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Vineyards & Redwoods in Santa Cruz Mts.

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Wine tasting among the Redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains

Santa Cruz Mountains

The Santa Cruz Mountains are all about the stunning forests of the Coastal Redwoods. Interspersed among the Redwoods are mountain homes and mountain wineries. The Santa Cruz Mountains have thousands of acres of Redwoods and 200 small vineyards. It is a stunning area and where one can enjoy wine, vineyards, and Redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Continuing our theme of enjoying the Redwood Trees and vineyards (See Previous Article), we take a one-day trip to the Santa Cruz Mountains. 

Beauregard Vineyards

We began this trip by taking a beautiful ride south along Highway 1 from Half Moon Bay to Bonny Doon Road. Bonny Doon Road is just past the town of Davenport. We turned left onto Bonny Doon Road, and drove 3.7 miles to Pine Flat Road and Beauregard Vineyards.

The Beauregard winery specializes in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. The vineyards are close to the Pacific Coast and receive a daily dose of beautiful fog and cool temperatures. Where we find a climate ideal for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, we find the Coastal Redwoods.

The tasting room at Beauregard is small but cozy. COVID produced a better tasting venue for Beauregard, outside among the breathtaking Redwoods. Beauregard takes walk-ins; but it is best to have an appointment, especially on weekends. At the time of our visit, the tasting fee was $25 per person. The well-informed staff pour five wines at a leisurely pace. Visitors can also buy wine by the glass or a full bottle and enjoy a picnic lunch under the Redwoods.

Check out these photos of Beauregard:

More Redwoods, Vineyards, and a Steam Engine

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

About 20 minutes away from Beauregard is Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. The road is curvy, so take your time and definitely have a designated driver. Program your phone map and take Ice Cream Grade and Felton Empire Road to the park entrance. There are many hiking trails in the park, and nearby is the Redwood Forest Steam Engine. Adults and children love this exciting steam engine ride through the Redwoods. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the lovely park.

We headed back home via Highway 9 and Highway 35. We made one more winery stop at Thomas Fogarty Winery, 19501 Skyline Blvd in Woodside. The views of the San Francisco Bay and the Peninsula are fantastic. The wine is equally as good. The winery requires reservations, so book ahead of your trip.

View at Thomas Fogarty

There are several other great wineries to visit in the Santa Cruz Mts. Some favorites:

Take a look at our Santa Cruz Mountian section on Wine Country Getaways

Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello – 2400 Ft Cabernet Sauvignon

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Ridge vineyard Montebello old barn

The old barn tasting room originally constructed in 1904

Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello makes for a unique wine country visit

Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello is one of California’s most esteemed wineries. Ridge’s wine was one of the California wines entered in the “Judgement of Paris” competition in 1976. The tasting was revisited in 2006 and 2015 with the same wines, California vs Bordeaux. While the Ridge wine was not the top selection in 1976, it was the best in the next two taste-offs. Paul Draper, the winemaker for 48 years, is one of the most respected winemakers worldwide. That should be reason enough to want to visit Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello. Yes, the wine is fantastic, but we love other aspects of visiting this winery.



There are two Ridge Vineyards locations. Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello is the original winery (1959) and  Ridge Lytton Springs (1991) is near Healdsburg in Sonoma County. Monte Bello specializes in Bordeaux varieties, but Lytton Springs is all about Zinfandel. We visited Ridge Monte Bello last week. It has been a good ten years that we had been to this location, and it was an excellent experience. We love the ride from Highway 280 in Cupertino up Monte Bello Road. It is a three-mile ride to the Ridge mountaintop location. One would hardly guess in this high-tech region there would be a winery nestled high above the Silicon Valley.

The views are spectacular. On a clear day, views of San Francisco, the East Bay, and the Silicon Valley are breathtaking. Watch out for cyclists on the narrow, windy road to the top. Cyclists cherish the workout and, better yet, the exhilarating ride down the mountain.

We visited on a Friday. During the week Ridge Monte Bello requires reservations. On Saturday and Sunday, the winery is open to the public 11 am to 4 pm. During the week, appointments are daily at 11 am and 2 pm. The $35 per person fee includes a tasting of five wines and some small bites to accompany the wines. See visiting details.

