A trip to Santa Cruz, California, wouldn’t be complete without visiting some of the wineries and vineyards in the area. To help you decide on which places you should visit and wine tours you can enjoy, here is a list of the top 12 best wineries in Santa Cruz, CA.
Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard
$$ | 831-426-6209 | WEBSITE
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First, on our list is the Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard located at Ingalls Street. This mountain vineyard is open daily from 12 pm onwards, and they highly recommend weekend reservations.
Wine tasting is available at their outdoor spot; the last call is at 4:30 pm. If you’re planning to visit here, ensure that your group’s maximum count is not more than six.
They offer pick-ups and delivery in over 39 states, making purchasing wine from them much more accessible. Make sure to check out their menu because the shipped wines are different from the ones sold at their location.
MJA Vineyards — Westside Tasting Room & Cellar
$$ | 831-421-9380 | WEBSITE
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Instilled with the spirit of aloha, MJA Vineyards is a place you would surely want to visit in Santa Cruz. Also located at Ingalls Street, this vineyard is known to produce wines and coffee that are considered top-notch.
They are famous for their Napa Cabernets, one of the best in the country. Other wines offered here are Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Bordeaux blends, and Chardonnay, to name a few.
Their location is open daily from 12 noon onwards for those interested in spending their time here. You could also book their tasting rooms to celebrate special occasions.
Bottle Jack Winery
$$ | 831-421-9380 | WEBSITE
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Included in the “Santa Cruz’s Top 8 Wineries to Visit” list, you should never miss out on the opportunity to visit Bottle Jack Winery. You can visit their Vineyards on La Madrona Drive or their Wine Tasting Room at Ingalls Street. Reservations are necessary, so don’t forget to contact them before your visit.
This winery is run by a small family determined to produce the best wines they can offer. Some of the wines in their shop that you must try to include the 2018 Zinfandel Santa Cruz Mountains, 2020 Viognier, and 2021 Rosé of Sangiovese.
Silver Mountain Vineyards
$$ | 408-353-2278 | WEBSITE
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Have you ever tried visiting two wine tasting rooms in a single trip? Now you can, with Silver Mountain Vineyards. Their tasting room at Ingalls Street hosts wines from Silver Mountain Vineyards and Bottle Jack Winery, two of the best wineries in Santa Cruz, California.
This winery offers the broadest range of wine varieties in the area, which is award-winning. Some of their offerings include Estate Chardonnays, Bold Cabernets, Beautiful Rosés, Pinot Noirs, and Bordeaux Blends.
This winery is available on weekends from 12 to 5 pm. They offer limited indoor and outdoor seating on a first-come, first serve basis.
Rexford Winery
$$ | 831-426-1500 | WEBSITE
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The next winery on our list is the Rexford Winery, located along Ingalls Street. Their doors are open from 1 to 5 pm on weekends, with 4:15 pm as their final seating time. Wine production here is focused on premium wines such as Chardonnay, Dry Rosé, Pinot Noir, and Merlot.
If you want to try out their wines, they ship in areas near Santa Cruz, California, or you can pick them up at their location. Some of their best-selling wines are the 2019 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands, Escolle Vineyard, and the 2018 Chardonnay Escolle Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands.
Birichino Winery
$$ | 831-425-4811 | WEBSITE
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Established to find the perfect balance of poise, perfume, and puckishness, the 14-year-old Birichino Winery is an excellent location to add to your Santa Cruz winery visitations.
Their tasting room is right at the heart of Santa Cruz, California, ready to serve its customers from Thursdays to Sundays. You can book a tasting through their website if you want to enjoy their wines.
Aside from an easily accessible tasting room, Birichino Winery also offers a wide variety of wines, from Cabernets to Pinot Noirs. They also provide 6 bottle packs, a massive hit for their patrons, so check it out whenever you can.
Beauregard Vineyards
$$ | 831-425-7777 | WEBSITE
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Do you want to enjoy the beautiful scenery while sipping a glass of wine? Beauregard Vineyards has got you covered. Their 65 acres of land is located along the coastal Redwood community with sights that will take your breath away.
Their wine tasting room is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, but you will need a reservation to enter. They offer three different tasting experiences: the Redwood Bar Tasting, Club Member Tasting, and Seated Tasting.
Their wine production focuses on wine varieties such as Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Pinot Noirs, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Check out their website for more information.
Equinox
$$ | 831-471-8608 | WEBSITE
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If you’re a big fan of still and sparkling wines, we recommend you visit Equinox in Santa Cruz, California. They are dedicated to making high-quality, handcrafted Méthode Champenoise and providing their patrons with nothing but the best experience and customer service they can give.
They are open from Thursday to Monday. You can drop by their tasting room between 12 to 5 pm.
With over 30 years of experience in the wine-making industry, Equinox has produced some of the best sparklings and still wines in Santa Cruz, like the 2019 Santa Cruz Mountains Blanc de Noir.
Sones Cellars
$$ | 831-420-1552 | WEBSITE
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Get that local, urban feel with the next winery on our list. Situated along the long lines of wineries at Ingalls Street, Sones Cellars will give you that homey vibe that’ll make you feel warm throughout your visit with them.
They have an outdoor tasting area where you and your friends can enjoy impeccable wine paired with good food.
For about 20 years, this winery has mainly focused on producing varieties such as Zinfandel and Petite Sirah. Canción del mar, their signature white wine blend, has become a hit not only for locals but their patrons all over the United States.
Big Basin Vineyards
$$ | 831-515-7278 | WEBSITE
The next on our list, the Big Basin Vineyards, is known for their ability to dynamically create a bottle of wine that will surely make anyone want to have it. They produce compelling artisan wines and skillfully refine them every year. Come and visit their weekend site to see what we’re talking about.
Since its establishment in 2003, Big Basin Vineyards have produced several established wine bottles. You should try some of them, like the 2019 Wirz Vineyard Old Vine Riesling, 2019 Homestead Block Roussanne, 2021 Rose, 2019 Odeon, and the 2014 Frenchie’s Ranch Syrah.
Stockwell Cellars
$$ | 831-818-9075 | WEBSITE
Stockwell Cellars is a proud family-owned winery that produces wine from New World technologies and Old World techniques. They have indoor and outdoor setups at their Fair Avenue location from Thursday through Sunday. Events are also held here every Friday, which may vary, so check out the Events on their website.
One of Stockwell Cellars’ central beliefs is that wine should represent the flavors of where and when the grapes were harvested. With that said, they have produced a variety of wine bottles that will suit one’s taste with variations such as red wines, white wines, and blush wines.
Storrs Winery and Vineyards
$$ | 31-458-5030 | WEBSITE
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Sourcing their grapes from some of the best vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains and Monterey Bay area, Storrs Winery and Vineyards have produced various outstanding wines for their patrons in Santa Cruz.
Their primary focus is producing excellent wines such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. But eventually, they could create other variations like Petite Sirahs and Zinfandels.
For over 30 years, they have served their patrons at the Old Sash Mill every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Walk-ins are not allowed, so make sure you have booked a reservation before visiting their location.
Summary
You’ve now reached the end of our list of the top 12 best wineries in Santa Cruz, CA. We hope you were able to pick out some wineries or vineyards from the list and enjoy your time there. Don’t forget to share this article with your friends who are big wine enthusiasts too.
George Moore, co-founder of Wine Flavor Guru, is a charismatic entrepreneur with a rich background in California’s wine industry. Alongside Sylvia, he transformed a Sonoma County vineyard into a source of premium wines. George’s expertise in sourcing exceptional grapes and his approachable style make wine appreciation both accessible and engaging.
