Santa Cruz Mountains Wines

The Santa Cruz Mountains AVA is located on the Central Coast of California. They are part of the Coast Range, and as the name suggests, planted at altitude, going up to 800m above sea level. The vineyards are situated along a ridge line, where during the night, cool air slips down the slopes and forces the warmer air upwards, meaning that night time temperatures stay relatively warm.

Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir are all made to excellent quality here. On the eastern side, bordering Silicon Valley, conditions are warmer and better suited to Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.