Our host Allison Mayo greeted us with a glass of the Ridge Chardonnay. The Chardonnay is beautifully balanced with a touch of minerality. The Chardonnay is the only white wine made at Ridge Monte Bello. We then took a short vineyard walk. Most impressive and a “must see” on a visit are the Cabernet Sauvignon vines planted in 1949. They are withered and aged but still produce grapes that are used in the Ridge wine. What a sight to see these vines at the very top of Monte Bello with the Silicon Valley below.

Ridge Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon planted in 1949

Ridge Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon planted in 1949

What a spectacular venue for a wine country picnic. Ridge has several picnic benches and is planning a new one that affords the views mentioned above. Pack your lunch, order your wine, and sit back and enjoy the experience. Picnic tables are on a first-come basis.

Now back to the cozy tasting room for visitors with an appointment. We sat comfortably while Allison poured us four red wines to savor.  Allison explained each Ridge wine in detail without being overbearing. Sometimes you get too much information or a hard sell on buying wines or joining the wine club. Allison’s presentation was just perfect. As for the wines, they are all fantastic. The last wine in the tasting was the Ridge flagship wine and the one entered in the Paris competition, the Monte Bello. We sampled the 2014, a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. At $200 a bottle, it is out of our league, but what a treat to have it as part of the tasting!

Ridge vineyards Monte Bello wine tasting

The five wines we tasted: Chardonnay, Lytton Springs Zinfandel, Pagani Ranch Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, and the Monte Bello

There is something special in the terroir at Monte Bello. The high altitude brings a huge difference in temperatures. Night time temps drop dramatically at this altitude. The soil is limestone, adding a touch of minerality to the wines. And, what can we say about Cabernet old vines and the intensity of flavors they produce!

Another reason to love Ridge is the philosophy of the winery. The original owners, four Stanford engineers, purchased the old property and released their first vintage in 1962. They basically wanted to grow the grapes with as little harm to the environment as possible. Today, that philosophy is carried on by the new owners, a Japanese pharmaceutical company. The vineyards are dry-farmed and the vines are organically certified. Most of the staff is full time and some even live on the property. Now, that’s loyalty to your employees.

Ridge vineyards Dry farmed and organic vineyards

Dry farmed and organic vineyards

Additional Ridge Vineyards information

Escape Napa Valley and Sonoma

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No doubt that the Napa Valley and Sonoma County are numbers one and two in wine country tourism. It’s surprising how many from out of state think this is where all California wine is produced, but there are many other terrific wine regions to visit in California. These regions are less touristy and perhaps, more importantly, less expensive. Here are three regions that will take you to wonderful wine country. Think different and escape Napa Valley and Sonoma.

Mendocino’s Anderson Valley
This wine region is about a two-hour drive from San Francisco, heading north on Highway 101 and taking Highway 128 West to Boonville. In this excursion you will be able to experience two wine AVA’s (appellations), the Yorkville Highlands, and the Anderson Valley. In Yorkville we recommend Meyer Family Cellars and Yorkville Cellars. Meyer has a Bocce Court and Yorkville produces some very fun and offbeat wines. In the Anderson Valley you will find tasting rooms and wineries galore. This is the land of Pinot Noir and Alsatian-style wine. A couple of our favorite wineries are Navarro Vineyards and Handley, but there are many other excellent wineries along Highway 128 from Boonville to the town of Navarro. Anderson Valley Wine Trail

image of Breggo in the Anderson Valley

Breggo in the Anderson Valley

There are restaurants and lodging in the Anderson Valley, but they are somewhat limited. We recommend the Boonville Hotel or The Madrones. Many travelers like to explore the wineries in the Anderson Valley and then continue on another hour to Highway 1 and the quaint and romantic town of Mendocino. Whatever you decide, your experience in this Mendocino County wine region will be tranquil and relaxing. Lodging in Anderson Valley. Restaurants in Anderson Valley.

