Santa Cruz Mountains – California’s Hidden Gem

BY ANTONIO GALLONI | NOVEMBER 07, 2023

Tucked into its own little corner of the world, far away from most of California’s better-known regions, the Santa Cruz Mountains is home to a number of world-class estates and equally notable vineyards. Readers who enjoy focused, nervy Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs will find much to explore, as will those who appreciate the more savory, structured side of Cabernet Sauvignon. Although I have not tasted all the wines yet, 2021 is shaping up to be an extraordinary vintage here.

I have written extensively about the Santa Cruz Mountains in the past, so I won’t repeat all the basic information that can be found in previous articles, all linked below. In short, the Santa Cruz Mountains benefits from proximity to the Pacific Ocean, elevation and a complex matrix of soils that result in pedigreed wines of extraordinary nuance, delineation and class.

The region remains largely under the radar because of a unique set of factors that is not likely to change. Although quite easy to reach from many parts of Northern California, most notably the hub of Silicon Valley, the Santa Cruz Mountains lacks the infrastructure to support classic wine tourism. Only a few estates are close to others; vast expanses of land separate most. Additionally, a number of the best wines are made by producers in other regions, mostly in Sonoma, who purchase fruit here but who do not have a physical presence.

As a result, the Santa Cruz Mountains is a place where single estates have carved out identities for themselves but where the region remains an enigma for most consumers. All that makes for an appellation full of potential for discovery. This article focuses on the Santa Cruz Mountains, but I also include wines from other, smaller, nearby appellations.

Rhys’ Skyline Vineyard.