Wineries

Wineries

Four Gates

The winery itself is likewise a one-man operation. Far from being a modern computer-monitored factory, it's more like an old fashioned one-room school house with me teaching all the grades; all the various pieces of equipment and barrels sit around the room like children of different ages waiting for their turn.

 

The wines themselves benefit from the small scale and individual attention and from the unique qualities of the Santa Cruz Mountain environment. The Chardonnay is a full-bodied white wine aged in American oak barrels. It will complement flavorful dishes like roast chicken or baked salmon or Orah's spicy baked tofu. The Merlot is a substantial red wine. It will complement a holiday brisket or a roast.

Kissed By An Angel

Larry Olivo is a third-generation winemaker with thirty years of experience making wine with his Grandfather and Father. In the last eight years, he has been an apprentice winemaker working with John Marion of The Big White House Winery in Livermore, CA. Larry state that their mission is for Kissed By An Angel WInes to make fine premium wines at affordable prices, using Estate and sourced grapes primarily from the Santa Cruz Mountains. Larry is very passionate about the making of wine.  Quality, not quantity, is what Larry and Lisa strive for. Their goal is to honor their daughter Amanda who passed away at the age of twenty-two in January of 2007. Kissed By An Angel Wines has agreed to participate in the California Corks Winery Experience program. Just present your membership to receive your 2 for 1 wine tasting.~

 

La Nebbia Winery

Fun, unassuming tasting room. The service was really friendly and I got the impression that the "$10 for 5" tasting is rarely a sticking point. Meaning, they poured my group additional samples and even asked me which one I wanted to try one last time as I was paying. Never with the feeling I was being pressured to buy anything, far from it. Ample picnic area in the back. BYO whatever and enjoy the scenery and play a game of bocce ball in one of their 2 courts. This is a perfect stop on your way to the beach or when heading back home.

Michaud Vineyards

Growning grapes and making wines for more than thirty three years in the Chalone appellation.  This truly unique, mountainous wine-growing district, at the foot of the Pinnacles National Monument, has proven to be one of the best places on the planet to grow elegant, age-worthy Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Odonata Wines Salinas

Denis, Claire and others at Odanata Winery

Odonata Wines in Salinas, California is a small family winery. They work closely with the growers to ensure the highest quality wines from the vines to the glass. Their credo is blending of old-world winemaking methods and attitudes with new learning and a continuous search for improvement. The winemaker, Denis Hoey, creates wines that are soft, supple, and feature subtle complexity. Denis and his wife Claire run Odanata Winery together. Inspired by the traditional French style, Denis produces wines that are designed to be food-friendly. They are balanced in fruit, acidity, alcohol, and wood, with flavors and aromas that are cohesive with a lengthy finish. They will always be handmade in small batches to exemplify the unique qualities of the varietal and vineyard. ~

Hours: 

Mon - Sun - 11:00AM to 5:00PM

Osocalis Winery and Distillery

Founded in the early 1990's, Oscocalis represents the second generation of small American distillers to use combination of Old World techniques with New World fruit. California brandy makers have the advantage (and the challenge!) of being abe to blend a large number of grape varieties together for a more complex and nteresting brandy, where as French law strictly limits this practice.

P&M Staiger

P M STAIGER was established in 1973 on a ridge above Boulder Creek, in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The site had been an early twentieth century vineyard and winery operated by the Jim Locatelli family, but the vineyard and the vines had long since disappeared and only a few large hoops from the old redwood tanks were all that remained of the cellar. P M Staiger was replanted and built a new house and winery, designed by Robert Walker. The varieties planted - Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot,and Cabernet Franc - were determined by the types that had been historically grown successfully with good exposure in the higher elevations of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Pelican Ranch

Pelican Ranch Winery is a small, family owned and operated winery specializing in Rhone and Burgundy style wines from the best vineyards in California. Established in 1997, the winery is located a short distance from Monterey Bay which provides the constant, cool, coastal influence that allows for controlled, slow fermentation. The result is rich, full-flavored, complex wines.

Poetic Cellars

Poetic Cellars was established in 2005 with one thought in mind; that of combining the passionate excellence of their winesand with exquisite and original poetry on each varietal. This interesting Santa Cruz Mountains winery is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains on 33 Redwood studded acres. Just minutes from Highway 17, it is only about 40 minutes from San Jose and 15 minutes from Santa Cruz. Bring a picnic Lunch to enjoy the views along with a bottle of Poetic Cellars wine.

Rexford Wines

Rexford Winery handcrafts wines in small lots using grapes from select local vineyards. Their focus on single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot, and other premium varieties. Rexford wines accurately reflect the varietal characteristics of the grapes and the unique microclimates and soils of the vineyards from which they come. Visitors are welcome at the winery located on the west side of Santa Cruz. The winery is open for tasting and sales Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and by appointment.

NOTE: Rexford Winery is the new name for Hillcrest Terrace Winery.

Rexford is a very small-scale operation that offers high quality wines. Sauvignon Blanc ($19), a Pinot Noir from Monterey ($29) and a Cab Sauv from Carmel Valley ($32). All were delicious and well made. We chatted with the winemaker. He teaches astro-physics at UCSC and decided to break into the commercial wine business after making some good homemade batches. He was knowledgeable and friendly.

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