Santa Cruz Mountains
United States
United States wine regions
About Santa Cruz Mountains
A rugged coastal range south of San Francisco, with over 200 small vineyards cultivating around 1,500 acres. Plantings are split roughly evenly among Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and other varieties (notably Merlot and Zinfandel). Ben Lomond Mountain is the only formally recognized sub-AVA. This was one of California's earliest fine wine regions, with a winemaking heritage dating to the 1850s, and vineyards here actively support sustainable and organic practices.
120–800 m
Elevation range
redwhite
Wine styles
1 AVA
Avg. slope 12°
United States wine regions
Vintage Ratings
Rating:
5
4
3
2
1
PeakReadyHold
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Outstanding Santa Cruz Mountains Vintages
The best recent vintages rated excellent or exceptional.
Red
AVAs
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Terroir & Character
Climate
Cool maritime climate heavily influenced by the Pacific. Mountain vineyards above 400m sit above the fog line, receiving more sunshine than the valleys below while benefiting from cool ocean air. Rainfall is higher than most California wine regions.
Terroir
Diverse soils including weathered sandstone, shale, and limestone on steep mountain slopes. The thin, rocky soils stress vines and limit yields, producing wines with pronounced minerality and structure.
Typical Aromas
mountain herbsdusty earthwild blackberryeucalyptusforest floormineral slate
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