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Orca Travel Collection

Central California

Santa Cruz Mountains & Coast

A curated guide to redwood & coastal wineries

43 featured wineries · 12-page PDF guide

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Redwoods, surf and mountain wine

On the ocean side of the Santa Cruz Mountains, redwood-shaded roads lead to small wineries in the hills above Santa Cruz, Soquel, Aptos and Corralitos. In town, tasting rooms add wine to Santa Cruz's surf culture and boardwalk charm.

The Pacific's influence keeps many vineyards cool, ideal for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, while sunnier ridges ripen Cabernet Sauvignon and other reds. Producers are often small and personal.

At a glance

Signature wines
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, plus ridge-grown Cabernet Sauvignon
Getting there
Highway 17 from San Jose, or Highway 1 along the coast
When to go
Late summer and autumn often bring the sunniest weather
Plan ahead
Mountain wineries often have limited hours or are by appointment

The 43 featured wineries

  • Alfaro Family Vineyards & WineryCorralitos
  • Anatum WineryWatsonville
  • Bargetto WinerySoquel
  • Beauregard VineyardsSanta Cruz
  • Big Basin VineyardsSanta Cruz
  • Big Basin VineyardsBoulder Creek
  • BirichinoSanta Cruz
  • Bottle Jack WinesSanta Cruz
  • Burrell School VineyardsLos Gatos
  • Charmant VineyardsAptos
  • David Bruce WineryLos Gatos
  • Devincenzi CellarsLos Gatos
  • El Vaquero WineryCorralitos
  • Ferrari Ranch WinesCorralitos
  • Kissed by An Angel WinesScotts Valley
  • Kissed by an Angel WinesSanta Cruz
  • La Vida Bella VineyardAptos
  • Loma Prieta WineryLos Gatos
  • Madson WinesSanta Cruz
  • Margins WineSanta Cruz
  • Mja VineyardsSanta Cruz
  • Nicholson Vineyards WineryAptos
  • Overshine Wine CoCapitola
  • Pelican Ranch WineryScotts Valley
  • Regale Winery and VineyardsLos Gatos
  • Regan Vineyards & WineryCorralitos
  • Rexford WineryCapitola
  • Rexford WinerySanta Cruz
  • Roberts Ranch VineyardsBen Lomond
  • Rosscienda VineyardAptos
  • Samuel Louis WinesSanta Cruz
  • Santa Cruz Mountain VineyardSanta Cruz
  • Sante Arcangeli Family WinesAptos
  • Serventi RanchWatsonville
  • Sones CellarsSanta Cruz
  • Soquel VineyardsSoquel
  • Stirm Wine CompanyWatsonville
  • Stockwell CellarsSanta Cruz
  • Storrs WineryAptos
  • Storrs WinerySanta Cruz
  • Twelve Stones WineryLos Gatos
  • Wargin WinesSoquel
  • Windy Oaks EstatesCorralitos

Full details for each winery are in the free PDF guide.

Data: California ABC & TTB public records

Download the free PDF guide

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