Santa Cruz Mountains Wineries and Tasting Rooms

Areas in Santa Cruz Mountains

• Santa Cruz and the coast side

  Urban tasting rooms and local breweries in the city of Santa Cruz, with more wineries in nearby Soquel and Aptos.

  25+ places in Cruv

• Saratoga, Los Gatos and Cupertino

  The region's Santa Clara County side, with wineries and tasting rooms in and around these three towns.

  25+ places in Cruv

• Corralitos and Watsonville

  Small wineries in rural Corralitos, where tastings tend to be personal.

  10+ places in Cruv

Also in Santa Cruz Mountains: Ben Lomond Mountain and the San Lorenzo Valley, Skyline and Woodside.

Know before you go

Reservations

Expect small, family-owned wineries with varied hours; some pour by appointment, so book those ahead.

Tasting fees

Ask about the tasting fee when you book or arrive; some wineries waive it with a wine purchase.

Getting there

Wineries start minutes from San Jose, and the region is about an hour south of San Francisco. It's broad, so focus each day on one area.

Best time to visit

Santa Cruz County's climate is mild, and most rain falls November through April. Summer brings occasional coastal fog; much of the wine region sits above it.

Getting around

Plan a designated driver, a rideshare or a tour. The small towns below the vineyards have tasting rooms, dining and lodging, so you can make one your base.

The winegrowers' calendar includes wine walks, winemaker dinners and special tasting days, and individual wineries add their own events.

Nearby wine regions

• Santa Clara Valley

  Winemaking here dates to the Spanish missions, and today's wineries cluster around Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy, south of San Jose.

  35+ places in Cruv · 30+ upcoming events

• Monterey County

  Walk between small tasting rooms in Carmel-by-the-Sea, then head inland: Carmel Valley for Cabernet Sauvignon, River Road for Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir.

  35+ places in Cruv · 9 upcoming events

• San Francisco Bay

  Urban wineries make wine in Berkeley and Oakland, with more tasting rooms in Contra Costa, on the Peninsula and along the coast.

  45+ places in Cruv · 55+ upcoming events

• Livermore Valley

  Livermore Valley, about 35 miles east of San Francisco, is one of California's oldest wine regions, and the winemaker may be the one pouring.

  40+ places in Cruv · 35+ upcoming events