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Big Basin Vineyards

4.2 (13 reviews)
Closed • 12:00 pm - 5:00 PM

About Big Basin Vineyards

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Rattlesnake Rock Syrah at the Big Basin Winery tasting patio.
Bradley N.

When I first heard about Big Basin, it sounded like something extraordinary. Too fancy for my tastes at the time. Too beloved by the critics. Too much ambition to supernova into the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA universe of ultra premium Rhône, Burgundian, and Bourdeaux varietal wines. Then, after becoming part of their entry-level wine club, Big Basin became something entirely ordinary. Ordinary, in a really good way. Routine visits to their winery and tasting room to pick up shipments, attend events, listen to live music, and get to know the place itself a bit better instead of the 90+ accolades splashed all over the top-tier sections of the global wine press. It was just another special place in our immediate vicinity that made living in the San Francisco Bay Area such a fantastic privilege. Then, Big Basin was almost lost. Nearly consumed in the devastating wildfires that scorched so much of the surrounding area in late summer 2020. The owner's majestic house on the hilltop collapsed in dust, smoke, and fading embers. The redwoods and vines were wounded, but they recovered. Barely. It was a near miss. And a signal that life isn't just about ordinary and extraordinary experiences. Life flows deeper than all of that. It's about the interplay of transience and constancy. Passing moments and persistent connections. 90 point scores are blips on radar screens. Vineyards emerge from the ground and return to ash, one day. People die. But the spirit of it all in a holistic, all-encompassing sense remains. Big Basin means something else to me now at this stage. It's Bradley and Blake and Emily and all the rest of their dedicated team. It's Old Corral and Coastview and 62 Terraces and Odeon and Alfaro and all the rest. It's foggy mornings and sun-splashed afternoons and sunset under blankets accompanied by red wine and close companions. It's a level of intimacy that I rarely encounter outside of my own domicile and home ground (my personal terroir, so to speak) and that I generally don't talk about on social media. Look: there are 10 reviews of this on place on Yelp. That's about 1000x fewer than it deserves. It's that extraordinary. Or ordinary. Or transient. Or persistent. Take your pick. They are just words and stars, after all. They aren't real. But this place is. It really is. Try rating that on Yelp. It can't be done. I know, because I've tried.

A lovely tasting setting...
Sidney S.

"There are three things, and three things only, that can lift the pain of mortality and ease the ravages of life," said Spider. "These things are wine, women and song"... "Curry's nice too" pointed out Fat Charlie" ― Neil Gaiman, Anansi Boys I'd add barbeque to that list but that's just me ;-) This was an unscheduled stop after a 4 hour hike in the rainforest that was Big Basin on this day. Wine seemed the perfect ending and I had enjoyed my visit to Big Basin's space in Saratoga a few years ago. Plus, I had just purchased a six pack of BB wines through the annual sale on the Wineberserker's Anniversary Sale (a bulletin board for wine geeks that wineries participate in yearly). The signs bring you to a secluded winery in a picturesque residential area not far from the park's entrance. It is a lovely setting to taste and has only been open for a few years. It looks like my Yelp Wine Friends Bradley and Camelia discovered this place before and they have described it perfectly so I will keep my review shorter. However, I will say BB's wines are unusually refined and sophisticated. We loved the 2014 Old Corral Syrah and the 2016 Vida Bella Chardonnay. But everything was wonderful on this day and we joined the wine club at the custom case level. Santa Cruz Mountains have two of my favorite wineries: Domaine Eden and Ridge. Now I can add Big Basin to that superior list. Highly recommended!

Irina V.

There are not many wineries in Big Basin Redwoods. At Big Basin Vineyards we enjoyed every single one of their wines that we got to taste from the first tasting menu. I loved the setup of this winery. This winery is outdoors and you get to pick an available table and enjoy the view of grapevines surrounded by redwoods. This type of setting is more romantic and private. It is far better than standing next to a bunch of people. We also felt like we could enjoy the wine longer here and we weren't rushed.

Karen S.

We had some time to kill before meeting friends for lunch and we thought a stop at Big Basin was a nice way to do it. It's a bit out of the way, to the point where you start to wonder where this long twisting and turning road is going to take you, but you will eventually get to the winery. We didn't have a lot of time so opted for a glass instead of a full tasting. It's a really nice spot to sit under the umbrella with views of the vineyard. The wines were surprisingly good and we shipped six bottles home. The staff was more than willing to give us a few splashes to try some of the other wines. I wouldn't hesitate to stop in again and if you are looking for a low-key spot to enjoy some wine, this will definitely fit the bill.

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5 months ago

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1 year ago

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7 years ago

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Bradley B.

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Ask the Community - Big Basin Vineyards

Review Highlights - Big Basin Vineyards

“Santa Cruz Mountains have two of my favorite wineries: Domaine Eden and Ridge.”

