If California isn’t known for its sunny weather and outstanding beaches, then it’s known for its delicious wine.
And Santa Cruz is no exception.
The city is littered with top-rated wineries and vineyards that produce some of the best wines in the country.
The cool coastal weather and the high elevation make Santa Cruz the perfect place to grow grapes.
If you’re looking for something to do, go wine tasting with some friends! Here are the five best Santa Cruz wineries to visit this winter:
Soquel Vineyards
Though Soquel Vineyards isn’t located directly in the city, it’s certainly worth the drive into the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Once there, you’ll be amazed by the beautiful view of the ocean peaking between the vineyards. If you’re lucky, you can sometimes spot deer meandering around the grape vines.
Soquel Vineyards is nationally recognized for their phenomenal wines. Their pinot noirs and chardonnays have won several awards over the years for their unique tastes and tannins.
This vineyard is open on Saturdays and Sundays, offering intimate wine tastings. Their staff is extremely knowledgeable, so they’ll be able to answer any of your questions.
You definitely don’t want to miss Soquel Vineyards!
Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard
Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard is one of the best wineries and tasting rooms in all of Santa Cruz.
Located in the westside of the city, this winery is in a convenient location. They have a cozy tasting room that makes for a personalized wine tasting experience.
They’ve been in the business since 1976, specializing in pinot noirs. Their label, Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard, has received tons of praise for its fantastic flavor.
Their second label, Quinta Cruz, focuses on Spanish and Portuguese-style wines. These wines are known to have a spicy sweet flavor that make them unique from anything else you’ve ever tried.
All wine tasters have raved about Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard wines, so be sure to put this on your list of things to do.
MJA Vineyard
MJA Vineyard is one of the most popular wineries in the city. They have two locations: Summit Tasting Room & Vineyards and Westside Tasting Room & Cellar.
Summit Tasting Room is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains, giving you an unbeatable view of the ocean beyond the vineyards.
This winery is known for their cabernets, which have been named the best in the country. Though, they boast other outstanding wines, like chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, dessert wine, and bordeaux blends.
MJA Vineyards is a family owned winery that has a rich history that stretches all the way back to Croatia. This history has influenced the way they make their wines today.
Birichino
No matter who you talk to about wineries in Santa Cruz, Birichino will always come up. This winery is well known in the city for having a terrific wine tasting experience.
With five star ratings across the board, expect only the best when you come to Birichino. Not only are their wines fantastic, but their location is unlike any other in the city.
They have a luxuriously cozy tasting room that incorporates comfortable furniture and art pieces on the walls.
Enjoy sipping on their chenin blancs and pinot noirs while hearing about the history of their vineyards in Santa Cruz.
Stockwell Cellars
As one of the newest westside wineries, Stockwell Cellars has had to make a name for themselves.
And boy have they ever.
This winery creates Old World style wines with New World technology. Every single ingredient they use is from sourced from the area, like native yeasts and grapes harvested from Santa Cruz Mountain vineyards.
Their tasting room is like a cathedral with tall, vaulted ceilings. They have trendy interiors that give the space a sense of elegance, which makes your wine tasting experience all that much better.
Be sure to try their pinot gris and pinot grigio ramato. You will not be disappointed!
Learn more about Santa Cruz by visiting the community page. Want to buy a home in Santa Cruz? Contact Lauren Spencer today!
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