiences we’ve encountered. One minute you’re driving through a nice suburban neighborhood on Old Oak Way, and then out of nowhere is an outdoor-only tasting area. The wines are less complex than those mentioned above, but they are enjoyable, especially paired with the surroundings.
Make sure to check out our Ultimate California Coastal Wine Guide to continue onwards to other wine region gems like Carmel Valley and Los Olivos.
