Your one-stop shop for SCM winery news and events! Get inspired with our suggested paths to travel below the winery events tab for your next wine tasting adventure. Book one of our transportation partners and leave the driving to them. This page is updated weekly. Keep checking in to find out what’s new in the Santa Cruz Mountains wine region.
OCTOBER
October Events at Inversion Wines
Check out these exciting events at Inversion Wines! Update: This weekend 10/18, there will be food by Italia Fire.
October Events at El Vaquero Winery
October event you don’t want to miss at El Vaquero Winery!
Pumpkin Patch Fun at House Family Vineyards
Join House Family Vineyards in their Pumpkin Patch!
The fruit is off and they have converted their beloved Cabernet Block 10 into an October Pumpkin Patch! Enjoy stunning fall weather and when you purchase 4+ tasting flights this weekend, you gain access to the patch! Choose your favorite pumpkin to take home just in time for Halloween weekend.
Already a member or just not wanting a full tasting flight? Purchase a bottle of our 2019 Block 10 Cabernet Sauvignon and join the patch picking, as well!
Book your reservation here and they’ll will provide details when you arrive! Happy Fall Y’all!
October 25
3rd Annual Harvest Party at Cooper-Garrod Vineyards at Garrod Farms. Enjoy music, dancing, food and drink at the 3rd annual HARVEST PARTY! Featuring funky and fun original tunes by their very own talented Winemaker, Trevor Garrod, and his band, the Tea Leaves!
Tickets include dinner, non-alcoholic drinks, and music. Dinner will be served from 6-7:30, and will be catered by the wonderful (and local!) Oak and Rye. Featuring eggplant bruschetta, Caesar salad, and two of their lovely pizza pies: Margherita pizza and the famous Scotty to Hottie pizza (crushed tomato, mozzarella, soppressata, honey, basil, chili flakes and pepperoncini oil). The music will happen from 7-9:00. Wine will be available for purchase by the glass or bottle. Wine Club Members and Boarders will receive one complimentary glass of wine.
This event has SOLD OUT for the last two years! Buy your tickets early! Celebrate Harvest season at Cooper-Garrod! Tickets here.
October 25
Join Lester Estate Wines for their Harvest Celebration and pick up party on Saturday, October 25th from 12-4pm! Tickets here.
October 25
Join El Vaquero Winery for their 5th annual Halloween Bash! Featuring Michael Gaither and His Scary New Best Friends. 5-8pm. $10 cover.
October 25
Celebrate Passport Celebration Day at Pelican Ranch Winery with a special Cuvée and Vertical tasting experience. Address: 2364 Bean Creek Rd, Scotts Valley, CA 95066
October 26
End of Harvest Soirée at Thomas Fogarty Winery.
Let’s raise a glass to the 2025 Harvest!
Sunday, October 26 | 2pm – 5pm
Celebrate the flavors of the season at our cozy autumn gathering. Enjoy an afternoon of warmth, laughter, and connection as we toast to the 2025 harvest. Serving wine and delicious small seasonal bites at our events space. We will also be offering exclusive wine discounts, so you can get an early start on your holiday shopping. Tickets: $65 | Members: $45. Reserve here.
October 26
Fall Club Release Party at Aptos Vineyard. Fall is already upon us! And Aptos Vineyard has 2 beautiful new releases to satisfy your palate. Introducing the [long-awaited] ’22 Amicus Curiae Syrah from the Lester Family Vineyard and our winemaker John Benedetti & the ’22 Opening Remarks Pinot Noir from the DaLarDi Vineyard and a new winemaker for this vintage, Anthony Craig from Silver Mountain Vineyards. Additionally food will be provided by Busy Bees Catering & some Live entertainment for you to enjoy!
Club members may pick-up their allocations beginning Friday, October 24th! Members FREE (2 tickets). Guests $20. Reserve your tickets here. Call 831-661-5150 or email info@aptosvineyard.com with any questions.
