A Taste of The Mountains At Mountain Winery

April 15, 2022 – Next Sunday, April 24, marks the first time since 2014 that a major Santa Cruz Mountains Wine Tasting event has been held at the Mountain Winery—the iconic and historic property built and made famous by Paul Masson. Located in the hills above Saratoga, it enjoys a splendid view of the entire Silicon Valley and is surrounded by vines. The last time the wineries of the region gathered to pour their wares there was for Pinot Paradise, which has sadly been relegated to the must heap of misguided intentions. But life goes on and grape vines most assuredly do not really care.

This event will certainly be both an oasis of Chardonnay and a paradise for Pinot Noir, although you can also expect a good sampling of other reds, along with some zippy Gruner Veltliner from Alfaro, Marty Mathis and Neely Vineyard. The latter’s winemaker, Shalini Sekhar, is a big fan, and makes it under her personal label, OttaVino. Could Gruner be a regional grape? Hmmm. 

Newish Wineries You May Not Know

There are lots of wineries signed up for this event, but a few might not be household names just yet. Here are some you need to know.

Aptos Vineyard: Alexandra Baker told us they would be pouring their 2018 and 2019 Pinot Noirs and their 2020 Rosé of Pinot Noir from DiLarDi Vineyard. They will also be previewing their yet unreleased 2020 Chardonnay as well as their 2019 Syrah. Both the Chardonnay and Syrah are from Lester Family Vineyard.

Charmant Vineyards – Located in Aptos, this 16-acre vineyard is now farmed by Eugene “Eug” and Julie Theron, a couple originally from South African who fell in love with the place in 2014. It was planted to Pinot Noir by Jim Schultze and former property owners Dick and Diane Klein for use by Windy Oaks. Fans of Windy Oaks will fondly remember Diane’s Block Pinot. Eug makes Charmant Pinot Noir from the estate and sources Chardonnay from Tondre Grapefield in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Check out the story here: CharmantStory

Inversion Wines – Started in 2019 by the folks who run Coastal Viticulture, Cody and Taylor Muhly, the wines are made by Peter Kerchner, who also makes wines for many of their small vineyard clients. Inversion refers to the layer of fog that keeps the vineyards cool in the evenings, receding to let in the sun’s warmth. The wines are named for the vineyard workers, including the 2019 Fernando Chardonnay and the 2018 Santos Syrah. 

La Vida Bella – Pamela Minnick and Joseph Quink gave up a cozy Willow Glen life to tend a beautiful Aptos vineyard property that shares a fence line with Alfaro. They couldn’t be happier, remodeling their dream home in the Aptos hills, overlooking the vineyards, olive orchards and barn that serves as wine tasting room, barrel storage, kitchen and workout room. Their hospitality is hard to beat, as is their unoaked Chardonnay. Hope they pour their sparkling! Made by Dan Person of Carboniste, it’s awesome.  Open the first Saturday of the month only. LaVidaBella

Madson Wines – This collaboration between Cole Thomas and Ken and Abbey Swegles, was launched in 2018. Cole comes by his love of viticulture by way of being an organic vegetable farmer, edible landscaper, and manager of the Demeter Seed Library (a non-profit seed saving project). Working for Jeff Emery of Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard got him started in vines and a gig in Central Otago, New Zealand, led him to natural winemaking, which is not so different from how Emery has always done it. Madson specializes in wines from “project” vineyards that he and Ken are lovingly rehabbing. Cole says he’s pouring 202 Toyon Pinot Noir and 2020 SCM Chardonnay.

Regan Vineyards Winery – Does this ring a bell? It’s John Bargetto’s ode to the vineyard in Corralitos from which his Bargetto Winery fruit is sourced. He decided to dedicate some of the best blocks to a separate winery entity, which was birthed last fall. Check out their new 2020 Mt. Eden clone Pinot Noir and 2020 Regan Chardonnay. ReganVyd

Roberts Ranch Vineyards: These new to you folks will be pouring a 2019 Estate Pinot Noir from their vineyard in Ben Lomond and a 2019 Reserve Pinot Noir from Lester Family Vineyard, as well as 2018 and 2019 Chardonnays from Santa Cruz Mountains grapes from a vineyard in Woodside. 

Sandar & Hem – Robert and Recha Bergstrom plan to pour 2019 Bald Mountain Chardonnay,  2020 Bates Ranch Grenache Rosé, 2019 Mindego Ridge Pinot Noir and a second Chardonnay TBD, perhaps the 2020 Mountain Winery Chardonnay, if it shows well this week. It was bottled just a few weeks back.opportunity to meet this dedicated student of the Santa Cruz Mountains who counts local legends Jeffrey Patterson (Mount Eden) and Eric Baugher (formerly Ridge) among his inspirations.  Sandar&Hem

Known Entities

Here’s a quick preview of what some of the more well-known wineries will be pouring. 

