Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
Encyclopedia
The Santa Cruz Mountains AVA is an American Viticultural Area
centered around the Santa Cruz Mountains
. It includes three counties in California
: Santa Clara, Santa Cruz
and San Mateo. Recognized as an AVA in 1981, the Santa Cruz Mountains Appellation 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 800 feet (243.8 m) in the east (San Francisco Bay side) and 400 feet (121.9 m) in the west (Monterey Bay side), and encompasses the highest ridgetops at 3000’+ elevation.
The mountain terrain, the Pacific Ocean
, and the nearby San Francisco Bay
have wide ranging effects on the appellation
, creating myriad microclimates 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.
and Woodside in the north, to Mount Madonna and Watsonville in the south. The appellation encompasses some 322000 acres (1,303.1 km²) extending through Santa Cruz, Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.
, Cabernet Sauvignon
, Chardonnay
, and other varieties (most notably Merlot
and Zinfandel
). The region’s vineyards and wineries actively support sustainable practices, including cover crops, erosion
control, canopy management, solar, biodiesel
. Several vineyards grow organically; presently four are certified organic by the CCOF and more are in the process of certification.
s and blends.
Some of the oldest wineries in California are in this region. Two wineries from the Santa Cruz Mountain region participated in the 1976 Judgment of Paris wine tasting with the 1973 David Bruce Winery
Chardonnay placing 10th in the white wine tasting and the 1971 Ridge Vineyards
Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon placing 5th in the red wine tasting.
Other notable wineries in the appellation include: Bonny Doon Vineyard
, Byington Vineyard
, Kathryn Kennedy Winery
and Mountain Winery
.
Ways to purchase wines : Wine Club of the Santa Cruz Mountains
American Viticultural Area
An American Viticultural Area is a designated wine grape-growing region in the United States distinguishable by geographic features, with boundaries defined by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau , United States Department of the Treasury....
centered around the Santa Cruz Mountains
Santa Cruz Mountains
The Santa Cruz Mountains, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, are a mountain range in central California, United States. They form a ridge along the San Francisco Peninsula, south of San Francisco, separating the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco Bay and the Santa Clara Valley, and continuing south,...
. It includes three counties in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
: Santa Clara, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, on the California Central Coast. The county forms the northern coast of the Monterey Bay. . As of the 2010 U.S. Census, its population was 262,382. The county seat is Santa Cruz...
and San Mateo. Recognized as an AVA in 1981, the Santa Cruz Mountains Appellation 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 800 feet (243.8 m) in the east (San Francisco Bay side) and 400 feet (121.9 m) in the west (Monterey Bay side), and encompasses the highest ridgetops at 3000’+ elevation.
The mountain terrain, the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, and the nearby San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean...
have wide ranging effects on the appellation
Appellation
An appellation is a legally defined and protected geographical indication used to identify where the grapes for a wine were grown; other types of food often have appellations as well...
, creating myriad microclimates 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 Half Moon BayHalf Moon Bay, California
Half Moon Bay is a coastal city in San Mateo County, California, USA. Its population was 11,324 as of the 2010 census. Immediately at the north of Half Moon Bay is the Pillar Point Harbor and the unincorporated community of Princeton-by-the-Sea....
and Woodside in the north, to Mount Madonna and Watsonville in the south. The appellation encompasses some 322000 acres (1,303.1 km²) extending through Santa Cruz, Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.
Wine regions
The 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. 1500 acres (6.1 km²) of wine grape varieties, divided about ¼ evenly among Pinot noirPinot Noir
Pinot noir is a black wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from Pinot noir grapes...
, Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Canada's Okanagan Valley to Lebanon's Beqaa Valley...
, Chardonnay
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
, and other varieties (most notably Merlot
Merlot
Merlot is a darkly blue-coloured wine grape, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name Merlot is thought to derive from the Old French word for young blackbird, merlot, a diminutive of merle, the blackbird , probably from the color of the grape. Merlot-based wines...
and Zinfandel
Zinfandel
Zinfandel is a variety of red grape planted in over 10 percent of California vineyards. DNA fingerprinting revealed that it is genetically equivalent to the Croatian grape Crljenak Kaštelanski, and also the Primitivo variety traditionally grown in Puglia , where it was introduced in the 18th century...
). The region’s vineyards and wineries actively support sustainable practices, including cover crops, erosion
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
control, canopy management, solar, biodiesel
Biodiesel
Biodiesel refers to a vegetable oil- or animal fat-based diesel fuel consisting of long-chain alkyl esters. Biodiesel is typically made by chemically reacting lipids with an alcohol....
. Several vineyards grow organically; presently four are certified organic by the CCOF and more are in the process of certification.
Wines and wineries
The Santa Cruz Mountains are home to more than 70 wineries producing Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot moir], port-style wines and other varietalVarietal
"Varietal" describes wines made primarily from a single named grape variety, and which typically displays the name of that variety on the wine label. Examples of grape varieties commonly used in varietal wines are Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot...
s and blends.
Some of the oldest wineries in California are in this region. Two wineries from the Santa Cruz Mountain region participated in the 1976 Judgment of Paris wine tasting with the 1973 David Bruce Winery
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 1961 about a mile away from the Martin Ray Vineyard that often appears on vineyard designated...
Chardonnay placing 10th in the white wine tasting and the 1971 Ridge Vineyards
Ridge Vineyards
Ridge Vineyards is a California winery specializing in premium Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Chardonnay wines. Ridge produces wine at two winery locations in northern California...
Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon placing 5th in the red wine tasting.
Other notable wineries in the appellation include: Bonny Doon Vineyard
Bonny Doon Vineyard
Bonny Doon Vineyard is a winery based in the Santa Cruz mountains of California. It was started by Randall Grahm in 1983. Bonny Doon was amongst the first Californian wineries to embrace Rhone varietals, giving Randall Grahm the nickname "The Rhone Ranger". The winery is known for its untraditional...
, Byington Vineyard
Byington Vineyard
Byington Vineyard is a vineyard and winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains above Silicon Valley in California as well as of vineyard near Paso Robles, California.-History:...
, Kathryn Kennedy Winery
Kathryn Kennedy Winery
Kathryn Kennedy was a California wine grower, establishing her vineyard during the growth phase in the California wine history known as "The Wine Boom of the early 1970s"...
and Mountain Winery
Mountain Winery
The Mountain Winery, formerly the Paul Masson Mountain Winery, is a winery in Saratoga, California, USA. It was founded by Paul Masson, a pioneer of the California wine industry...
.
Ways to purchase wines : Wine Club of the Santa Cruz Mountains