Wineries - San Jose Area
Will be staying about 30 miles south of San Jose. (Cordevalle resort, highly recommend) and will be doing some more wine tasting. We have done Napa and Sonoma, and love it. However, it is a 2-hour drive.
Anyone have any favorites in the Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz Mountain region? |
My favorites are:
Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyards Bonny Doon Vineyards Ridge Vineyards But here is the Santa Cruz Mountain Winery association website and it has a comprehensive list, with contact information http://www.scmwa.com/ |
Originally Posted by DJGMaster1
(Post 18207434)
My favorites are:
Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyards Bonny Doon Vineyards Ridge Vineyards But here is the Santa Cruz Mountain Winery association website and it has a comprehensive list, with contact information http://www.scmwa.com/ Thanks again. |
I have to tell you, the wineries that are much closer, in the Gilroy, Watsonville and Morgan Hill area, are generally nowhere near as good as the ones I recommended, which are amongst the best of the Santa Cruz Mountain area.
FYI, Ridge is closer than you think - it's about 40 miles from San Martin, where Cordevalle is, and 30+ miles of that is straight shot highway driving. The others are probably 20-30 miles further. Basically, take the CA-85 to Cupertino at Stevens Creek, and Ridge Winery is about 6 miles up Montebello Ridge Road from there. Incidentally, distances between wineries in that area are typically much longer to drive than as the crow flies. For example, Ridge and Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyards are on adjacent mountain ridges, probably less than 5 miles apart as the crow flies, but it's probably 25-30 miles of driving between them. A couple of wineries that are in the Saratoga / Los Gatos area that are good are Cinnabar and Testarossa. In the opposite direction, heading south from San Martin, there are a handful of funky wineries about 10 miles south of Hollister along Cienega Road, including one genuinely great, important winery, Calera. This area is really off the beaten path, so it will be a very different experience than Napa or Sonoma. But well worth it, especially to visit Calera, and while you're there, the other few wineries right nearby. You probably should call these wineries before visiting, as most do not maintain tasting rooms in the sense of Napa or Sonoma - you will probably be tasting right in the barrel aging rooms at most or all of them. http://www.cheers2wine.com/san-benit...-wineries.html |
I second the vote for Testarossa in Los Gatos--but then I love my Pinots and Chards and they do them both very well. Byington and David Bruce also do them well and they are not far from each other up in the Santa Cruz mountains..
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Originally Posted by DJGMaster1
(Post 18209279)
I have to tell you, the wineries that are much closer, in the Gilroy, Watsonville and Morgan Hill area, are generally nowhere near as good as the ones I recommended, which are amongst the best of the Santa Cruz Mountain area.
FYI, Ridge is closer than you think - it's about 40 miles from San Martin, where Cordevalle is, and 30+ miles of that is straight shot highway driving. The others are probably 20-30 miles further. Basically, take the CA-85 to Cupertino at Stevens Creek, and Ridge Winery is about 6 miles up Montebello Ridge Road from there. Incidentally, distances between wineries in that area are typically much longer to drive than as the crow flies. For example, Ridge and Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyards are on adjacent mountain ridges, probably less than 5 miles apart as the crow flies, but it's probably 25-30 miles of driving between them. A couple of wineries that are in the Saratoga / Los Gatos area that are good are Cinnabar and Testarossa. In the opposite direction, heading south from San Martin, there are a handful of funky wineries about 10 miles south of Hollister along Cienega Road, including one genuinely great, important winery, Calera. This area is really off the beaten path, so it will be a very different experience than Napa or Sonoma. But well worth it, especially to visit Calera, and while you're there, the other few wineries right nearby. You probably should call these wineries before visiting, as most do not maintain tasting rooms in the sense of Napa or Sonoma - you will probably be tasting right in the barrel aging rooms at most or all of them. http://www.cheers2wine.com/san-benit...-wineries.html |
Also check out the wineries in the Salinas and Carmel Valleys. I would recommend the ones in Carmel Valley since they are all close to each other. Plus it is the beautiful Monterey Peninsula area.
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Originally Posted by CApreppie
(Post 18213106)
Also check out the wineries in the Salinas and Carmel Valleys. I would recommend the ones in Carmel Valley since they are all close to each other. Plus it is the beautiful Monterey Peninsula area.
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There are several very good, interesting wineries in South Santa Cruz County in the Corralitos area. Windy Oaks and Alfaro are two of the best.
http://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=wine...rralitos%2C+CA |
Originally Posted by marvanit
(Post 18213127)
Since we are there for awhile, we are thinking of selling out and heading up to Sonoma, as some of our favorite wines are there. Asking for Sonoma recommendations could go on forever I suppose!
Here is an excerpt from one of my posts in that thread: In general, the Russian River area is known for Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, and to a lesser extent, Zinfandels. The Dry Creek area is known for Zinfandels and Rhone varietals, and the Alexander Valley is known for Zinfandels, Cabernets, Merlots, and Rhone varietals. The area nearest to Sonoma is known for Chardonnays and Zinfandels. Some of my favorite wineries for both the quality of the wines and the tasting experience are: in Dry Creek: Quivera and Rafanelli (requires appointment) in Alexander Valley: Field Stone and Sausal Russian River Valley: Joseph Swan, Rochioli and Hop Kiln On the ridge between Dry Creek and Alexander Valley: Ridge and Mazzocco. Between Sonoma and Alexander Valley: Chateau St. Jean, St. Francis, Kenwood. In Sonoma: Ravenswood, Cline http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/san-f...wine-tour.html |
Originally Posted by marvanit
(Post 18213127)
Since we are there for awhile, we are thinking of selling out and heading up to Sonoma, as some of our favorite wines are there. Asking for Sonoma recommendations could go on forever I suppose!
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Originally Posted by CApreppie
(Post 18214706)
And you can also find some amazing food to go with your wine up there too.
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Originally Posted by marvanit
(Post 18259780)
Any recommendations on where it eat in Sonoma after some casual winery tours?
http://www.healdsburgmenus.com/ |
I miss the days when there used to be a winery behind a bowling alley on El Camino Real in Mountain View. Free tasting and cheap (justifiably)! Anyone else remember it? I can't recall the name.
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Originally Posted by JerryFF
(Post 18213643)
There are several very good, interesting wineries in South Santa Cruz County in the Corralitos area. Windy Oaks and Alfaro are two of the best.
http://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=wine...rralitos%2C+CA Enjoy! |
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