starting on North Santa Cruz Avenue
Los Gatos
The Los Gatos Wine Trail
Supercharge your morning with a sumptuous breakfast at the locally renowned Los Gatos Cafe, offering classic American fare, including their must-be-tasted-to-be-believed cinnamon roll. Head to Main Street at Purple Onion Cafe to get all the makings for a leisurely wine-tasting picnic.
Then jump on Highway 17 and head towards Santa Cruz. Less that twenty minutes out of town, step into an 1890 schoolhouse tasting room, and get your first lesson in mountain wines at Burrell School Vineyards. Before moving on, enjoy the view of the estate's Chardonnay and Merlot vineyards from the heirloom gazebo. Next door is not-to-be-missed Regale Vineyards and Winery, a beautiful new construction emulating Tuscany with its authentic architecture and authentic zest for serving delicious food with distinguished wine. This is a great wine and dine stop with the bonus of a spectacular view.
Continue your journey into the mountains and climb to Loma Prieta Winery, perched atop a 2300-foot ridge, offering a panoramic view over the mountains to the ocean-side cities of Santa Cruz and Monterey and beyond. Enjoy small-lot Pinot, Cabernet, Merlot and the breath-taking view from the patio and bocce ball court.
On your way back down the mountain, take a left at San Jose-Soquel Road and then another left a half mile down the road. After a scenic five-minute ascent you arrive at Silver Mountain Vineyards. In addition to making fine mountain Pinot and several other varietals, owner and wine maker Jerold O'Brien operates one of the greenest vineyards and wineries around.
It's a georgeous twenty-minute drive to Poetic Cellars, where winemaker Katy Lovell's agricultural alchemy presents itself in bottled poetry, including her signature Mourvedre, Petit Sirah and other delicious varietals and blends. This tasting room is a beautiful, airy structure that shares space with high-stacked rows of wine barrels.
Five minutes outside of Los Gatos is another new jewel in the crown of local wineries that surmount the town. Black Ridge Vineyards sits atop a knoll in the foothills above Lexington Reservoir, surrounded by 24 acres of vine. The facilities are elegant and new, but feel like they've been around for centuries. Their fines wines are all 100% estate grown.
Head back down into town and climb quickly to Testarossa Vineyards, located in the 19th century Novitiate Winery overlooking town, and site of the oldest continuously operating winery in the Bay Area. They are famed for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah, and you can savor a sample of your latest acquisition in the scenic picnic area.
Finally, time to eat. Nearly every restaurant in town offers fine wine, and many take it a step further with Winemaker Dinners and Tastings. Check out elegant Forbes Mill Steakhouse, chic Three Degrees Restaurant, savory California Cafe, hip and hopping Cin-Cin Wine Bar and Restaurant, and indoor/outdoor Wine Cellar Restaurant.
Get a good night's sleep, because another wonderful day awaits you in Los Gatos and Saratoga.
Map of nearby Santa Cruz Mountains Wineries