Santa Cruz Mountains (California) wineries

Mount Eden makes some fine wine, however, I have not visited the winery.

On the way to Ridge is Picchetti, which is WELL worth the stop. Take Freeway

280 to the Foothill Grant Road exit in Cupertino.Travel southwest on Foothill Blvd. 3.5 miles (Foothill Blvd. changes names mid-point to Steven's Canyon Road).You'll travel through a residential section, pass Steven's Creek County Park, Stevens Creek Reservoir and Dam. Montebello Road will appear on your right. Travel up Montebello road 6/10th of mile to Picchetti Winery.Take the first left hand turn into Picchetti Winery.

Hunt

in article snipped-for-privacy@news4.newsguy.com, Hunt at snipped-for-privacy@hunt.com wrote on

11/15/04 1:15 PM:

Thanks for the Mount Eden advice. I'll save the Picchetti info for future reference. The tasting is in Napa, at Copia.

Yes, I see what you wanted now. Seems as how I skimmed (and did a poor job, at that) the first part of the post. Since Picchetti is not on the list of Copia Santa Cruz Mtn wineries, do save it. The SCM AVA is full of some wonderful wines, and wonderful tasting room folk. Matter of fact, we'll often take a late flight from SFO, just to run down to SCM for some very good, friendly tastings. Sorry for my mistake there - note to self: work on reading comprehension!!!!!

Do taste the Mount Eden, as both their whites and reds are very nice, esp. the Reserve Cabs.

Hunt

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"Midlife" in news:BDBE59ED.8556% snipped-for-privacy@cox.net...

Family-run operation out of a house, I have bought from them for 10 years, mainly on-site. Fairly serious Cabernets, gradually recognized by the market. (I still have their 1992 and 96 cellared.)

Popular, again family-run firm that experiments with other-fruit wines as well as more traditional varietals. In the news recently because some members of the family were lost for some time after a deadly mountain storm (but, as I understand, now back safe).

Unusual operation. Large extended family has long run a commercial horse ranch. Patriarch is a former NASA test pilot. The barn used for tastings on public days is decorated with photos of the 'planes he flew (and occasionally crashed, but walked away from).

Unusually well regarded, ageworthy Californioa Pinots, and this has been true for years. You can read up about them online. Jeffrey Patterson is owner-winemaker, you might meet him.

Physically large facility (people do weddings and retreats there) founded (like David Bruce, which for some reason is not on the list) by a former physician. I've bought their sparkling wines sometimes.

Unfortunate that Cinnabar is also absent from the list, that's another of the several notable wineries in the California's Santa Cruz Mountains AVA. Also extremely approachable and helpful people in my experience.

By the way, should you encounter Coppia's wine director Peter Marks (MW), a former wine merchant and extremely well respected throughout the region, please say hello from Max.

Cheers -- MH

in article snipped-for-privacy@corp.supernews.com, Max Hauser at snipped-for-privacy@THIStdl.com wrote on 11/15/04 4:54 PM:

Max, Thanks a bunch for that in-depth info. Coincidentally, I was faxed the list of participating wineries by Peter Marks after calling Copia and being transferred to his voice-mail. Didn't speak with him in person, but heard his voice in the VM.

I am very partial to Sonoma County, particularly the Healdsburg area. You could motor up to Healdsburg and go directly to the Ridge winery there. And while you are at it, visit some more great wineries without getting into the crowds that you find in Napa. There are now 5 or 6 tasting rooms on the square in Healdsburg and there is a combined tasting room in Gyserville that is good. Rafanelli is close to Ridge but you will need to call ahead to get the gate code. Chateau Souverain is a great place to visit and they have a wonderful restaurant that servers dinners. There is also a restaurant in Healdsburg called Zin where every item on the menu is designed to complement the wine.

How did you miss David Bruce?

Tom S

in article bJgmd.15355$ snipped-for-privacy@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com, Tom S at snipped-for-privacy@dontspampacbell.net wrote on 11/15/04 10:01 PM:

************************** will spend some time tasting in the

That weekend there is a tasting, at Copia, featuring 31 Santa Cruz

************************* Given all the tasting alternatives available, I asked Copia

I think I may need to work on my writing style. ;o) Of the four responders so far, I think three have misunderstood the situation. The list is of Santa Cruz Mountain area wineries THAT WILL BE OFFERING TASTINGS AT AN EVENT AT COPIA, IN NAPA.

