| Santa Cruz Mountains |
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Wineries |
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The first grape vines in California were planted in the gardens of the missions throughout California, although only six of the 21 missions were successful in producing wine. Grapes were planted around the mission in Santa Cruz, in 1804, around the area known today as Harvey West Park. These were "Mission Grapes", bearly palitable.
John Burns planted the first commercial vines in Santa Cruz County in 1853 on land he called Ben Lomond (Mount Lomond), at the same time brothers, John and George Jarvis planted a vineyard they called Vine Hill. Redwood lumber, 18 million board feet of it was logged from the mountains between 1850 and 1880, leaving large areas of cleared land. |
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Silver Mountain Chardonnay |
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The warm days and cool nights, with the infiltration of the coastal fog, was found to be the perfect growing environment to create intense, concentrated flavors in the fruit. Dry farming was preferred, producing intensely concentrated fruit, yielding a high alcohol content. The warm coastal breezes allowed for a longer fruit hang time and honored the integrity of the fruit, allowing for softer skins and tannins that released easily into the wine and permitted a long growing season. The miro-climates allowed for a variety of high quality grapes to be grown in one area. By the mid 1880’s, 17,000 board feet of vineyards were producing grapes in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Business was brisk until a parasite, phylloxera, attacked the vineyards in 1894, killing many of the plants. Then the earthquake came, damaging the train tunnel through the mountains, which in turn hindered the wineries ability to ship their product. |
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The industry was just recovering by 1919 when Congress passed the 18th Amendment beginning the era of prohibition. The vineyards were replaced with orchards and the mountain community produced prunes, apples and pears until the orchards were abandoned and the land was subdivided and sold as home sites, becoming a bedroom community of Silicon Valley.
After prohibition came to an end, wineries slowing began to come back. and since the 1970’s home vineyards have been popping up everywhere on the mountain. Many are pet projects, bottling for private use or selling their grapes to the larger wineries that now dot the landscape. 90% of the wine consumed in the United States comes from California. |
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Regale Winery and Vineyards |
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In 1976, David Bruce was recognized in Paris for his Pinot Noir and the eyes of the world looked towards the Santa Cruz Mountains. Then in 1981, the Santa Cruz Mountains Viticultural Appellation became federally recognized, this was one of the first American viticulture areas to be defined by geophysical and climatic factors. It extends from Half Moon Bay to the north and Mt. Madonna to the south, encompassing the Los Gatos-Santa Cruz Mountains. The east and west boundaries of the appellation are defined by elevation, extending down to 800 feet to the east and 400 feet to the west. |
David Bruce |
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Today, many acres of vineyards are producing wine every year in the Santa Cruz Mountains Viticultural Appellation, with new vineyards being planted and old vineyards being expanded continually. Chardonnay is the most prevalent grape grown, with our revered Pinot Noir coming in second. The rest is sprinkled with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel, Syrah/Shiraz, Viognier, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Pinot Blanc, and Petite Sirah. Considered one of the premier wine growing regions in the world with 87 wineries, our concentrated, complex varietals are of the highest quality. Our area of the Santa Cruz Mountains Viticultural Appellation includes nine wineries with several more close by. |
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Some of the vineyards are not open to the public, some are only open on special event days, some offer wine tasting from 11am to 5pm, on weekends and a few are also open daily from 12pm to 5pm.
The Vintner’s Festival is the first two weekends in June and Passport Days are the 3rd Saturday of January, April, July, and November, to allow visitors to view the vineyards at every season in the growing cycle. Special events, open houses, and winemakers dinners take place throughout the year. |
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Black Ridge Vineyards |
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Passport Days
January 16, April 17
July 17, November 20 |
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7th Annual Wine and Crab Taste-Off
January 17 |
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Winemakers Wednesdays
at Shadowbrook Restaurant, Capitola
Through May 18 |
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Ultimate Winemakers Dinner
at Shadowbrook Restaurant, Capitola
February 23 |
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Pinot Pathways &
Pinot Paradise
March 27-28
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Santa Cruz Mountains
Wine Railway and Auction
May 23 |
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Vintner’s Festival
June 5-6, June 12-13 |
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Nonno’s in Redwood Estates
Wine & Cheese Tasting
Saturdays 3-7PM
Broadway in Redwood Estates |
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Italian Wine and Cheese Club
Wednesdays,
6-8 pm
230 Mount Hermon Road
Scotts Valley, Ca. (Behind Nob Hill) |
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