October 29
Join El Vaquero Winery for a Candlelight Dinner with a special harvest menu! Reservations required. More info here.
October 31
Monster Mash Halloween Party at the Big Basin Vineyards downtown Tasting Room….5-9 PM Costume contest, yummy food, music and more!
NOVEMBER
November 1
Limited Selections Tasting at Thomas Fogarty Winery
Saturday, November 1, 2025
1pm – 4pm
Join us in the Redwood Room for an intimate tasting featuring Fogarty and Lexington wines. Each guest will receive an individual charcuterie box and access to event exclusive bottle discounts. Tickets: $55 | Members: $35. Get Tickets
Stay up to date with Kathryn Kennedy Winery with 1 simple text!
You can now opt in to receive text messages from Kathryn Kennedy Winery! Scan the QR code and it will load the following message in your text messaging system. “I would like to opt in to Kathryn Kennedy Winery’s text distribution list. New releases and special prices will be announced via text. Direct communication with the Winemaker via text is offered. You can be removed from the list at any time with the reply STOP.”
Weekly Wednesday Events
WIG OUT WEDNESDAYS Every Wed from 4 to 8 pm at the Big Basin Vineyards Downtown Santa Cruz Tasting Room + Wine Bar. Enjoy a night of wigging out in Downtown Santa Cruz! Wear a wig, and a surprise for you awaits. There will be cool music, games, trivia, and much more! Wig out and keep Santa Cruz weird! Enjoy the Wig Out Wednesday Special: 2 empanadas and a glass of wine (Riesling, Rose, or Homestead) for $19.
Weekly Thursday Events
Thursday Night Music at Bargetto Winery Events Calendar 2025
Thursday Night Tacos & Trivia at El Vaquero Winery. Check out these exciting October Theme Nights.
Weekly Saturday Events
Join Wrights Station for a Vineyard Tour & Tasting every Saturday!
The Santa Cruz Mountains wine region proudly boasts towering redwoods, epic hiking trails, breathtaking coastal views and exceptional wine!
Intrepid travelers and wine enthusiasts, look no further than the Santa Cruz Mountains for your next wine adventure. Easily accessible from San Jose and San Francisco, the Santa Cruz Mountains is a broad wine-growing region with unique, boutique wineries sprawling across nearly half a million acres. Don’t just take our word for it—witness its beauty for yourself.
With 70+ incredible wineries to explore, you might be wondering where to start. To give you a little inspiration, we’ve curated exciting paths to travel—all that’s left to do is to plan your visit and embark on an unforgettable journey.
Just a short drive down from San Francisco and 20 minutes from San Jose, the northern region of the AVA is an easy getaway! Experience diverse microclimates in the cool Northern Skyline subregion of the Santa Cruz Mountains and Portola Valley and taste remarkable wines from small production vineyards. Make your way from Woodside Vineyards to La Honda Winery and be sure to make a stop at Portola Vineyards. Head 5 minutes west to Neely and finish taking in the views of the Bay with a fantastic glass of wine at Thomas Fogarty Winery. NEW! Previously closed to the public, you can now go tasting at Rhys Vineyards– a short 10 minute drive from Thomas Fogarty Winery.
Make the journey up Montebello Road in Cupertino and immerse yourself in the rich history and complex flavor profiles of the wines produced from this famous ridgeline. Experience why this area is known for producing world-class Cabernet. Make it a Montebello Road outing and visit Naumann Vineyards, Ridge Vineyards and end at Vidovich Vineyards at the top.
Plan your weekend getaway to the beautiful foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, where there is no shortage of entertainment and exceptional wine. Journey up Bear Creek Road to enjoy the beautiful estate vineyards and learn about the wines that made history at David Bruce Winery. While you’re in the neighborhood, make the 3 minute journey to Byington Vineyard & Winery for an exceptional wine experience with expansive views of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Monterey Bay, and Pinot Noir vineyards, just minutes from Silicon Valley. Bookend urban tasting at Gali Vineyards and Saison in Los Gatos and Roudon-Smith in Saratoga. Then make a trip to the mountains and taste near the vines with panoramic views at Mount Eden Vineyards, Domaine Eden, Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards and House Family Vineyards!