Any wineries missing are missing because they are not involved in the event as of the list I was given today. I would assume it was their choice not to participate for whatever reasons. Hard to think David Bruce would not have been invited. As Max pointed out, Cinnabar is also missing. The event is Thanksgiving weekend, so some may have felt time with family was more important.

in article 3bdmd.223$ snipped-for-privacy@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net, Pantheras at snipped-for-privacy@Vatican.Godnet wrote on 11/15/04 6:00 PM:

Luckily for us, my wife and I are able to visit the Napa/Sonoma environs 3 or 4 times a year. This trip we have only the one free day and our daughter has asked us to go with her to a private tasting at Franciscan which will involve wines from other wineries owned by the same group. The Copia event seemed like a nice way to complete the day and experience wines from a different region.

We've been to Rafanelli two or three times. Dave is a great guy. In September he had us tasting from fermentation tanks. That's what's so great about smaller wineries. My wife and daughter went to Ridge - Lytton Springs earlier in the year. For some reason they were not thrilled with what they tasted at that time.

When we're able to stay at a relative's cottage on the Russian River, we're close enough to have dinner in the area and have enjoyed many wonderful meals there. Most often we are back in SF by dinner time. I'll keep your recommendations for future reference.

I visited Ridge several times when founder Dave Bennion was alive. I even tasted some wines he made, not Paul Draper, and bought the 1970 Jimsomare Zin from his foreman, which when tasted blind in 1984 at the Pope's palacio in Parkton, was mistaken for a cab and an indication of longevity. Also visited Ken Burnap of Santa Cruz Mountain one of the early pinot noir pioneers and the folks at Mound Eden when Merry Edwards revised the wine making. I did a little business with Roudon Smith and always liked Bargetto wines for their variety and price. Also there used to be a lot of great little wineries South of Santa Cruz to Carmel who made wonderful plonk, a long the line of Round Hill. Just fun places to stop in for a quick quaff. Thomas Cruse was one if I recall who had humorous labels way before Randall Graham. Finally any David Bruce wine is worth drinking as they were extremely individualistic and tannic. Even the good dentists failures defied the cookie cutter conventions of the 1990s and beyond. He and Martin Ray occasionally thrilled and always perplexed convention.

Ridge/Lytton Springs has been an enigma since the day that Ridge purchased it. Once they decided to do away with the Lytton Springs label, a lot of people in the area became very unhappy. It is easy to pick up bad vibes about Ridge anywhere you go in the area. When Draper screwed up the Ridge Heart's Desire, he put a great deal of it in the Lytton Springs tasting room so visitors that got the impression that the winery was not up to par with its Monte Bello counter part.

( if you are going to be back in SF on a Saturday afternoon in time for dinner after a tasting at Franciscan, you might have to leave at 10AM )

On your list, the best one that I haven't seen mentioned yet is Storrs, which has made some good wine over the years (I haven't had a recent vintage).

My favorite Santa Cruz wineries are probably Ridge and Thunder Mountain (not on your list, alas). And KKennedy's Syrah is very good. Dale

Dale Williams Drop "damnspam" to reply

If you are doing Franciscan, park in the south parking lot and when you are done, make a left out of it onto Galleron Lane, not back on to 29, just yet. About 1/8 mile, on your left is Sullivan. They are small and you will probably only have 3 wines to taste, their Bordeaux Blend "Coeur de Vigne," Merlot & Cab, but they are all BIG reds. If you get lucky, and they Chard is then available, ask for a taste of it too. In years past, their Chard was Montrachet level, but they lost their vineyard and when it was re-planted, they went with reds. They also lost a vintage of sourced Chard, but that which I had was almost as good as what they made from their own grapes. It's quick, nice, and well worth the minor detour.

Hunt

[SNIP]

in article snipped-for-privacy@news3.newsguy.com, Hunt at snipped-for-privacy@hunt.com wrote on

11/16/04 2:51 PM:

We found Sullivan in almost exactly that way a few years ago. Their site says Chard IS available now. I never see their wine anywhere in SoCal, and it is a bit pricey, but WOW ........ BIG is only the beginning of the TNs on Sullivan reds. Thanks for the reminder, I drank the last bottle a few months ago, so may just have to stop by this trip.

I'd appreciate any TN's on the Chard, if you do manage to get by - so-o-o much wine, so little time! Luckily, I scored a case+ of the '99, and it's drinking beautifully now. Considering the problems of their last few vintages of this wine, I hope that their sourced fruit lives up to their own from years back.

Most of all, enjoy what sounds like a wonderful trip!

Hunt

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It's not on your list but I'd suggest adding a stop at Bonny Doon winery. Randall Graham produces some excellent wines and a visit to the winery is always a great experience.

Jim