Driving down from SFO to Big Sur on an upcoming Friday. I’m thinking I’d like to make a lazy, not-too-far-off-the-highway stop at a Santa Cruz Mountains winery’s tasting room on the way down, without making an appointment. I am thinking Big Basin’s tasting room in Saratoga. I know they were featured on BerserkerDay (didn’t buy anything but am intrigued). Do they offer a good tasting experience?
Went to Bonny Doon last time in Santa Cruz–it was fine to good but don’t need to go back. Probably passing through there for lunch though. What other options do people recommend for the area if I had to pick ONE producer? Given the option, we lean more towards Ridge’s restrained Bordeaux-inspired blends than California’s take on Rhone grapes. I know Big Basin does a lot of Rhone and PN, but I am curious to try them nonetheless.
If you are driving down on Friday then you will need to make an appointment for Ridge as Monte Bello is drop in on Saturday and Sunday only. One choice on the East/valley side of the mountains would be Testarosa in Los Gatos. On the Santa Cruz side of the mountains I would pick Storrs for a Friday drop in. Info on most SC wineries can be found at www.scmwa.com. Unfortunately your choices are limited if you are not tasting on a weekend. Big Basin should be a nice visit.
Shoot me an email at Matt@BigBasinVineyards.com and we can set up an appointment on Friday in the Tasting Room. It’d be great to introduce you to the Rhones and Pinots we’re currently pouring. If you’re curious to learn more about us, check out this 12 min Estate Vineyard and Winery tour with Bradley. http://youtu.be/AZ102yqoaJI
Thanks for the suggestions, guys. That list of SCM wineries looks helpful. We are hitting the Ridge component tasting on the way back up Sunday afternoon.
Matt, I’ll send you an email, thanks. I’ve heard great things about Big Basin and have enjoyed the videos you have posted–you have a very informative website.
Ken–do you know a good place to get lunch in Santa Cruz? We went to Saturn Cafe last time. My girlfriend thought it was pretty good but I was underwhelmed by the food and a bit overwhelmed by all the pizzazz. Anywhere else noteworthy or quirky?
I’m pretty sure that Downhill wineries tasting room at flights has closed down. It is still showing up on the SC Wineries website but not on Downhill’s site, call first.
I haven’t seen anything else that noted Flights has closed but I see that their website is not working. Looks like they might have closed down very recently? Thanks for the tip on that, Sean.
I’m not in the Santa Cruz area very often so I’m afraid I won’t be of too much help there. Last time I had lunch there it was at Bonny Doon’s old restaurant. I’m sure that Sean and Matt will know more options than I do, or check with Wes Barton, who posts here too.
Right next to the Big Basin tasting room are two more. One is shared by Martella and Michaud: http://www.m4tastingroom.com/ which might be interesting, the other is Cinnabar.
Flight Wine and Food was a partnership between the owner of Cafe Torre next door and Frank of Downhill Winery, but Frank’s no longer a partner. They are a wine shop and tasting bar, and also serve small plates.
I strongly recommend trying Big Basin. Not only are they making some fantastic wines, butt Matt is great in setting up interesting wine tastings. You won’t be disappointed.
Depends what you’re up for re: lunch in Santa Cruz, and it’s been a few years since I lived there so I’m not entirely up on things, but here’s a few favorites:
Tacos Morenos (no frills, just the best burrito in town) Water St. Look for the line out the door.
Linda’s Seabreeze Café on Seabright. High class diner. Cozy
Avanti is good on the westside, as is O’mei for good Chinese. I haven’t been to Burger. but I hear the burgers are good, and a big beer list. Beer tasting at SC Mtn brewery near SC Mtn winery, near Kelly’s which has very tasty but pricy lunch. All west side.
Gabriella’s near downtown if they’re still doing lunch. Quality can vary from middling to excellent, but near the boutique ice cream parlor, which is a plus.
In aptos, Café Sparrow for classier, also barbeque (aptos barbeque I think, it used to be Cole’s but a better place took on the location – good Q for California, but this ain’t Kansas City).
Chill Out Café on 41st for something quintessentially Santa Cruz, then you can walk to the Hook.
Verve Coffee are the best roasters in SC.
If you’re on the west side, go by Donnelly’s Chocolates.
Also, Soif wine shop is a trip with all kinds of weird things BTG. I don’t think they do lunch.
I am shocked that Randall couldn’t make it in the restaurant business.
That should get you started…
In the vicinity of Ridge, you’ll find Thomas Fogerty winery, which has a lovely property, great views, and a nice walk-in tasting room. Although the place is almost too pretty / touristy in appearance and has some of that character to it, the lineup of wines is surprisingly good, the people are friendly, and the wines generally have the more cool/restrained SCM character to them.
I like the Thomas Fogarty wines, but didn’t mention visiting there since it’s a fairly good detour from other places mentioned closer to 101 and 17. Thomas Fogarty and Ridge are not that far apart as the crow flies, but close to an hour’s drive from one to the other - there’s no route between them that’s even close to being direct.
Thanks Adam! We still need to get another tasting on the calendar…
S. Reynolds, thanks, I’m glad you liked the videos and the info on our website. I live in Santa Cruz and can recommend some Santa Cruz places to eat on Friday.
True. You can see them from each other pretty easily with the naked eye (as I recall, at least), but just the sheer spiral up that one hill that Ridge sits on takes a good 15 minutes of driving.