Get off the beaten path to uncover exciting gems around every bend! Visit the historic schoolhouse at Burrell School then head next door to Regale Winery before you hop over to Wrights Station just across Summit Road. Continue past Wrights to stay in a treehouse or go glamping at Lago Lomita Vineyards. Just above, experience expansive views at Muns Vineyard. Learn more about organic farming and taste in the amphitheater on the estate of Silver Mountain Vineyards, overlooking the Monterey Bay.
Sample ocean-influenced, handcrafted wines in the heart of San Lorenzo Valley. Explore Big Basin Vineyards estate winery and taste with a perfect view of the vines before you head down to Roberts Ranch Vineyards, tucked high on a southeast-facing ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Go tasting at Pelican Ranch Winery in Scotts Valley, then make the short, less than 10-minute journey to Kissed by an Angel Wines and Inversion Wines, conveniently located next door. There are so many possibilities!
Let the breathtaking, dramatic coastal views of Highway 1 lead you to Sante Arcangeli Family Wines‘ second tasting room in Pescadero and to Bonny Doon to the home of Beauregard Vineyards at the historic Lost Weekend Saloon! Keep your eyes peeled to catch a McHenry Vineyard pop-up until their tasting room is rebuilt.
Drop into the Westside of Santa Cruz where many options await you. Stick around for an afternoon tasting at Rexford Winery, Bottle Jack and Silver Mountain’s Westside tasting room, Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard and Madson Wines. Follow Samuel Louis Wines to find out his next local or national pop-up! The Storrs Winery Santa Cruz tasting room is only a 10-minute drive. Big Basin Vineyards’ downtown tasting room also beckons a visit. Finally, venture to the charming village of Soquel and visit Wargin Wines and Bargetto Winery—around since Prohibition! Don’t miss Rexford Winery‘s new tasting room in the charming seaside village of Capitola.
Taste your way through the charming Aptos village where the Sante Arcangeli Family Wines and Aptos Vineyard tasting rooms beckon a visit. After lunch and shopping, take Trout Gulch to Larsen Road to visit Charmant Vineyards for gorgeous vineyard views, redwood forests and the Monterey Bay.
Travel a little further to feel transported by the bucolic allure and phenomenal wines of Corralitos. Explore the mountains to take in stunning views and enjoy fantastic wines at Alfaro Family Vineyards, Storrs Winery, La Vida Bella Vineyard and Lester Estate Wines.
Just off Freedom Boulevard, visit Rosscienda Vineyard and continue 10 minutes southeast to make a stop at El Vaquero Winery. Head a little east to be captivated by Ferrari Ranch and Windy Oaks Estate Vineyards. Planning a Sunday path? Make a reservation at Regan Vineyards Winery for a memorable tasting experience.
Enjoy superb wines from vineyards in the most southern part of the AVA—where towering redwoods give way to magnificent views of the Monterey Bay. Plan a visit down Aviation Way in Watsonville to check out Integrity Wines. Less than 30 minutes away, let a scenice drive up Mount Madonna Road bring you to Left Bend Winery. Set a course for Redwood Retreat Road for a wine adventure that feels far-removed at Martin Ranch Winery, nestled in the Eastern foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Excellent transportation options to get you around the Santa Cruz Mountains
If you have any questions about these routes, reach out to our team at contact@scmwa.com.
Excellent transportation options to get you around the Santa Cruz Mountains
Announcing a 7-night River Cruise along the Danube River on July 14-21, 2025 featuring House Family Vineyards!
Those longing for the romance of Old World Europe will travel into the heart of the
continent, where empires were built, kings and queens were crowned and some of the
world’s greatest music was composed. Visit one of Austria’s greatest wineries, Schloss
Gobelsburg, which has a documented viticulture history dating back to the 12th
century. From grand abbeys and fortresses to iconic UNESCO World Heritage Sites,
be romanced by the Danube with all her regal and romantic splendor. For more information, please contact Margaret Miner at 925-285-0628 or m.miner@dreamvacations.com.