Alfaro Vineyards: Richard, who is recuperating from an Achilles tendon tear while walking on vacation in Hawaii (ouch!!), tells us that Ryan is pouring 2020 Gruner Veltliner, 2020 Trout Gulch Chardonnay, 2019 Heirloom Clone Pinot and 2020 Trout Gulch Pinot. Definitely worth a trip to the big A to check those out!

Bargetto Winery:  You’ll be treated to quite the breadth of wines from Bargetto, beginning with the 2019 Heritage SCM Pinot Grigio, 2020 Reserve Pinot Noir, 2018 Reserve SCM Cabernet Sauvignon and the statuesque 2017LaVita Italian Blend. All but the Cabernet are sourced from Regan Vineyard.

Big Basin Vineyards: Winemakers Bradley Brown and Blake Yarger will be pouring a great lineup of BBV wines, including 2018 Estate Roussanne, 2018 Alfaro Family Vineyards Pinot Noir, 2019 Old Corral Pinot Noir Estate, 2016 Grizzly Grenache Estate and 2017 Sixty-Two Terraces Syrah Estate (93pts, Wine Enthusiast). 

Gali Vineyard: Janice and Joseph Gali will be pouring the following wines from their vineyard in Watsonville: 2017 Pinot Noir, 2018 Chardonnay and 2018 Tempranillo.  They’ve had their wine made by Tony Craig. The wines will also be poured in the VIP bar, including the 2021 Rosé of Tempranillo. 

Kings Mountain Vineyard: From one of the most pampered and picturesque vineyards on the east side of the ridge, Kings Mountain Pinot Noirs are made with 100% new French oak. The 2018 vintage is showing beautifully, and the 2018 Clone 13 (Martini) was just awarded Double Gold and 97 points at the LA Times Competition for its racy acidity, cranberry, cinnamon, bourbon Old Fashioned with rhubarb bitters and a touch of root beer. The 2018 Bacchus was awarded a Silver.

Left Bend:  Richard Hanke reports that he’ll be pouring 2018 Gali Vineyard Chardonnay, 2018 Gali Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2018 Camel Hill Vineyard Cabernet Franc, and the Mashup V6, Solera Blend, all from the Santa Cruz Mountains. Richard hosts tastings at his vineyard in the hills adjacent to Mount Madonna. 

Lester Family Vineyards: This warm and ripeful vineyard along Pleasant Valley Road produces a wealth of sumptuous fruit. They will be featuring their 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir, made by John Benedetti, and two Pinot Noirs, the 2018 Mercurio and the 2018 Domingo.  

Marty Mathis: This is a most amazing lineup!! Marty says he’s pouring 2005 Kathryn Kennedy Estate Cabernet ($400/ bottle); 2018 Kathryn Kennedy Estate Cabernet ($99); 2021 Albariño Organic Wine by M. Mathis Winegrower ($19.50) and 2021 Sauvignon Blanc “Made with Organic Grapes,” North Coast ($27.75). 

Neely Wines: The vineyard goddess herself, Lucy Neely, told us they’d be pouring 2018 Hidden Block Pinot Noir, 2018 Picnic Block Pinot Noir, 2019 Bee Block Chardonnay and 2021 Grüner Veltliner.

Storrs Winery: Winemaker Pamela Storrs tells us they’ll be pouring 2020 Christie Vyd Chardonnay, 2018 Santa Cruz Mtns Pinot Noir, 2018 Santa Cruz Mtns Petite Sirah and 2018 Rusty Ridge Old Vine Zinfandel. They will also be donating 3 bottles of their 2020 Santa Cruz Mountains Rosé of Pinot Noir to the VIP lounge.   

Windy Oaks: Proprietor Judy Schultze says son Spencer and his wife Jamie will be pouring the 2019 Windy Oaks Estate Whole Cluster Limited Release Pinot Noir, which is done with 100% whole cluster for a unique fleshiness and density in the mid-palate. Chardonnay connoisseurs won’t want to miss the 2018 One-Acre Chardonnay from a special block in the estate vineyard overlooking the Monterey Bay. 

Wrights Station Vineyard & Winery:  You have to love owner/winemaker Dan Lokteff, for his refreshing honesty. He is pouring their 2019 Pinot Gris, Laga Lomita Vineyard; 2018 Estate Cuvee Chardonnay, SCM; and 2018 Cave Block Pinot Noir from the Santa Cruz Mountains. There’s much deep red up in those hills.

Tickets for the Grand Tasting, 1pm until 4pm, at The Mountain Winery, at $68pp, are still available at: SCMGRAND (VIP Tickets are sold out)