The Santa Cruz Mountains AVA is an
American Viticultural Area centered on the
Santa Cruz Mountains. Its territory expands three
California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
counties,
Santa Clara,
Santa Cruz and
San Mateo. Established in 1981 by the
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Santa Cruz Mountains AVA was among the first to be defined by its mountain topography. Based on elevation, it largely follows the fog line along the coast, extending down to on the eastern slope toward
San Francisco Bay, on the western slope to the
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the contin ...
and extending toward the ridgecrests at 3000+ feet elevation.
The mountainous terrain, the
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the contin ...
, and the nearby
San Francisco Bay have wide-ranging effects on the
appellation
An appellation is a legally defined and protected geographical indication primarily used to identify where the grapes for a wine were grown, although other types of food often have appellations as well. Restrictions other than geographical boun ...
, creating myriad
microclimate
A microclimate (or micro-climate) is a local set of atmospheric conditions that differ from those in the surrounding areas, often with a slight difference but sometimes with a substantial one. The term may refer to areas as small as a few squ ...
s in the region - depending on the elevation of the land, on which side of the mountains are the vineyards, the effects of fog, sun exposure, soil type, etc.
Geography
The region is bounded by the
Santa Cruz Mountain range, from the northern boundary of
Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay is a coastal city in San Mateo County, California, United States, approximately south of San Francisco. Its population was 11,795 as of the 2020 census. Immediately at the north of Half Moon Bay is Pillar Point Harbor and the un ...
and
Woodside to its southern side of
Mount Madonna and
Watsonville
Watsonville is a city in Santa Cruz County, California, located in the Monterey Bay Area of the Central Coast of California. The population was 52,590 according to the 2020 census. Predominantly Latino and Democratic, Watsonville is a self- ...
. The appellation encompasses some extending through
Santa Cruz,
Santa Clara and
San Mateo counties.
Wine regions
Santa Cruz Mountains' subregions are Skyline, Saratoga/Los Gatos, Summit, the Coastal Foothills (above Santa Cruz),
Ben Lomond Mountain, and Corralitos/Pleasant Valley.
Vineyards and grape varieties
There are over 200 small vineyards totaling only app. of wine
grape varieties
This list of grape varieties includes cultivated grapes, whether used for wine, or eating as a table grape, fresh or dried (raisin, currant, sultana). For a complete list of all grape species including those unimportant to agriculture, see Viti ...
, divided about ΒΌ evenly among
Pinot noir,
Cabernet Sauvignon,
Chardonnay, and other varieties (most notably
Merlot and
Zinfandel). The region's vineyards and wineries actively support sustainable practices, including
cover crops
In agriculture, cover crops are plants that are planted to cover the soil rather than for the purpose of being harvested. Cover crops manage soil erosion, soil fertility, soil quality, water, weeds, pests, diseases, biodiversity and wildlife in ...
,
erosion
Erosion is the action of surface processes (such as water flow or wind) that removes soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust, and then transports it to another location where it is deposited. Erosion is dis ...
control,
canopy management
In viticulture, the canopy of a grapevine includes the parts of the vine visible aboveground - the trunk, cordon, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruit. The canopy plays a key role in light energy capture via photosynthesis, water use as regulated ...
, solar,
biodiesel
Biodiesel is a form of diesel fuel derived from plants or animals and consisting of long-chain fatty acid esters. It is typically made by chemically reacting lipids such as animal fat ( tallow), soybean oil, or some other vegetable oil ...
. Several vineyards grow
organically; presently four are certified organic by the CCOF and more are in the process of certification.
Wines and wineries
Some of the oldest wineries in California are in this region. Two wineries from the Santa Cruz Mountain locale participated in the 1976
Judgment of Paris
Judgement (or US spelling judgment) is also known as ''adjudication'', which means the evaluation of evidence to make a decision. Judgement is also the ability to make considered decisions. The term has at least five distinct uses. Aristotle ...
wine tasting
Wine tasting is the sensory examination and evaluation of wine. While the practice of wine tasting is as ancient as its production, a more formalized methodology has slowly become established from the 14th century onward. Modern, professional w ...
with
David Bruce Winery
David Bruce Winery is a California winery located at about elevation in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA above Silicon Valley in Northern California. It was established by dermatologist David Bruce, M.D., in 1964 about a mile away from the Martin Ray ...
's 1973 Chardonnay placing 10th in the white category and the
Ridge Vineyards
Ridge Vineyards is a California winery specializing in Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Chardonnay wines. Ridge produces wine at two winery locations in northern California. The original winery facilities are located at an elevation of on Mon ...
' 1971 Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon placing 5th in the red wines.
Other notable wineries in the appellation are Big Basin Vineyards, Sante Arcangeli, Silver Mountain Vineyards, Eden Estates, Alfaro Family Vineyards, Armitage Wines,
Armitage Wines
/ref> Mount Eden vineyards, Hallcrest Vineyards, Byington Vineyard, Bargetto Winery
Thomas Fogarty Winery
Kathryn Kennedy Winery, Mountain Winery and Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards.
References
External links
A History of the Wineries of the Los Gatos-Santa Cruz Mountains
A website about the wineries of the Santa Cruz Mountains
{{Authority control
Wineries in Santa Cruz Mountains
American Viticultural Areas of California
American Viticultural Areas of the San Francisco Bay Area
Geography of Santa Cruz County, California
Geography of San Mateo County, California
Geography of Santa Clara County, California
Santa Cruz Mountains
1981 establishments in California
American Viticultural Areas