Sutter Creek and the Shenandoah Valley
This region is about a two-and-a-half hour ride from San Francisco. In our opinion, Sutter Creek is the very best little town in gold country. It’s a charming town and the gateway to the wonderful wineries 15 minutes away in the spectacular Shenandoah Valley. We like several wineries in the area, and we have divided the wineries into two distinct wine trails: The Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail and the Shenandoah School Road Wine Trail. We like the Hanford House Inn for lodging, but there also several other good places to lodge in Sutter Creek. The best restaurant in the area is Taste Restaurant in Plymouth, and there are several restaurants in Sutter Creek where you can find decent dining.

image of Shenandoah Valley

Shenandoah Valley

Santa Cruz Mountains
The Santa Cruz Mountains is a huge AVA stretching from Half Moon Bay in the north all the way to Watsonville in the South. It encompasses three counties: San Mateo, Santa Clara and Monterey. The Santa Cruz Mountain climate is ideal for growing the cool climate grapes, especially Pinot Noir. You can get a glimpse of this gigantic AVA with a visit to three very good wineries. Begin the trip at the Thomas Fogarty winery on Skyline Bvld (Highway 35) in Palo Alto. Thomas Fogarty wines are quite delicious and we love the Gerwurztraminer. The views are truly spectacular at Fogerty and on clear day you can see breathtaking views of the Bay Area.

image of View at Thomas Fogarty

View at Thomas Fogarty

Continue your journey on Highway 35 south about 20 miles and then a right turn onto Bear Creek Road. Among the beautiful Redwoods you will find the David Bruce Winery and Byington Winery. Byington is the ideal spot for a game of Bocce and a picnic lunch. At this juncture you have several options. You can head back the way you came or continue on Bear Creek Road past Highway 35 and it will eventually lead to Highway 17. Highway 17 will also take you to the city of Santa Cruz where you can explore more wineries and the Santa Cruz beach area.

Happy wine country travels!

Next article – Santa Barbara wine country here we come.

Santa Cruz Mountains wine country

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The Santa Cruz Mountains wine country is perhaps the most diverse of all the California wine appellations. This wine country stretches from Half Moon Bay in the north all the way to Watsonville in the South. It spans three counties: San Mateo, Santa Clara and Monterey. Visiting the Santa Cruz Mountains wine country is fun, interesting and adventurous. It will take you from breathtaking mountain tops to vineyards at the edge of the Pacific Ocean. Here is an overnight trip that we took last week. We began at the La Nebbia Winery in Half Moon Bay and traveled to the area of Corralitos, high on a Santa Cruz Mountain top, to visit the Windy Oaks Winery. The distance from one to the other is 70 miles, all in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA.

Day One Adventures: The Highway 1 Santa Cruz Mountains Wine Country Trail

Our first stop was at La Nebbia Winery on Highway 92, a stone’s throw from the Pacific Ocean, and very close to the main drag in Half Moon Bay. La Nebbia is one of the few wineries that offer “bottle your own” events throughout the year. They also have a Bocce Court for your enjoyment. Check the La Nebbia Website for the remaining seven Saturdays for “Bottle and Cork Day.”

The town of Half Moon Bay is a nice stop for lunch or a quick look at some boutique shops. If you go, don’t miss the Half Moon Bay Wine and Cheese Shop, 421 Main Street. We like It’s Italia for lunch on the corner of Main and Mill Streets.

We then headed south on Highway 1. There are many beautiful and scenic beaches along the way and two tiny towns where you can stop for lunch. In Pescadero, there is the historic Duarte’s Tavern. It is a popular spot for lunch and dinner and a nice place to tack onto a trip. The tiny town of Davenport has two cafes where you can get a satisfying meal while enjoying a view of the Pacific Ocean.

Along HWY 1 Pigeon Pt. Lighthouse

Along HWY 1 Pigeon Pt. Lighthouse

Beauregard Vineyards
This was our second winery stop. About 1.5 miles south of Davenport, take a left turn and drive up Bonny Doon Road for almost 4 miles. The Beauregard tasting room will be on your right at Pine Flat Road. The Beauregard Family has been growing grapes since 1949 and recently began making their own label of wines. We liked the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines that we tasted. They are pricey but well made and delicious. There is a nice picnic area situated among the Redwoods and overlooking their vineyards. It is a very inviting spot.

Surf City Vintners
Next we headed back to Highway 1 from Beauregard and turned south and drove into Santa Cruz to the Swift Street Courtyard. Here is a cool warehouse area with several tasting rooms anchored by the famed Bonny Doon Winery. Bonny Doon has a spectacular tasting room and restaurant. The wineries in this location call themselves the Surf City Vintners. One can spend an entire day wine tasting in this location. Check this page for a complete list of wineries located in the Swift Street Courtyard.

