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Central Coast Wine Tasting at Santa Cruz Wineries
Are you ready to plan a California Wine Tour to experience Central Coast wine tasting at Santa Cruz wineries? Located close to the Pacific Ocean, Santa Cruz enjoys a cool growing season. Foggy summer days means that grapes ripen in cooler temperatures. This allows the grapes to remain on the vines longer. Some vineyards harvest their grapes as late as October. The longer growing season results in grapes with more complexity and allows for the production of distinctive wines.
Most of the wineries in Santa Cruz are small, family-owned facilities. They are focused on creating the finest wines possible rather than on quantity. Wine tasting at Santa Cruz wineries costs between $3-$10 per taster. The practice of sharing a glass as a couple is widely accepted. Central Coast wine tasting means fine wines, ocean views, and friendly tasting rooms. Choose from wineries located in the beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains or from city sites.
Turn your Central Coast wine tasting experience into a fabulous Wine Country Vacation by staying at Seascape Resort. This is a beautiful place to stay with stunning ocean views. Rated 4 diamonds by AAA,
Seascape Resort
is recognized for its beautiful facilities, numerous amenities, and friendly service.
Looking for a romantic restaurant?
Shadowbrook Restaurant
has won numerous awards for "Most Romantic Restaurant". It's beautiful setting along a creek just 4 miles south of Santa Cruz along with its fabulous ambiance has earned Shadowbrook a well earned reputation for romance.
Santa Cruz Wineries
Map of Santa Cruz Wineries
Ahlgren Vineyard
20320 Hwy. 9, Boulder Creek, CA 95006
(831) 338-6071
Open Saturdays for Central Coast wine tasting Noon � 4 PM
Alexander Cellars/Sarticious Spirits
427 A Swift St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 471-9090
Open Fri.-Sun. Noon � 5 PM for Central Coast wine tasting
This is a small winery and distillery.
Bargetto Winery
3535 Soquel, CA 95073
(831)475-2258
This Central Coast wine tasting room is in a lovely setting overlooking Soquel Creek. Bargetto Winery specializes in Italian varietals and dessert wines. They have a second wine tasting room on Cannery Row in Monterey.
Beauregard Vineyards
558 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 458-9463
This small Santa Cruz winery has a wonderful location to experience wine tasting. It is located on the second story of a building on the Santa Cruz Wharf. The views of the wharf, Boardwalk, beach, ocean are all yours to enjoy as you taste the wines of Beauregard Vineyards. We loved all their wines especially the Zinfandel, which is spicy and jammy with 17.5% alcohol.
Bonny Doon Vineyard
10 Pine Flat Rd., Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 425-4518
Open daily for Central Coast wine tasting 11 AM � 5 PM
Bonny Doon is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains.....most easily accessible by taking Bonny Doon Rd. from Hwy. 1 between Davenport and Santa Cruz. The tasting room reminds us of a mountain lodge. It's a large tasting room and gift shop. They have many wines to taste including a large number that are only available at the tasting room. Two that we especially enjoyed that you can only get at the tasting room were the 2004 Sauvignon Blanc and the 2004 Barbera d'Asti. If you like dessert wines, they have a good selection....including the Framboise "Infusion of Raspberry", which won a Gold Medal at the SF Chronicle Tasting and is a bargain at only $12.00.
Burrell School Vineyards
24060 Summit Rd., Los Gatos, CA 95033
(408) 353-6290
Open Weekends for Central Coast wine tasting 11 AM � 5 PM
This Santa Cruz winery is located at the historic 1890 Burrell School House.
Byington Winery & Vineyard
21850 Bear Creek Rd., Los Gatos, CA 95033
(408) 354-1111
Open daily for Central Coast wine tasting 11 AM � 5 PM
Bylington has a fantastic Grand Chateau wine tasting room and beautiful grounds. On clear days you can see the Pacific Ocean in the background. They have a picnic area and bocce ball to experience as well.
