Established in 1978, River Run Vintners is a family operated winery located at the Southern end of the Santa Cruz Mountains near the town of Aromas, California. Producing 1000 to 3000 cases of hand crafted wine each vintage from vineyards of character located throughout central California, all phases of production are done by the winemaker, J.P. Pawloski.

River Run crafts Negrette, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carignane, Malbec, Syrahs, and Zinfandels. Old World techniques of wine production are coupled with state of the art bottling to deliver unique small lots of wine to the market.

Grenache, Cienega Valley - Miller Vineyard

Grapes producing a full bodied Grenache with old world structure and color is something JP the winemaker has sought for years. It requires more than old vines or leaving grapes hanging an extra week.   The highly mineralized tortured landscape west of Hollister has made me a believer in California Grenache by yielding a bacchanalian purple wine redolent of Grenache spice, drawing one's lips to the glass like a moth to a flame.

Miller Vineyard is situated southwest of Hollister in the rugged environment of the Cienega Valley. Located near the San Andreas Fault in a rugged hillside area, the dry farmed old vines home is a granite and limestone ridge top, which helps avoid frost for this late ripening variety, and picked late these were. This vintage ripened to 25.3 Brix and coupled with a long hang time yielded a full bodied bacchanalian purple wine redolent of Grenache spice. Very few old vine Grenache exist so our production is limited. River Run has purchased grapes from Mountainous Vineyard since 1983.

$17.00

Syrah - 2008, Cienega Valley

Cienega Valley is located west of Hollister on a unique limestone ridge and this ground imparts flavors of exotic strawberry fruit to the Syrah planted there. The vineyard is forty-five years old. Aging in newer oak barrels for 9 months has accented this subtle spicy Syrah and brings out the multifaceted character. 240 Cases. Alcohol 13%

Chardonnay - 2008, Mendocino - Mountainous

These organically grown and maintained grapes were planted in 1998. Resulting harvests have yielded a luscious, straight forward wine that displays the optimum characteristics of Chardonnay. The grapes were harvested at their peak flavor and vinted to capture all a Chardonnay can be, by a cold slow fermentation in stainless steel and minimum oak influences.

The hillside vineyard seldom yields more than 4 tons.  The grapes were crushed into open top wood tanks, hand punched down four to six times daily then aged in neutral oak for 16 months.  A state of the art bottling line completed the wine maker's contribution. Alcohol 14.4%. 110 Cases Produced.

$17.00

Viognier - 2010, Tammura-Antle Vineyard

Viognier is the most renowned of the Rhone region's white grapes. This 2 acre vineyard is planted on the southern border of Santa Cruz County. Blessed with cool even growing temperatures, traditional heat comes in October, offering perfect pairing of sugar and physiological ripening. The 2010 vintage presents a golden hue wine blessed with an intriguing bouquet and weighty mouthful.

$17.00

Caberenet Sauvignon - 2008, Santa Cruz Mtns

Grown in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the grapes were harvested over a three week period to optimize the broadly attractive taste profile from a mountain vineyard in Santa Clara County.

Harvest was supervised by J.P. personally preceding the remainder of the wine making processes. The result of this comprehensive attention is a lovely bordeaux-styled wine of light tannins, clean varietal fruit bouquet and a touch of magic.

Awarded a gold medal at its only showing with a production case total of ninety cases, this wine may disappear soon and live long and grow. Less than 40 cases. Alcohol 12.5%.

$25.00

Zinfandel Port, 2004 - Cienega Valley, Wirz Vineyard

This stunner of a wine is truly unique. Sweet odors of ripe raspberries exude from the bottle. Picture lush velvet berry swirls in your mouth. The vineyard is over 110 years old. The brandy used to fortify the port was distilled from Syrah wine produced at River Run.

$30.00

Copyright © 2004 - 2012 www.santacruzwines.com All Rights Reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners.