I can't recommend Thomas Fogarty Winery enough! My husband and I held the kick-off event for our…read moredaughter's graduation weekend there. Booking for our 13-person wine tasting party was easy over the phone. All of my questions were answered to my satisfaction, including about the level of difficulty of the walking tour we could add to the reservation. When we arrived, the views from atop the hill were breathtaking! The property is gorgeous! We had an indoor or outdoor seating option, based on the weather. We luckily had a spectacular, sunny day, so the outdoor patio was quickly set up for us. Our hostess, Jodi, was wonderful! She was very accommodating and knowledgeable about the history of the winery. She shared informative and entertaining stories about the founder, his family, and about day to day operations. We had a wonderful, festive time! The wines we tasted, and ordered glasses of, were delicious! A more robust snack game would have been welcomed, but the charcuterie and cracker packs were just enough to keep the alcohol from going too much to our heads. I would definitely go back to the Thomas Fogarty winery when I'm in the area again!

Likely a beautiful winery, extremely disappointing experience…read more We chose Thomas Fogarty Winery as part of a special 70th birthday celebration and were really looking forward to enjoying the property and views that the winery is known for. Unfortunately, when we arrived we learned that the property had been rented out for a private event. We were never informed of the full buyout when we made our reservation. As a result, instead of being able to enjoy the grounds, we were seated in the front area next to the parking lot and essentially excluded from the part of the property that was a major reason we chose Thomas Fogarty in the first place. I completely understand hosting private events. What I don't understand is continuing to accept tasting reservations without clearly telling guests in advance that their experience will be significantly restricted. Had we been told, we simply would have chosen another winery for such an important occasion. The wine wasn't the issue. The problem was paying for and planning around a Thomas Fogarty winery experience and then arriving to discover that the experience we reasonably expected wasn't available and the service staff was rude and dismissive. For a normal afternoon this would have been disappointing. For a milestone 70th birthday that we specifically planned in advance, it was extremely frustrating. If the property is substantially unavailable because of a private buyout, customers holding tasting reservations deserve to know before they arrive.

Loved this very small winery atmosphere. We were greeted by the owner/winemaker, Len, and treated…read moreto a tasting outdoors in a shady area with a communal picnic table. Most of the grapes are grown nearby and all of the wine was made by Len. This was a thoroughly enjoyable experience laced with philosophy and stories of the winemaker community in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Not to mention Bruno, the dog, who was eager to play and slightly demanding, but very sweet. Dessert wine (white port) was very unique. Portola holds Jazz concerts on Sunday evenings in the summer. I would recommend trying to buy tickets for these. Looks like a treat!

We come here every year for their jazz in the Grove series. It is such a great event. I highly…read morerecommend taking advantage of this. Where else can you grab a chair, sit out in the woods and listen to some jazz for an hour and a half while sipping wine?

Great staff, good vibe, amazing cheese platter. Wines were ok. But a good place in peninsula for…read morewine tasting in the woods

TLdr; beautiful location, average wine…read more Tasting Fee is $35 per guest. Cheese and charcuterie for 4 was $80. One tasting waived if you buy $100 of wine. 2024 Leona Unoaked Chardonnay vs 2023 Leoncita Chardonnay. No contest. The 2023 in oak was MUCH better. 2024 Lucy's Rosé of Pinot Noir 2022 Hidden Block Pinot Noir 2016 Hidden Block Pinot Noir Not surprisingly, 2016 had the most complexity. Rosé is decent, if that's your thing. The grounds are scenic and the facility was modern and clean. The people working here are very nice but it gets busy so there were sometimes uncomfortably long gaps between pours.

Wines are ok. Very dog friendly and the food looks good! Seating is a bit tight, and at times hard…read moreto find, but it was a nice local place to visit. Service was good too.

Actually it's at and put on by Autovino. Their Friday afternoon outdoor live music shows are worth…read morechecking out. The pizzas and chicken wings are delicious, too.

We dropped in Sunday around 4pm. Glad we made it before it closed at 5pm. Nice staff. We also met…read morethe winemaker Spencer. They are generous with the wine pours. $18 tasting fee for 5 wines. Their wines are bolder tasting and not bad. Most of the wines weren't tannic until you get to the last one. But nothing really stood out for us to buy any bottles. You can revisit an extra wine at the end. You can also bring outside food. They are dog and kid friendly. An open aired winery room. They also have tasting at the bar. Parking is on the street or in the parking lot shared with Devil's Canyon brewery. 1 bathroom inside. Give this place a try! Friends said it's better than the bland wines at Woodside Vineyard that they went to before coming here.

Spencer is a great host, their collection of wines have aged beautifully, and their tasting space…read morehas not only an attractive bar up front but also open space in the back for large parties or quiet enjoyment of their wines.