Mentioned in 2 reviews

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Domaine Eden

Domaine Eden

5.0(4 reviews)
6.9 mi

Hidden gem. Mount Eden and Domaine Eden are pretty much sister wineries. You can taste wines from…read moreboth vineyards at both locations (ME is only open weekdays, DE only open weekends) We shared a chardonnay flight $40, pinot noir flight $45, and cabernet flight $65. Each consisted of 3 - 3 oz pours. The 3 flights covered all the wines they had available for tasting. Not a single bad wine and we liked most of them. Prices are on the higher end, but wines are high quality They allow outside food. Have both indoor and outdoor seating. Decent views. Service was excellent. Tasting by appointment only The drive there is no fun, literally on a dirt road hiking path for a mile or 2. Not enough room for 2 way traffic, but luckily we didn't encounter any other cars on the road going there or leaving. Worth checking out

We made reservations for Saturday 3:30pm and it was not busy at all. Only two other tables were…read moretaken outside. It seems like a pretty chill winery. They just opened last year so I guess not many people know about it. But the drive up is rough and winding. The one way dirt road is shared with hikers too. It is sister winery to Mount Eden. Mount Eden is only open weekdays while Domaine Eden is only open weekends. They serve both wineries' wines for tasting. They have 5 tasting flights varying from $30, $40, $45, $60, and $65. 3 wines per flight and they pour a good portion. We got to try 3 different flights to share. Mount Eden Estate , Chardonnay, and Cabernet flight. All the wines were pretty good. Fruit forward and bold. Our favorites were the first Chardonnay , Pinot noir Tanaka project , and Cab from Mount Eden library. I believe it was 3 bottles purchase to waive a tasting fee. Pricey wines. There was only one male staff. He was friendly and made sure we had enough shade when the umbrella shade moved. You can bring outside food. Nice Mountain View.

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Domaine Eden
Domaine Eden
Domaine Eden

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Vidovich Vineyards - 12/13/25 FYI. Interior.

Vidovich Vineyards

4.6(37 reviews)
8.9 mi

I am a member and this place is awesome! The staff is all super friendly, definitely worth a visit,…read moreawesome view

Quality/Quantity - The better of the two vineyards we visited today. And our friends are members of…read morethe first winery..... Since this was our second vineyard today, we decided to only share a bottle; it was only bottle service. But then the team member started giving us a few tastings?!?! Not sure if it was due to closing time and they just wanted to finish the bottles...? Either way, GREAT service! Our friends let me select the wine and vintage. After trying a few cabs, I decided on the 2011 cab which I felt was the smoothest of the 3 splashes. If you were not so far away, I might consider becoming a member. Well, I am still considering it... Ambiance - Beautiful winery. And we were able to catch the early sunset during the winter hours. Huge indoor and outdoor space, my pictures do not do it justice. Two unisex restrooms on either side of the estate. Plenty of parking, well we did get here an hour before closing. Service - 5 stars, from the greeter to the person serving us at our tables. Price - $55 a bottle + generous tip. And of course we bought a few bottles to go. After fighting to try to pay, our friend won and would NOT let us pay/treat. So nice to have good friends! Owner Comment - Congrats on your winery success since 1996. And to your family's previous history that dates back 4 generations.

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Vidovich Vineyards
Vidovich Vineyards - 2016 Monte Bello Road Zinfandel

2016 Monte Bello Road Zinfandel

Vidovich Vineyards - Vidovich Vineyards Tasting Room

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Vidovich Vineyards Tasting Room

Savannah Chanelle Vineyard - Electric X Band playing Saturday Night Music Line Up

Savannah Chanelle Vineyard

3.8(339 reviews)
6.3 mi
•$$

How have I never heard of this lovely winery? I had the pleasure of attending their Summer Music…read moreseries, but was immediately struck with the gorgeous views of the property. Stunning views of the bay, rolling mountainside with grape vines, and then the lush green of the redwood forest carved out this magical micro climate in the Saratoga Hills. There was a red-forward tasting menu, and I fell in love with the heavy, and complex pour on the Bourrée and the refreshing fresh sangria. But there wasn't one wine that I was upset about drinking, and I sipped each new sample with delight. I can't tell you what I loved more: the wines, or the lovely and attentive customer service of Lisa. Thank you for making me feel instantly at home in a new space. The entire grounds was a photoshoot waiting to happen, and I heard there are some lovely hiking trails right through this winery. It's hidden gems like this that make me fall in love with my hood a little more with every discovery.

Lovely spot. Chardonnay is good. Staff is great…read more However, next to the self-service water jug was a sign saying "Don't fill your personal water bottles." Besides the absurdity (you could take one or more of their plastic water glasses and refill them as many times as you want), I wonder why someone who has chosen to be in the hospitality business also chose to display such an inhospitable (rude, even) message. Perhaps their intention was something like "If you refill your own water bottle (thanks for bringing it!), please ensure that the bottle does not touch the spigot." Or perhaps "Please help conserve water." Instead, it basically said "If you absolutely must have some water, we begrudgingly allow you to have a little bit of ours." Come on.