Enjoy a 7-night enticing River Cruise featuring Storrs Winery on August 19-26, 2025!
Uncork local traditions, savor intense flavors and enjoy palate-pleasing adventures during an AmaWaterways Wine Cruise. Curious about a river cruise? Watch this helpful video to learn more. Click the below images to read more about the river cruise experience featuring Storrs Winery! Brought to you by our partner Carol “Coco” McGrath, Destination Specialist.
David Bruce Winery: Saratoga. David Bruce Winery has earned an international reputation for its dedication to producing great Pinot Noir and Chardonnay since 1964. It is our goal to produce world-class wines using grapes from our 45-acre estate in the Santa Cruz Mountains and other diverse appellations throughout California. davidbrucewinery.com
Bottle Jack Winery: Scotts Valley and West Santa Cruz. Bottle Jack is a small, family-run operation. Winemaker, John Ritchey, started Bottle Jack as a project while earning his enology degree from Fresno State University. He has continued to grow Bottle Jack while working on winemaking teams for a number of wineries located in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and gaining experience abroad in Italy, France, Switzerland and Moldova. bottlejackwines.com
Rosscienda Vineyard: Aptos.
Tasting room opens on the last Passport Celebration Day of the year on October 19. rossciendavineyard.com
Wargin Wines: based in Soquel Village: We make small lot, handcrafted wines that speak to the palate and pair brilliantly with food, mood and maybe a little mayhem. warginwines.com
Domaine Eden has exciting news to share! Starting May 11, we will be offering weekend tastings by appointment. Our unique tasting experience seamlessly combines the elements of a conventional tasting room with the ambiance of a wine bar. Delight in curated wine flights, individual glasses or indulge in a bottle with friends. To make a reservation, visit https://www.exploretock.com/domaineeden
Check out these guests’ epic experience at the tree house at Lago Lomita Vineyards!
Want a magical experience like this? Learn more and book your stay here.
September 11 2025
‘I tasted over 300 wines in August, these were my top 10 bottles’ – Decanter
August 11 2025
Beyond Pinot Noir: Monterey and Santa Cruz Weave a Vibrant Wine Mosaic – James Suckling
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Double Gold – Cooper Garrod Estate Vineyards 2023 Chardonnay
Sunset International Wine Competition
Double Gold – Kings Mountain Vineyards 2023 Boathouse Rosé, 97 points
Robert Parker Scores
2022 Alfaro Family Vineyards & Winery Chardonnay Mary Katherine Vine RP 92
2022 Alfaro Family Vineyards & Winery Chardonnay Trout Gulch Vineyard RP 92+
2022 Alfaro Family Vineyards & Winery Pinot Noir Alfaro Family Vineyard RP 91
2022 Alfaro Family Vineyards & Winery Pinot Noir Heirloom Clones Estat RP 90
2022 Alfaro Family Vineyards & Winery Pinot Noir Lindsay Paige Vineyar RP 92
2022 Alfaro Family Vineyards & Winery Pinot Noir Trout Gulch Vineyard RP 93
2021 Arnot-Roberts Cabernet Sauvignon Fellom Ranch RP 94
2022 Arnot-Roberts Chardonnay Trout Gulch Vineyard RP 93+
2022 Arnot-Roberts Pinot Noir Peter Martin Ray Vineyard RP 92+
2022 Arnot-Roberts Sauvignon Blanc Ascona Vineyard RP 91
2018 Beauregard Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Beauregard Ranch RP 93
2019 Beauregard Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Beauregard Ranch RP 94
2021 Beauregard Vineyards Chardonnay Bald Mountain Vineyard RP 94
2021 Beauregard Vineyards Chardonnay Beauregard Ranch RP 92
2021 Beauregard Vineyards Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains RP 90
2021 Beauregard Vineyards Pinot Noir Beauregard Ranch RP 93
2021 Beauregard Vineyards Pinot Noir Coast Grade Vineyard RP 94+
2022 Beauregard Vineyards Pinot Noir Rosé Oeuf en Béton RP 91
2021 Beauregard Vineyards Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains RP 90+
2019 Beauregard Vineyards Zinfandel Beauregard Ranch RP 92
2021 Big Basin Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Odeon RP 92
2021 Big Basin Vineyards Chardonnay Kimari Vineyard RP 93+
2019 Big Basin Vineyards Grenache Grizzly RP 93+
2021 Big Basin Vineyards Pinot Noir Alfaro Family Vineyard RP 93
2021 Big Basin Vineyards Pinot Noir Lester Family Vineyard RP 93+
2021 Big Basin Vineyards Pinot Noir Old Corral RP 92
2021 Big Basin Vineyards Roussanne Homestead Block RP 91
2021 Big Basin Vineyards Syrah Rattlesnake Rock RP 94
2019 Big Basin Vineyards Syrah Santa Cruz Mountains RP 91
2021 Big Basin Vineyards Syrah Sixty-Two Terraces RP 93+
2021 Birichino Cabernet Sauvignon Peter Martin Ray Vineyard RP 94
2021 Birichino Chardonnay Peter Martin Ray Vineyard RP 93+
2022 Birichino Pinot Noir Lilo Vineyard RP 93
2017 Domaine Eden Cabernet Sauvignon RP 91
2018 Domaine Eden Cabernet Sauvignon RP 94
2018 Domaine Eden Chardonnay RP 92
2019 Domaine Eden Chardonnay RP 93
2021 Domaine Eden Chardonnay RP 92
2018 Domaine Eden Pinot Noir RP 93
2019 Domaine Eden Pinot Noir RP 93
2021 Domaine Eden Pinot Noir RP 92
2022 Farm Cottage Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains RP 90
2022 Farm Cottage Pinot Noir Lester Vineyard RP 91
2022 Farm Cottage Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains RP 91
2022 Farm Cottage Pinot Noir Trout Gulch Vineyard RP 93+
2022 Farm Cottage Syrah Ryan Spencer Vineyard RP 92
1997 Kathryn Kennedy Cabernet Sauvignon RP 90
2009 Kathryn Kennedy Cabernet Sauvignon RP 92
2010 Kathryn Kennedy Cabernet Sauvignon RP 91
2021 Lester Estate Pinot Noir Francisco RP 92+
2021 Lester Estate Pinot Noir Mercurio RP 93
2021 Lexington Wine Co. Alma Gist Ranch Estate White RP 95
2021 Lexington Wine Co. Cabernet Franc Gist Ranch RP 92
2021 Lexington Wine Co. Cabernet Sauvignon Gist Ranch RP 93
2021 Lexington Wine Co. Merlot Gist Ranch Vineyard RP 91
2019 Madson Chardonnay Arey Vineyard RP 90
2022 Madson Chardonnay Ascona Vineyard RP 92+
2021 Madson Misty Gulch Vineyard RP 93+
2022 Madson Pinot Noir Ascona Vineyard RP 91
2020 Madson Pinot Noir Toyon Vineyard RP 90
2021 Madson Pinot Noir Toyon Vineyard RP 92
2021 Madson Syrah Ascona Vineyard RP 91
2022 Madson Syrah Ascona Vineyard RP 89
2021 Madson Syrah Red Tail Vineyard RP 90
2017 Maison Areion Cabernet Sauvignon Chaine d’Or Vineyard RP 93
2018 Maison Areion Cabernet Sauvignon Chaine d’Or Vineyard RP 92+
2019 Maison Areion Cabernet Sauvignon Chaine d’Or Vineyard RP 94
2020 Maison Areion Chardonnay Chaine d’Or Vineyard RP 92
2019 Maison Areion Pinot Noir Saveria Vineyard RP 93
2021 Maison Areion Pinot Noir Tarwater Vineyard RP 88
2021 Mindego Ridge Chardonnay RP 92
2021 Mindego Ridge Pinot Noir RP 94+
2019 Neely Chardonnay Bee Block RP 90
2021 Neely Chardonnay Bee Block RP 91
2019 Neely Chardonnay Bee Block Special Selection RP 92
2021 Neely Chardonnay Home Block RP 90
2018 Neely Pinot Noir Hidden Block RP 92
2021 Neely Pinot Noir Hidden Block RP 92
2018 Neely Pinot Noir Picnic Block RP 93+
2021 Neely Pinot Noir Picnic Block RP 93
2019 Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate RP 93
2021 Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate RP 92+
