Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz

P&M Staiger

P M STAIGER was established in 1973 on a ridge above Boulder Creek, in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The site had been an early twentieth century vineyard and winery operated by the Jim Locatelli family, but the vineyard and the vines had long since disappeared and only a few large hoops from the old redwood tanks were all that remained of the cellar. P M Staiger was replanted and built a new house and winery, designed by Robert Walker. The varieties planted - Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot,and Cabernet Franc - were determined by the types that had been historically grown successfully with good exposure in the higher elevations of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Four Gates

The winery itself is likewise a one-man operation. Far from being a modern computer-monitored factory, it's more like an old fashioned one-room school house with me teaching all the grades; all the various pieces of equipment and barrels sit around the room like children of different ages waiting for their turn.

 

The wines themselves benefit from the small scale and individual attention and from the unique qualities of the Santa Cruz Mountain environment. The Chardonnay is a full-bodied white wine aged in American oak barrels. It will complement flavorful dishes like roast chicken or baked salmon or Orah's spicy baked tofu. The Merlot is a substantial red wine. It will complement a holiday brisket or a roast.

Beuregards Vineyards

In 1945 retired Sheriff Deputy Amos Beauregard purchased 157 acres of which 13 acres have been planted with winegrapes. Cabernet Saugivgon, Chardonnay, Zinfandel and an old grape know as Charabono were originally planted in 1880. Over the years Jim Beuregard has planted hundreds of acres of vines throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains and still maintains his 68 acres of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. Jim and his family live on the estate and Ryan Beauregard is the Winemaker.

Osocalis Winery and Distillery

Founded in the early 1990's, Oscocalis represents the second generation of small American distillers to use combination of Old World techniques with New World fruit. California brandy makers have the advantage (and the challenge!) of being abe to blend a large number of grape varieties together for a more complex and nteresting brandy, where as French law strictly limits this practice.

Burrell School

Burrell School's origins date back to 1854 when Lyman J. Burrell settled the rough wilderness that is now home to Burrell Winery & Vineyard. Carrying on the more than 130 year old tradition at the School, David and Anne Moulton began development of the Estate Vineyard in 1973. At 1,600 foot elevation, the site faces the southwest. Soils are a complex mixture or loam and shale due to the close proximity of the San Andreas Fault. Nearby Monterey Bay brings warm days and cool nights The result is a unique microclimate, perfect for long, slow ripening of the grapes in the vineyard.

Barterra Wines

We found the Barterra winery, located in Half Moon Bay, to be a delightful place. A husband and wife team run this winery. The staff is friendly and they know their stuff when it comes to wine.

Barterra offers premium wines from the finest vineyards in Napa Valley, Sonoma, Carneros, Lodi, Amador, Alexander Valley, Mendocino, Lodi, Paso Robles, Russian River Valley and Madera.  All of Barterra Wines is sold directly to the public.

Their quaint tasting room is located on the main street and the pours are generous.  Their standard wine tasting allows you to sample three wines, but the owner let me try an additional port (and it was excellent!).  We enjoyed tasty white wines and their Ruby Cabernet and chocolatey dessert wine were very good. ~

Hours:

Tues-Weds   Closed
Thur     12:00pm to 6:00pm
Fri        12:00pm to 6:00pm
Sat       12:00pm to 6:00pm
Sun      12:00pm to 6:00pm
Mon     12:00pm to 6:00pm

Ruthe Roberts Wine Collective

At California Corks we love to meet the winemakers and become acquainted with the wines of those special little boutique wineries. We have been trying to find a way for those that join the California Corks Winery Experience can enjoy this same experience, to meet the winemaker or have access to some of these harder to find wines. We are glad to say that we have found a way to do so that allows for plenty of opportunity to do both. We are glad to introduce Ruthe Roberts Wine Collective is the first of its kind in downtown Saratoga. A multi-winery tasting room that is home to some of the best and most talented winemakers in California. The wines are offered in pre-arranged flights to allow guests to compare different wines and discover new favorites. The Ruthe Roberts Wine Collective provides a warm, casual elegance in the beautiful courtyard or grab a table in the tasting room. This is a place where wine lovers will find new wines to love, and where smaller wineries can showcase their wines and introduce them to consumers. We a pleased to have Ruthe Roberts Wine Collective as a participant of the California Corks Winery Experience. 

Hours:

Mon-Thur     Closed
Fri       12:00am to 6:00pm
Sat      12:00am to 6:00pm
Sun       1:00am to 5:00pm

Villa Del Monte Winery

This is a great place to bring a friend and enjoy the local wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Meet the local wine makers, taste the wines, visit with locals and impress your friends that you knew where Villa Del Monte Winery was and how to find it. It's not hard because it is right off of Summit Road. Villa Del Monte Winery is a participant of California Corks Winery Experience and winemakers John Overstreet and Neil Perrelli welcome you. Be sure to check out their Cabernet Sauvignon, in fact, last I checked there were still a few 2012 & 2013 available at pretty reasonable prices. Simply present you Membership to receive complimentary tasting for Two + and additional 10% discount on purchases.

Hours:

Check their website for tasting days and times

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