Surf city vintners image

Surf City Vintners

We stayed overnight in Santa Cruz at the Paradox Hotel on Ocean Avenue and ate dinner in their fine Solaire Restaurant.

Day Two Adventures: Corralitos Wine Trail

We decided to head south of Santa Cruz and take in two wineries that we had heard rave reviews about. You need a good map or GPS system; otherwise expect to get lost. That’s not a bad thing because the countryside is so pretty. You are in and out of the Redwoods on this trip. Watch out for cyclists; there are plenty of them on these windy roads.

Windy Oaks Estate Winery
It’s all about Chardonnay and Pinot Noir at Windy Oaks Estate Winery, plus the views are incredible. From the very top of the vineyards facing west one can see the entire Monterey Bay area. If you visit this winery, be sure to take a picnic lunch with you and head up to the top of the vineyards. There are not too many places like this in wine country anywhere. We tasted through a series of six different Pinot Noir wines. They were all quite outstanding. These Pinot Noir wines reflect the terroir of the southern Santa Cruz Mountains. These Pinot Noir wines are Burgundian in character and moderate and fruity in style.

Windy oaks winery pinot noir

Windy Oaks Pinot Noir lineup

Alfaro Family Vineyards and Winery
Alfaro winery ended up being our favorite winery on this trip for several reasons. Number one, the tasting room staff was friendly and cordial. They served cheese and fruit along with crunchy crackers. The wines were all delicious and well made and priced reasonably. The owner and winemaker Richard Alfaro was in the tasting room and was delighted that he could pour wine and talk to the visitors. There was nothing pretentious or snobby about this tasting room. The vines are farmed organically and the vineyard views are very pretty. This is another nice spot for a picnic lunch. Put this winery on your radar. It is a winner in our estimation. Alfaro Winery is in the town of Soquel, just south of Santa Cruz.

image of Richard Alfaro

Winemaker Richard Alfaro

Santa Cruz Mountains Wine Country Map – Trip Route


View Santa Cruz Mt Wine Trip in a larger map

Bonny Doon — A Very Cool Tasting Room

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The last time I visited the Boony Doon tasting room, the location was on Pine Road in the tiny town of Bonny Doon, near Santa Cruz. Last November the winery moved its tasting room next to its wine production center on Ingalls Street, in the Swift Street Courtyard complex in Santa Cruz. What a difference! From funky, crazy, and very casual, to a more formal, elaborate, and upscale atmosphere. The tasting room is very fancy and well-appointed. It is one of the better interior-designed tasting rooms we have seen in our wine travels. Very chic, a happening spot, and trendy in a sense. Something remaining that is very much off-beat are the names given to their wines and the unique labels for the wines.

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Wine Traveler in Santa Cruz — Swift Street Courtyard

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When I think of Santa Cruz wine country, the first thing that comes to mind are the beautiful backroads of the Santa Cruz Mountains lined with stunning Redwood trees. I think of wineries like Thomas Fogarty, David Bruce, Byington, and Ahlgren. These are small wineries tucked away in the Santa Cruz Mountains with vineyards hidden among the Redwoods. Visiting wineries in these mountains is fun, exciting, and most of all adventurous. Now if you are a little leery of tackling the curvy roads of these mountain roads but still want to get a taste of the Santa Cruz Mountain wines, then head straight to the city of Santa Cruz and Highway 1.

Just a little north of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a very cool and trendy warehouse area called the Swift Street Courtyard. Here you can taste wines sourced from Santa Cruz AVA at these tasting rooms: Bonny Doon, Vino Tabi Winery, Sones Cellars, Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyards, and Pelican Ranch Winery. Bonny Doon is the biggest winery at this location and they are open seven days a week. Bonny Doon has been making wine here since the early 1990’s and just recently opened this very beautiful and tastefully designed tasting room and café. The other tasting rooms are from much smaller wineries and for the most part they are open only on Saturday and Sunday.

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CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY REGIONS:

Carneros • Livermore • Lodi • Mendocino • Monterey • Napa Valley • Paso Robles • Santa Barbara County • Santa Cruz Mts. • Sierra Foothills • Russian River • Sonoma Valley

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