Nicholson Vineyards in Corralitos is such a wonderful find! What impressed us most was the…read moreattentive and welcoming staff. They engaged with us from the moment we arrived, and because it was such a hot day, they thoughtfully offered us ice water. The winery has a superb, lively atmosphere. It was busy during our visit, yet the staff still made us feel well cared for. We also love that it's dog-friendly and allows guests to bring a picnic--perfect for relaxing and enjoying the beautiful setting. There is little to no cell service at the winery, but they thoughtfully provide complimentary Wi-Fi for their guests. The tastings may be a little pricey compared with others in the area, but the hospitality and overall experience make it worthwhile. We had a fantastic time and look forward to returning again and again!

They are open for wine tasting Friday-Sunday 11-5…read more Marguerite is the very engaging owner. They make refreshing, light-bodied wines that are great for summer sipping on the patio. You can bring in picnic food onto the patio. They also have a snack cart. It's a very pleasant way to spend a summer day.

Great landscaping that is hummingbird friendly. No picnics allowed. They have lighter bodied wines…read morewith a heavy acid/citrus note. My favorite wine was the 2022 Cabernet Franc from pleasant valley.

Amazing service and people!!! We came here for my bachelorette and they were so nice and the winery…read moreis BEAUTIFUL!!!! The wine was fantastic and we had an amazing time thanks to the amazing people who run this place! The best part of our trip and I would highly recommend going here!!!

They have a tasting room at the Old Sash Mill, but I went to a tasting at the estate in Aptos,…read morewhich is open Fri-Su noon-5. It's very pleasant to sip wine on the patio. They also have a bocce ball court. Two wines stood out: 5/5: The 2024 Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay; it's rubust, sparkly, with tropical notes. 4/5: The 2024 Monterey Sauvignon blanc: Fruity instead of grassy.

**Overall 3.5 stars**…read more The wine tasted excellent! In fact, all the flavors were complex and delicious that my friends joined their wine club! The winery is situated on a hill. The road to get up the hill is very narrow that we almost missed it bec it looked like a driveway. Once we got past the trees to an opening, it was like orchestral music started playing when we saw the gorgeous Storrs building! The cement structure was so sleek and modern, yet it was in the middle of this farmhouse kind of area... it was a little shocking, in a good way. I feel bad taking off stars because I actually loved the wine at Storrs, but for the cost of the wine tasting per person, I was astonished at how TINY the pours were. We are talking the tiniest sip. You don't even have enough to swish it in your mouth to get a good sense of the wine on your palette. We thought we were being "punked", except every pour was this miniscule. There is also a strict no outside food policy here, yet they don't sell food. This is a big downside for me because I find drinking wine a great opportunity to sit back and relax with friends, and that includes munching on some food! Counter space was very cramped in the tasting room, and no one greeted us or acknowledged that we entered the building even. We just walked around for awhile until we found a tiny corner to insert ourselves. The set up isn't ideal for when there are multiple groups inside. There are tables in an outdoor patio and one long table indoors, but with the tasting pours being half a sip, you really don't need to sit down. So this is a big downside for me. The wine is delicious, so I think it's worth tasting and buying some wine here. My tip is to go on an off day so you can get better customer service and maybe get more than a 0.00001 ounce pour. Haha.

A Hidden Gem in the Redwoods…read more Charmant Vineyards truly has the whole package: exceptional wine, warm hospitality, breathtaking scenery, and a relaxed atmosphere that keeps us coming back. Open until 7:00 p.m. on Saturdays, it's the perfect place to spend a leisurely afternoon or begin a beautiful evening near the coast. The vineyard feels wonderfully secluded among the redwoods, yet it's still easily accessible from the main roads. The views overlooking the vines are incredible, and every visit brings a little magic--we regularly see wild turkeys, have occasionally spotted deer, and always enjoy the fantastic birdwatching. Guests are welcomed with a complimentary glass of bubbly, which immediately makes the experience feel special. Wine is available by the glass or bottle, and the winery is both pet-friendly and picnic-friendly. You can quietly relax and take in the scenery, or enjoy a wonderful conversation with the friendly South African winemakers and fellow wine-club members. There is a genuine sense of community here. If you prefer to sit indoors, the intimate wine room is equally unique. You can enjoy your wine surrounded by the barrels where it is actually made, creating an authentic winery experience. One of our favorite ways to end the day is to head straight down the hill to Rio Del Mar Beach and watch the sunset. Wonderful wine in the redwoods followed by a sunset at the beach--it doesn't get much better than that. With so many excellent wineries in the area, Charmant Vineyards remains the one we return to again and again. We come for the wine, the people, and the scenery. An unforgettable five-out-of-five experience and an absolute must-visit!

Charmant Vineyards is a hidden gem in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA. Beautiful ocean views, amazing…read moresmall-lot wines (the Pinot Noir is a standout), and the friendliest owners you'll ever meet. Boutique, relaxed, and unforgettable -- skip the crowds and savor the coastal vibe here!

We stopped in to Aptos Vineyards tasting room on a Thursday afternoon. What a beautiful little…read moretasting area! Everything about it was lovely. We started as the only two people in the tasting room, but very shortly the entire room was full of all kinds of return customers, mostly wine club members. We sampled their beautiful wines, which were quite good, and enjoyed them. There was no pressure to purchase wine, the tasting room server was as pleasant and knowledgeable as she possibly could have been. She was swamped with people, and someone did come to help her. I loved the location of this tasting room and even though it was small it was nicely appointed and felt akin to someone's living room. I would recommend stopping at Aptos vineyards tasting room next time you are in Aptos!