WORLD RENOWNED! 5.0…read more Living in the Bay Area, we're fortunate to have Ridge Winery right in our own "backyard." Ridge's winemakers craft some of the most exceptional wines by blending a variety of grapes into the finished product...the wine in your glass. Everywhere we dine, both on land and at sea, the Ridge name is well known and highly respected for producing outstanding wines. From the base of the mountain, the 15-minute drive up Montebello Road is a winding route to the winery. Some of the turns have a very tight radius, and you'll be sharing the road with cyclists as well as oncoming traffic, so drive with extra caution. Before your visit, be sure to reserve a tasting on their website. Tastings are available for a fee for non-members. We belong to the Trio Membership, which includes ATP, Z List, and Monte Bello Collector. Ridge also offers private release events for members, along with additional benefits depending on the membership level (see their membership page for details). These events often feature exclusive tastings and wine releases accompanied by hors d'oeuvre stations arranged throughout the property. On non-event days, our tastings are complimentary, and we're allowed to bring up to two guests. Small bites, including cheeses, crackers, pâté, and salami, are available for purchase. When the weather is just right (not too hot or too cold) the winery opens several seating areas, including the covered barn, the shaded patio adjoining the barn, and multiple patio spaces at varying elevations throughout the property. Wear comfortable shoes, as you'll be walking along short but hilly paved pathways. One word of caution: you'll notice posted signs warning, "Beware of Rattlesnakes." Fortunately, we've yet to encounter one. The winery itself is absolutely beautiful, with impeccably manicured grounds. Meandering pathways lead you through the barn, out to the patios, and up to the top of the hill, where you're rewarded with breathtaking views of the valley. You know you're perched high above Silicon Valley when you look down and spot two iconic landmarks: Apple's Ring Building, better known as "The Spaceship," and Moffett Field's Hangar One. At an elevation of 2,300 feet, these massive structures appear surprisingly small. The winery's crème de la crème is the Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon. Not only does this wine age beautifully, but it has also appreciated significantly in value over the years. We currently have a 2009 bottle that will need to be opened soon. I recommend following the guidance printed on the back label, which suggests the ideal number of years to cellar the wine before opening. During our last tasting, I especially enjoyed the 2024 Paso Robles Zinfandel, which has a recommended drinking window of about seven years. It was already drinking beautifully, but I'm looking forward to tasting it again in 2031 and comparing how it has evolved. A visit to Ridge Winery always makes for a wonderful afternoon: a scenic, twisty drive, thoughtfully guided wine tastings, spectacular views, and, of course, a few bottles to bring home and enjoy later. This review isn't intended to analyze the subtleties and tasting notes of each wine. Rather, it's an invitation to experience Ridge for yourself, learn about its wines through a guided tasting, and discover your own favorites. Compare, explore, and elevate your palate.

Amazing winery operating as Ridge since mid 1960s. Beautiful location on top of a hill in the Santa…read moreCruz mountains near Palo Alto and nestled among the redwoods and mature oaks. Prior to Ridge, someone else owned the property with some vines over 100 years old. Producing over 1 million bottles a year Ridge wines are readily available throughout the United States and even OUS. Many visitors like us are familiar with Ridge. Visiting gives a whole new perspective on the interesting history of the winery, types of wines, and lovely Cabernet they produce right here on this property. We were welcomed by a gentlemen named Cosmo who was enthusiastic and proud of the wines and history of the Property. Well done Cosmo! Why four stars versus five.... Wine tasting was $110 for two people - minus half star. Their Cab Sav from this winery is $100 per bottle. It tastes like a $22 bottle - minus half star. The software to set up tasting is clunky and wasn't sure what we had bought. Their elite Cab Sav is world class but out of range for most including me at $500 per bottle retail. Their other whites and blended Zins are more reasonable and generally of good quality. Cheers Yelpers :)

This is a family winery operated by the couple: R&W. They grow half an acre of grapes and buy from…read moreother growers. Clearly, this is a labor of passion. We visitors are sponsoring their expensive hobby and this is the best kind. We sampled and bought some of their products. We had a short tour and enjoyed the expansive and breath-taking view. We had a very nice chat and were on our way onward. Note that the wines are really not interesting. They were quite good, but the quantity is so small that you are unlikely to get the same next year. They make only Cabernet Sauvignon, by the way.

We were lucky to able to make an appointment for 3 of us on the day of. We arrived on time for our…read moreSaturday 1pm appointment. It was $10 for tasting 4 wines. 3 cabs and 1 syrah. We liked the 3rd cab on the list. The syrah tasted lighter than other syrahs I've tasted. I'm guessing there can only be at most 2 appointments at once. We were there at 1pm and another group came at 1:30pm. We all got to go on a short tour to the vineyard and the wine cellar basement. One bathroom in the house for guests to use. Driving up to the vineyard was very narrow and scary. There's 4-5 parking spaces. Very intimate and quiet tasting experience. Noelle and Bill were very friendly and welcoming. They only make about 300 wines. About 75 for each wine. Prices of the wines vary from $25-40. Their dog is very friendly. My husband got a nice extra splash for drinking his wine fast haha. Bill didn't want him to have an empty glass during the tour. Thoughtful of him! Definitely check out this vineyard if you like red wines and more intimate setting.

I organized a group meet up here and I was surprised at how great it turned out! We grabbed a…read morepicnic table thinking there were just a few but walking up a bit, we saw a whole row more! Very low key, chill vibes compared to Napa's 'need to impress' feels. The staff were super friendly and helpful and our group ended up doing bottles in buckets! Their set up was SO cute! Their wine was good too! I didn't get a chance to buy a bottle while there but thankfully, they are close so can swing by another time!

This is a hidden gem. It's right next to a hiking trail - a great spot to hang out with friends…read moreafter a long hike. A bottle of wine ranges from $45- $75 (as I recall), very reasonable considering you can use their picnic tables throughout the day. It's on a first come first served basis, and they don't rent out their space for private parties. One feedback though - since I haven't had their wine before, I asked for a small sip between the two wine before purchasing and they said "buy the full tasting".