Cooper-Garrod Vineyards
22645 Garrod Rd., Saratoga, CA 95070
(408) 867-7116
Open Weekends for Central Coast wine tasting 11 AM � 5 PM; Weekdays Noon � 5 PM
This Santa Cruz winery was established in 1972.
David Bruce Winery
21439 Bear Creek Rd., Los Gatos, CA 95033
(408) 395-5478
Open Weekends for Central Coast wine tasting 11 AM � 5 PM; Weekdays Noon � 5 PM
David Bruce Winery makes great Pinot Noir in addition to other fine wines. The tasting room is nice and the staff is extremely friendly. The gentleman helping us went into a backroom and printed us maps to several Santa Cruz wineries we were visiting later in the day.
Glenwood Oaks Winery
2364 Bean Creek Rd., Scotts Valley, CA 95066
(831) 461-0668
Open Saturdays for Central Coast wine tasting 11 AM � 4:30 PM
Hallcrest Vineyards
379 Felton Empire Rd., Felton, CA 95018
(831) 335-4441
Open daily for Central Coast wine tasting Noon � 5 PM
Hallcrest Vineyards has a large variety of wines to taste.
Hunter Hill Vineyard & Winery
7099 Glen Haven Rd., Soquel, CA 95073
(831) 465-9294
Open Saturdays 11 AM � 3 PM
Obester Wine Works
12341 San Mateo Rd., Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
(650) 726-9463
Open daily 10 AM � 5 PM
Organic Wine Works
379 Felton Empire Rd., Felton, CA 95018
(800) OWW-WINE
Open daily Noon � 5 PM
Their wines are organically grown and processed.
Pelican Ranch Winery
402 Ingalls St., Santa Cruz, CA 950060
(831) 426-6911
Open daily 11 AM � 5 PM
This is a small winery owned by a professor at UC Santa Cruz. The tasting room is located in downtown Santa Cruz. Our favorites are the Pinot Noir from Santa Rita Hills. It had lots of berry flavors, very well balanced. Yummy! We also enjoyed the red wine blend called Spectrum Rouge. It is unusual because it includes 14% Chardonnay along with 43% Zinfandel and 43% Syrah.
Picchetti Winery
13100 Montebello Rd., Cuppertino, CA 95014
(408) 741-1310
Open daily 11 AM � 5 PM
Pinder Winery
165 Cristich Ln., Campbell, CA 95008
(877) 684-2601
Open Saturdays 10 AM � 3 PM
Pinder is a small, family owned winery.
Ridge Vineyards
17100 Montevello Rd., Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 867-3233
Open Weekends 11 AM � 4 PM
Roudon-Smith Winery
2364 Bean Creek Rd., Scotts Valley, CA 95066
(831) 438-1244
Open Saturdays 11 AM � 4:30 PM
Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards
23600 Congress Springs Rd., Saratoga, CA 95070
(408) 741-2934
Open daily 11 AM � 5 PM
This small family owned and operated winery specializes in Pinot Noir but also produces Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Chardonnay.
Soquel Vineyards
8063 Glen Haven Rd., Soquel, CA 95073
(831) 462-9045
Open Saturdays 11 AM � 4 PM
This Santa Cruz winery specializes in Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.
Storrs Winery
303 Potrero St., No. 35, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 458-5030
Open daily Noon � 5 PM
We loved all their wines. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable
Testarossa Vineyards
300-A College Ave., Los Gatos, CA 95030
(408) 354-6150
Open daily 11 AM - 5 PM
This Santa Cruz winery has its tasting room in the historic Novitiate Winery originally built in 1888. You enter through a long narrow stone room known as the "cave". It's a popular site for weddings. We found all the wines at this winery were good.
Thomas Fogarty Winery & Vineyards
19501 Skyline Blvd., Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-6777
Open Thurs.-Sun. 11 AM � 5 PM
This Santa Cruz winery specializes in Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Gewurztraminer.
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Central Coast wine tasting, Santa Cruz wineries

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