By Eleanor Raab
Jan. 16, 2024—When we think of wineries near the Bay Area, Napa and Sonoma tend to dominate the conversation. But did you know that there are wineries producing world-class wine in the Santa Cruz Mountains? You can find elegant pinot noir, bright chardonnay, refined cabernet sauvignon, and many more grape varieties, all produced by small, family owned wineries in the mountains overlooking the San Francisco Bay and Pacific Ocean.
The Santa Cruz Mountains American Viticultural Area (AVA) is found in the mountain range that shares its name. An AVA is a specific, legally-designated, grape-growing region in the United States that is separated from other areas by distinctive geographical, cultural, or climatic features. When the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA was established in 1981, it was the first AVA in the United States to be defined solely by its mountain topography.
The AVA encompasses three counties, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz, and extends from Highway 152 in the south to Highway 92 in the north. On the western slopes of the mountains, grapes can be planted down to 400 feet in elevation, while on the eastern slopes, grapes must be planted above 800 feet in elevation to qualify for inclusion in the AVA. Although the AVA is one of the largest in geographic area, encompassing around 350,000 acres, it is one of the smallest in total wine production, as only 1,500 acres are planted with grape vines.
Winemaking in the region dates back to the early 1800s, when Franciscan and later Jesuit missionaries settled in the area and planted grapes in order to produce sacramental wine. By the 1880s the region had developed a reputation for producing fine wine, as wines from the Santa Cruz Mountains won awards internationally. Prohibition had a huge impact on the wine business in the Santa Cruz Mountains, though some wineries survived by producing medicinal and sacramental wines. Winemaking returned in force to the region in the 1960s and 1970s with the opening of now famous wineries such as Ridge Vineyards and Mount Eden.
Today there are over 80 wineries in the Santa Cruz Mountains, many of which are only a short drive from Santa Cruz, San Jose or San Francisco. Most of the producers in the region are small-scale operations that focus on sustainability and biodiversity. You can find a list of wineries in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA through the Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains website.
From the 1800s to the present, winemakers in the Santa Cruz Mountains have benefitted from the diverse mountain geology and microclimates. Several fault lines, including the San Andreas Fault, run through the mountain range, resulting in significant variation in soil types throughout the AVA. Vineyards on western slopes face bracing winds and cooler air coming off the Pacific Ocean, while the eastern-facing vineyards are more sheltered from the fog and wind and are therefore much warmer. With such varied terroir, winemakers are able to successfully grow dozens of different grape varieties, although pinot noir, chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon still make up the bulk of grapes grown in the region.
The Santa Cruz Mountains AVA continues to grow, with many new winemakers flocking to the area to take advantage of the amazing variation in soil and climate. But for now, the region is still a well-kept secret for local wine-lovers to take advantage of.
The next Santa Cruz Mountains Wine Passport Celebration Day is this Saturday, January 20. The passport provides access to over 35 participating wineries with unique tasting and experiences in the mountains throughout the year.
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