The Santa Cruz region shines for wine lovers. The Santa Cruz Mountains AVA sits south of San
Jose, California, nestled between Big Basin Redwoods State Park and the Soquel Demonstration
State Forest. This large appellation holds over 350,000 acres, comprised of mountainous areas
with high elevation, ocean influence, and varied microclimates in northwest California
Coast.
Within Santa Cruz County is Aptos, a quaint town on Soquel Cove that counts as its
neighbors Capitola, Rio Del Mar, Seacliff, and Seascape.
Most visitors flock to Sonoma or Napa to enjoy California wine. Santa Cruz is the right place for a memorable day of wine tasting.
The Santa Cruz area is home to one of the oldest wine-growing areas in California. Here you will find over 200 vineyards and 75 wineries.
And, maybe most importantly, no pretension or crowds.
Over a dozen boutique wineries within the Aptos region produce unique growing blends rivaling larger Napa labels. Whether you are staying in Santa Cruz for a day or a week, don’t forget to bring your travel wine glass.
Santa Cruz Wineries
Located just off California Highway 1, roughly 73 miles south of San Francisco, the Santa Cruz
wine region is a stunning juxtaposition of beach and mountain, ocean breezes, and bay mist. And
the multiple microclimates created by the forests and the varied mountain elevations provide
perfect growing conditions for many familiar grapes.
Not up to driving through the stunning mountains, aromatic eucalyptus trees, and rolling hills?
It is still possible to go wine tasting in Santa Cruz. The west side has numerous wine bars and pop-up wine tastings, and several Santa Cruz wineries have urban tasting rooms that are open daily.
Alfaro Family Vineyards + Winery
Tucked into the rolling, vineyard-covered hills of Corralitos, the Alfaro Family Vineyards is a
stunning property that delivers a quintessential wine country experience. Sample Pinots or
Chardonnays on one of their outdoor patios for an authentic tasting experience while enjoying
spectacular vistas in the heart of the wine region.
Nicholson Vineyards
Another stop along the Corralitos Wine Trail, Nicholson Winery, is situated in Pleasant Valley, a former apple-growing region. Acres of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vineyards and Tuscan olive groves hint at the deliciousness awaiting you inside the tasting room.
Nicholson’s elegant estate wines and smooth, extra virgin olive oil, crafted from hand-picked fruit from the Tuscan olive trees outside, are available to sample.
Ridge Vineyards
Ridge Vineyards is an organically sustained Santa Cruz appellation winery specializing in
Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Chardonnay wines. This Santa Cruz mountain vineyard produces wine at two winery locations in northern California.
Founded in 1959, this Central Coast winery is headquartered in the nearby town of Cupertino, CA. Ridge Wines currently does not have a tasting room, but wines are available through a Members Club or local vendors.
Storrs Winery & Vineyards
Storrs Winery is a staple in Santa Cruz. Surrounded by eucalyptus, the organically farmed vineyard
was founded by U.C. Davis grads Stephen Storrs and Pamela Bianchini-Storrs in 1988, one of the area’s first urban wineries.
Whether you prefer the Old Sash Mill or the 6,800 sq. ft. concrete barn located on the couple’s Pleasant Valley estate, samplings include the area’s most prevalent varietals: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The Santa Cruz Mountain Chardonnay is a crisp, refreshing sipper that’s not overly buttery or oaky.
Bargetto Winery
Bargetto Winery sits just above lush Soquel Creek. Established in 1933, Bargetto is the oldest
Winery in Santa Cruz County – continuously owned and operated by one family. The Soquel River serves as a backdrop to the winery tasting room’s antique wood bar.
Here, visitors compare flights of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, or the famous 100% natural Honey Mead.
Soquel Vineyards
Soquel Vineyards was established in 1987 by brothers Peter and Paul Bargetto and a childhood
friend, Jon Morgan, when they decided to develop a unique label. The three-acre hillside vineyard
boasts some amazing Monterey Bay views.
