What Makes Santa Cruz Wines Superior?

Old Word Style, Ideal Marine Climate, Mountain Appellations, Distinctive Soil

Many of Califoria's original wineries founded in the 1800’s were located in the ideal Wine Country locations such as Napa Valley, Alexander Valley, Sonoma Valley and the Santa Cruz Mountains. Unlike hotter regions of California, the Santa Cruz Mountains milder, Mediterranean climate provide the ideal balance to ripen late blooming grapes.

Santa Cruz Mountains are the Nation’s first wine growing appellation defined by unique geophysical and climatic factors. With regularity of coastal breezes, the cool maritime influence of the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay allow grapes to mature slowly and evenly without over ripening. As temperatures rise in California’s Central Valley, it creates a vacuum effect that pulls the cool, damp, foggy air from the brisk open waters.  

The individual microclimates, marine influence, mountain terrain, distinctive soils, and low crop levels, all contribute to the production of intensely concentrated fruit.

Handcrafted, Old World Style Coupled with Intensily Concentrated Fruits

The small size of these Santa Cruz Wine operations allows the winemakers the opportunity to handcraft their wines and to maximize the potential of the grapes. The same spirit of innovation, independence, and determination that distinguished the great winemakers of the 19th century lives on today as the Santa Cruz Winemakers continue their commitment to handcrafting limited edition bottlings of extraordinary wines that reflect the terroir of their vineyards and the care and passion of their growers.