2021 Ridge Vineyards Chardonnay Estate Monte Bello Vineyard RP 92
2022 Ridge Vineyards Chardonnay Estate Monte Bello Vineyard RP 91
2019 Ridge Vineyards Chardonnay Monte Bello RP 95
2021 Ridge Vineyards Chardonnay Monte Bello RP 94
2019 Ridge Vineyards Merlot Estate RP 93
2015 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello RP 95
2016 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello RP 96+
2017 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello RP 100
2018 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello RP 99
2019 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello RP 97
2020 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello RP 85
2021 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello RP 96
2021 Ridge Vineyards Zinfandel Jimsomare RP 93+
2021 Sandar & Hem Chardonnay Bald Mountain Vineyard RP 94
2021 Sandar & Hem Chardonnay Le Boeuf Vineyard RP 93+
2021 Sandar & Hem Chardonnay Mountain Winery Vineyard RP 94+
2021 Sandar & Hem Pinot Noir Deerheart Vineyard RP 94
2022 Sandar & Hem Rosé of Grenache Bates Ranch RP 91
2017 Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Franc Bates Ranch RP 93
1994 Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Bates Ranch RP 93
2017 Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Bates Ranch RP 93+
2007 Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Luchessi Viney RP 94
2018 Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Luchessi Viney RP 93+
2017 Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Staiger Vineyar RP 93
2019 Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir Bailey’s Branciforte Ridge RP 90
2016 Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir Branciforte Creek Vineyar RP 92
2021 Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir Las Nietas Vineyard RP 91
2013 Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir Vine Hill Reserve RP 93+
2021 Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard Zinfandel Zayante Vineyard RP 92
2021 Sante Arcangeli Pinot Noir Ananda RP 93
2022 Sante Arcangeli Pinot Noir Coast Grade Vineyard RP 94
2022 Sante Arcangeli Pinot Noir Lester Family Vineyard RP 93
2022 Sante Arcangeli Pinot Noir Saveria Vineyard RP 92
2022 Sante Arcangeli Pinot Noir Split Rail Vineyard RP 94+
2021 Soquel Vineyards Pinot Noir Coast Grade RP 92
2021 Thomas Fogarty Chardonnay RP 92
2021 Thomas Fogarty Chardonnay Albutom Vineyard RP 91+
2021 Thomas Fogarty Chardonnay Damiana Vineyard RP 93
2021 Thomas Fogarty Chardonnay La Vida Bella Vineyard RP 93
2021 Thomas Fogarty Chardonnay Langley Hill Vineyard RP 95
2021 Thomas Fogarty Chardonnay Mindego Ridge Vineyard RP 92
2021 Thomas Fogarty Chardonnay Portola Springs RP 93
2021 Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir RP 91
2021 Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir Deerheart Vineyard RP 93
2021 Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir La Vida Bella Vineyard RP 92
2021 Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir Mindego Ridge Vineyard RP 93+
2021 Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir Rapley Trail Vineyard RP 94
2021 Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir Rapley Trail Vineyard Henry Ayrton’s Block RP 95
2021 Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir Rapley Trail Vineyard James Thomas’s Block RP 96
2021 Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir Razorback Vineyard RP 92
2021 Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir Windy Hill Vineyard RP 94+