Soquel Vineyards retains the history of the family vineyard, including winery doors made from an old 12,000-gallon redwood tank salvaged from the original Bargetto Winery.
But the Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, the terroir-expressive Nebbiolo, and Rosé offerings are distinctly Soquel.
Wargin Wines
Wargin Wines is a boutique family winery specializing in Italian varietals such as:
- Barbera
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Chardonnay
- Freisa, Greco di Tufo
- Merlot
- Montepulciano
- Négrette
- Petite Sirah,
- Pinot Gris
- Sagrantino
- Sangiovese
- Zinfandel
Wargin Wines also partners with regional growers to produce small lots and unique blends.
Imagine sampling striking red wine while enjoying peaceful vistas and outdoor music—a little slice of Italian wine life along the Central California Coast. This is the perfect winery to grab a few bottles to enjoy at the hotel. And thanks to a newly designed TSA-compliant wine corkscrew, you will never be without a handy opener.
Armitage Wines & Tasting Room
Brandon Armitage, founder and owner of Armitage Wines, believes in a genuine spiritual connection with the wine, which allows winemakers to become artists.
Flights of this transformative Pinot Noir are available in the vineyard’s intimate tasting room each weekend.
La Vida Bella Winery
A family-owned and operated micro-winery in the hills of Santa Cruz with a tasting room in a
very well-decorated barn. In addition to wine, the La Vida Bella Winery grows and bottles olive
oil from unique Tuscan olive trees.
Sante Arcangeli Family Wines
Handcrafted Burgundian varietals nurtured into California Pinot Noirs and Chardonnay.
Most of the Sante Arcangeli Family Wines combine grapes from the Corralitos region, including six
distinct vineyards, including the La Estancia Vineyard, Split Rail Vineyard, Saveria Vineyard,
Dalardi Vineyard, Hand in Hand Vineyard, and Lester Family Vineyard.
These regional finds produce small crops of well-tended fruit for boutique wineries.
Lester Estate Wines
Lester Estate Wines sits in the rolling hills of the Corralitos Wine Trail. Due to limited
production, the wines are available exclusively through the Lester Estate Wine Club and tasting
room.
Salamandre Wine Cellar
Salamandre Wine Cellars, surrounded by redwoods, sits barely two miles from the Aptos shore.
This pediatrician-owned Winery specializes in Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Malbec, Petit Syrah, and Pinot Noir, and is renowned for small growings of hand-selected, hand-crushed grapes.
Unfortunately, Salamandre Cellars has no tasting room and is not suitable for drop-in visits, but their wines are available via their website.
Charmant Vineyards
The Santa Cruz Mountains are also home to Charmant Vineyards. This organically farmed, 16-acre, family-owned winery produces unique and high-quality Pinot Noir.
Founded in 2014, owners Doug and Julie Theron fell in love with the region, which provides an ideal climate for growing Pinot Noir — long sunny days and cool, moist evenings.
Loma Prieta Winery
The 52-acre Loma Prieta concentrates exclusively on the Pinotage grape. This boutique vineyard produces fewer than 3000 cases yearly. The Pinotage grape is uniquely South African. A marriage between a Pinot Noir and a Cinsault – the large, thick-skinned grape is from the Southern Rhone region.
Pinotage often has ripe fruit flavors like blackberry or cherry and has a bold, sweet, jam-like flavor with an earthy finish. It is a full-bodied grape with medium-high tannins.
Aptos Vineyard
Founded in 1974 by John and Patti Marlo, Aptos Vineyard is now co-owned by James Baker and
Tina Cacace. After partnering with expert winemaker John Benedetti, the Aptos label was
revitalized. The venture has produced outstanding varietals of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Rosé, and Syrah
While the vineyard does not have a tasting room, Aptos wines are available throughout the area.
There are many tasting and tour options in the Aptos region. And for the trip home, remember to pack your wine bottle protector sleeves.