The wine is excellent. If you can put up with the staff. Rude and pretentious…read more I went in today to purchase my favorite wines as a gift. Not only did the male employee fail to make eye contact or greet me. The female employee made a comment about how "wow - you are really making me do my steps today...". The place is very small. I dropped $200.00 and was never offered a sample. The atmosphere was pretentious and unwelcoming. I highly recommend the wine - but know that if you go - you want to get in and out get out.

Lovely little spot that's finally open on more regular hours. Stop by on a Friday or Saturday…read moreafternoon for pleasant wine and ocean views. I think reservations are required these days, but they're very easy to do online. The seating is in a nice outdoor area in the redwoods overlooking the ocean. A great setting and all of the wines we tried were good as well. Grapes aren't grown on site but are mostly sourced locally which is cool. We enjoyed everything so we were happy to purchase a few bottles. To sweeten the pot they apply your tasting fee to bottle purchase. It's really a no brainier to leave with a wine or two. They're priced pretty reasonably and it's nice supporting a local wine maker.

The scenery is stellar and the lady helping us was nice. Just got a weird feeling when the the…read moresupposed "guy that makes the wines" visits with every party there except for ours. Made us feel a little unwelcome. Then towards then end I'm not sure if we've been spoiled by every other vineyard but she didn't ask if we wanted to re visit any of the wines we tried. Was only asked if we would like to purchase any bottles. We asked if we could try a wine that wasn't on the flight and unfortunately they didn't have an open one. No worries but still wasn't offered anything else. Was a very relaxing experience would maybe come back it's just minor details. Overall had a fine time. To sum it up quickly the wine overall was I'd say a 7.5 out of 10. Some good, others were a bit mute but not bad.

We specifically drove to Bonny Doon to have a tasting at Beauregard. And we are really glad we did…read more Beauregard has a special memory for us as it was the last place we went before lockdown. That day was also beautiful and we decided to take a long drive on that afternoon to have a wine tasting at Beauregard. Yesterday, we entered the tasting room and it was packed! The winemaker, Ryan, was there and was talking to the guests and pouring wines. It's always nice to see and owner/ winemaker in the tasting room interacting with the guests. It also felt very special because California tortoise shell butterflies were all over the area. No one quite knows why they are here, but they are gracing the area with their presence. And it's beautiful. The wines at Beauregard are better than I remembered them. They were excellent and I highly recommend a stop at this tasting room. I do not think you will be disappointed.

Very nice cozy wine tasting room in Bonny Doon. I had the $25 flight. The wines tend to be acidic /…read morecitrusy / astringent. Here are my rankings: 4.3/5: 2024 syrah grenache in neutral oak. good balance. 4.0: Chardonay oeuf: Very yeasty, citrusy, dry. 3.0: 2021 Zinfandel: From beauregard ranch. Aged in neutral oak. Overall it has a weak body. 2.5: 2023 pinot noir: smoky dry. Flavor is flat. From Coast Grade vineyard. Like a tart cranberry. 2.0: White sparkling pinot. No time on the skin. Super dry. Lightly carbonated. Very tart and lemony.

Storrs Winery produces some of my favorite wines. I love the Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc! And…read moreon my recent Santa Cruz getaway, I spontaneously dropped in to the downtown SC winery location. What a great experience! It was meant to be and I love when serendipity happens. Cute, small, intimate tasting room. Beautiful art work visible as you enter. Classy! And a sweet welcoming smile from Charmaine who was front and center behind the counter as we entered. Feeling good vibes already. I explained my long time enjoyment of the Storrs wines... being introduced to them when I began my love of Santa Cruz and my many trips there. The area restaurants, of course, carry the Storrs wines. Which is where I first encountered these great tasting wines. We selected a table in the front of the tasting room. A lovely, peaceful setting under trees with autumn red and gold leaves. Perfect! It was a weekday and no one else was tasting. Late September... such a perfect time to visit. Leisurely tasting. Awesome! Charmaine was well informed of everything about the wines and owners. Husband and wife met at UC Davis in the Oenology Department. The rest is history. I tasted the flagship, so- to-speak, Chardonnay and a fabulous Sauvignon Blanc which were so gooood. But also two, soon-to-be-released, reds which were beyond lovely. Tasting note descriptions included of the wines I tasted (photo). Storrs has also opened a much larger venue for tasting a few miles south of Santa Cruz. Outdoorsy! Next trip I will be checking that out for sure! In the meantime, I will be enjoying my wine purchases from this great visit! Thank you, Charmaine, for an unforgettable afternoon. And yes, a couple of bottles of wine left with me!:) Cheers!

We came to Storrs tasting room on a Thursday afternoon about 4:00 p.m. The hostess was alone in the…read moretasting room and was super friendly. She seated us out in the back and it was really cute. She told us about the birds and all the little nature things around that we should enjoy while we were there. This made it a nicer experience, as it was sort of industrial... Not in a bad way... in a old fashioned Urban redevelopment kind of way. It was interesting. She was very knowledgeable about the wine and the owners and how they had built their business and we enjoyed learning all of that. It was a very nice experience and story. We enjoyed the wines that we tasted, and when we left, the tasting room was full. It seems like many people know about this winery and frequent it often. I recommend a stop at Storrs. It's unique!