Wine Tour of Santa Cruz Vineyards

Back in August (2011), I was able to stopover in San Francisco for a few days while headed to my parents' home in Kentucky,  my younger son who is living in Santa Clara County (Silicon Valley) and I spent a day touring the mountains on the way to Santa Cruz.  At first, I had located several wineries and vineyards along the route or fairly near that I was hoping we could stop and view or hopefully taste the wines.

As it turned out, we were in for a very nice surprises.
We had not realized that the David Bruce Winery was on that very same road.

 Months previously on one of his trips back to Tokyo, my son has brought me a bottle of David Bruce  Pinot Noir. It was actually kind of a joke since my name is very similar to the winemaker. At the time he presented it to me, he held up the bottle so that his thumb covered part of the last name and remarked, "Dad, I've had a pinot noir bottled under your own name."   What! was my initial reaction until I soon realized the joke was on me.    Several months later, just before I left to visit the US,  I opened that bottle and found it to be a great pinot noir and I told him about it later.  

But on that day that we started on a drive to Santa Cruz, neither of us knew we were soon going to enjoying tastes of some truly great wines, particularly David Bruce's Pinot Noirs.

The list below shows the various wineries and vineyards in the vicinity of Boulder Creek, CA, part of the San Lorenzo Valley (a watershed district) and also vacation resort (second home) community.

The info was organized with links to Google Maps so that you can take follow in an iPhone or other smartphone. However, it turned out that there is often NO CELLPHONE signal in some parts of the Santa Cruz Mountains.  So please be advised.  A paper map of the area (or printed at home prior to traveling) would be just as useful or more so.

David Bruce Winery 

21439 Bear Creek Rd, Los Gatos, CA 95033-9429(408) 354-4214 ‎
Open 12:00-16:00 DailyFree wine tastingdavidbrucewinery.com
I picked up 6 bottles of wine (mostly the Pinot Noirs produced by David Bruce, plus an amazing Saignee Pinot Noir Rose, and his own 2002 Shyrah.  Among the wines offered at the free wine tasting was his estate bottled 2001Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir, which most would note is far older than a pinot noir can endure. However, it is absolute exquisite!  I am saving it (at least a little while) for a really special occasion. 
I heartily recommend a trip into this area southwest of Silicon Valley. David Bruce's wine tasting showroom has a brand new sommelier who has added a wealth of expertise to his already excellent staff. You'll get a chance to taste 6-8 bottles, some of which can only be sampled at the winery itself since they are not distributed in the public marketplace. 
After visiting David Bruce Winery (or perhaps afterward), I recommend the 20 minute drive to the quaint little old gold mining town of Boulder Creek.  There are also some really delightful state and county parks throughout the area where you can take either a short hike or enjoy a picnic among the redwoods. 
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Winery & Vineyard Tour (continued -- many of these are not open on a daily basis, please inquire ahead of time to be sure.)


Step 0 Ahlgren Vineyard (open on Saturdays Noon to 4pm)

Web site
OPEN SATURDAYS
WINE TASTING AND SALES
12:00 TO 4:00 P.M.
20320 HIGHWAY NINE

14 miles West of Saratoga;

7 miles North of Boulder Creek
tel: 1.800.338.6071 or (831) 338 - 6071




Step 1  185 Cliff View, Boulder Creek, CA 95006

Step 1a

Alternate Map Ahlgren Vineyard to 185 Cliff View, Boulder Creek

Step 2

From 185 Cliff View to 10-acre Parcel of Land on Hopkins Gulch Rd

Map Link 2


P & M Staiger Vineyard
1300 Hopkins Gulch Rd, Boulder Creek, CA 95006

Phone:(831) 338-0172
URL:http://www.pmstaiger.com/

No info about visits, tours or sales

Cross Streets: Bear Creek Rd & Hopkins Gulch Rd

Map Link from 185 Cliff View to P & M Staiger Vineyard

Other Places to possible visit:

See list of vineyards / wineries in Santa Cruz County

http://www.hwy9.com/Directory/Category/wineries.aspx

Art & Wine Gardens

(no website)
13090 Pine St, Boulder Creek, CA 95006

Map Link from 37 Hopkins Gulch

Clos Tita Winery (Scotts Valley)

No website Tel (831) 439-9235

Map Link Boulder Creek to Scotts Valley

Hallcrest Vineyards

Open Daily from 12 - 5pm
Tasting Fee: $7

379 Felton Empire Rd, Felton, CA 95018

Phone:(831) 335-4441
Fax:(831) 335-4450
URL: http://www.hallcrestvineyards.com

Cross Streets:Felton Empire Rd & Ashley St

Directions link on their website

Map Link from Boulder to Hallcrest Vineyards

Zayante Vineyards also in Felton, CA

420 Old Mount Rd, Felton, CA 95018

Except for our scheduled events, Zayante Vineyard is open by appointment only.
Call or email us to schedule an appointment.


For updated information on wine events in the Santa Cruz Mountains, look at the Santa Cruz Mountain Wine Growers Association's website at: http://www.scmwa.com

Tour Dates in the Passport Program
DATE: January 15, 2011
April 16, 2011
July 16, 2011
November 19 & 20, 2011

Phone:(831) 335-7992
URL: ttp://www.zayantevineyards.com/

Cross Streets:Zayante Rd E & Eagle Tree Ln

Map Link from Boulder Creek to Zayante Vineyards 14 miles

Directions from Hallcrest (below) to Zayante (8 miles back up north)

Map link


Link from Hallcrest Vineyards to Clos Tita Vineyards (Scotts Valley)

Google Map Link


Roudon-Smith Vineyards also in Scotts Valley

2364 Bean Creek Rd, Scotts Valley, CA 95066

Phone:(831) 438-1244
Fax:(831) 438-5123
URL:n/a

Cross Streets:Bean Creek Rd & Mac Kenzie Creek Rd


Map Link from Hallcreek to Roudon-Smith Vineyards

Map Link from Clos Tita to Roudon-Smith