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Savannah Chanelle Vineyard
Savannah Chanelle Vineyard
Savannah Chanelle Vineyard - Chardonnay

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Chardonnay

Harley Farms

Harley Farms

4.6(423 reviews)
12.7 mi
•$$

We did the $90 tour where you spend two hours learning about the farm, learning about the goats…read more Part of the experience was learning how to milk the goats! Then we got to see where the cheese is made and even personalize a goat cheese of our own. This was a really unique and interesting experience. I will have to come back in the spring when they have baby goats. The little shop is cute and sells their goat cheese and other products. With doing the tour, we got a 10% discount on the additional cheese we bought.

- I recommend the Farmstead cheese tour: $58. You see the entire farm and operation, and you get to…read moremilk a goat. It's great. - Mingling with the goats is very relaxing. It's worth the trip. - Starting around February/March you can see the baby goats; they are bigger in the summer. - Their goat cheese products have less of a gamey goat flavor; it's more of a clean tangy flavor from the salty ocean breeze. - Afterward, I recommend stopping at Arcangeli Grocery in town to pick up some of their bread. - Sante Arcangeli winery has wine tasting in the second floor hay loft. For the products in the shop, there is no info on the website, so here's the inventory: Strawberry Jam: $18 for 8 oz. Pescadero strawberries, lemon juice, sugar Olallieberry Jam: $18 for 8 oz. Pescadero ollalieberries, lemon juice, sguar Olallieberry Vinaigrette, 250ml, $26 Olallieberry nectar 250ml, $26 Olallieberry Vinegar, 375ml: Olallieberry juice and rice vinegar. $32 Chocolate pot $12. Looks like a pot-de-creme Milk pot $12. Looks like a pot-de-creme Lavender Lemonade $12 Goat cheese honey lavender 8 oz: $26 Goat cheese small rounds: $16 Goat cheese large rounds: $26 Goat cheese: small Classic french log, herbes de provence, chive, dill, or pepper: $14 Fromage blanc plain 5.5 oz: $16 Garlic herb fromage blanc 5.5 oz: $16 Tomato basil fromage blanc 5.5 oz: $16 Harissa $18 1/2 rounds ricotta $20 Chevre-in-oil jars: $26 Honey from the local hives: small $14, med $20, large $40 Estate olive oil: small $45 med $55, large $80 Quail eggs: $12 for a dozen Farm fresh eggs: $14/dozen 2 year aged feta They also sell products from other producers: McEvoy Ranch Mission Fig balsamic Vinegar 8.5 ounces $25 McEvoy Ranch Sweet & Spicy Mustard $18 McEvoy Ranch Classic Italian Bruschetta mix $18 McEvoy Ranch Artichoke & almond Tapenade $18 McEvoy Ranch Artichoke & lemon bruschetta mix $18 McEvoy Ranch Artichoke & Parmesan Pomodoro sauce McEvoy Ranch pitted olives Salt Air Cellars Meyer Lemon red wine vinegar, 8.5 oz $18 Salt Air Cellars Rosemary red wine vinegar, 8.5 oz $18 Salt Air Cellars seasoned salt: Coastal heat, coastal house, Meyer lemon rosemary $18

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Harley Farms - Baby goat

Baby goat

Harley Farms - Cat

Cat

Harley Farms

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McHenry Vineyard

McHenry Vineyard

4.3(6 reviews)
8.0 mi
•$$

I've been trying to get my hands on some great McHenry Pinot Noir for months now and K&L has been…read moreout of stock since my last visit in October. Fortunately the Santa Cruz mountain wineries open with Passport season, but only 4x per year. I wasn't going to miss this opportunity to get my hands on a few bottles of the good stuff. My girlfriend and I made a day trip of it with a stop in Half Moon Bay along the way. The roads are a bit windy and the recent storms left quite a bit of debris in its wake, but it turned out to be an amazing drive to the Santa Cruz mountains along Highway 1. When we arrived, we were greeted by the McHenry family proprietors and offered a tasting of some lovely vintages including the 2012 and 2013 Estate and Swan Clones, and the 2009 Estate (the smokiness which reminded me of bacon). They were even kind enough to open a bottle of 1996 Massaro which was described to me as having a "barnyard" odor. Upon first sip, the barnyard really kicks you in the face, but after letting it breathe a bit, it definitely started to grow on me. I ultimately left with a bottle each of the 2012 and 2013 Swan Clones that I think will be really great with the steak I'm making next week, but I was really impressed with the Pinot selection and the hospitality of the hosts. I highly recommend taking a trip out to visit McHenry Vineyard during the next Passport opportunity!

Fabulous! We came here not knowing what to expect and we found a charming wine maker and some…read moreinteresting wines. We tried 2002 Pinot Noir which was musty but still fruity, 2004 Pinot Noir Swan Clone was musty, 2004 Pinot Noir was light and yummy, 1996 Pinot Noir Carneros was a little more sparkly and a little musty, 2001 Scotts Valley was sparkly and light, and 1999 Pinot Noir Carneros was fizzy, balanced, fruity, with a little tannin. We loved everything about McHenry!

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McHenry Vineyard - Almost missed the sign...

Almost missed the sign...

McHenry Vineyard - Tasting Room

Tasting Room

McHenry Vineyard - Almost there....

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Almost there....

Big Basin Vineyards - winetastingroom - Updated October 2026

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