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!!!

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.

Did a wine tasting yesterday and the wine was excellent and so was the service. The setting outside…read moreon the deck was very comfortable with many trees and winery vines within our view. Definitely deserves a return visit.

The patio tasting area is OK; about on par with other places like Nicholson etc. You can bring food…read morefor a picnic while tasting. But the draw here is that you can walk into the vineyard, up to the top of the ridge, and get a superb view, and picnic on the tables. My favorite wine from the standard tasting was the Night Owl GSM (Granache / Syrah / Mourvedre). They are part of the Santa Cruz Wine Passport locations.

Stopped at El Vaquero for a tasting because I love discovering new to me wineries. This place looks…read morelike a local joint--in a really good way! They regularly have bands and events. So, in a small place like Corralitos, this is important! The wines were good, the ambiance was authentic, and I'm sure the events are awesome and well attended.

Ooh it was my first time at El Vaquero Winery, and I loved it! The wine was delicious, the people…read morewere inviting, and the band was great! The venue is pretty large so it hosted a lot of people, which fit the evening band event well because there was a great turnout! There was a food truck just outside so you could bring food in, and we saw many tables with Tupperware so they must allow outside food as well (it may be just for events, so I'd call to confirm). The only reason I had to knock one star off is because of the ambiance. There are many wineries in the area, and El Vaquero is wonderful... it is just a more casual casual, basic setting. The things that count (wine and people) are fantastic though!

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!

MJA Vineyards Wine and Tasting Room....I love you! I always…read morehave a wonderful time when I stop by, and I am always treated like family; Marin's energy and generous Aloha spirit make customers feel welcome. There are all kinds of varietals--seriously, there are so many to try! Plus, it is easy to leave having made new friendships. I also love being part of the wine club and the perks, and I have been a member for about ten years. The wine club member parties and movie nights are a great time. There is a wine for everyone. The Cabernets age very well. I just opened a 2013 Cab this week ("Still Horny" ????) that was awesome.

Ambience is convivial. I sipped by way through a wine tasting. Here are my rankings on a 5 point…read morescale. The 2019 Cab from MJA vineyards (Suave) had the best value: 4.7: 2018 Cab "Penetration". Serene Cellars. Vermouth note. $135. 4.7: 2018 Cab "Too risque". Serene Cellars. Deep and smoky. $135. 4.6: 2019 Cab "Suave". MJA vineyards. $80. 4.6: 2019 Cab "Lei'd". Serene Cellars: $135. 4.5: 2011 Cab "Distraction". Serene Cellars. Almost gone. 4.5: 2017 Cab "Foreplay". Serene Cellars. $135. 4.5: 2020 Pinot Noir "Wink". Davine Cellars. Nice layer of smoke. $48. 4.4: 2020 Cab "Debonair". MJA Vineyards. Concentrated and peppery $85. 4.3: 2018 Malbec "Sneaky". Davine Cellars. $58. 3.0: 2017 Merlot "Elegant". Davine Cellars. Too sour. $58. They also had a pizza popup on Saturday by Italia Fire, a wood-buring pizza popup. I tried the chicken pesto pizza $22, but it was lacking in flavor, and the crust was doughy and undercooked.

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.

My review is not about the wine- full disclosure because when I took the 30 minute drive up the…read morewinding road (beautiful drive by the way) it was closed but looked more deserted. I should have taken a picture to post. The worse part than being closed is I was meeting a girlfriend there and we were both very excited to try the wine and catch some hill top sun rays. When we arrived we were confused as there are no signs open or closed but the environment kind of spoke for itself, clearly no upkeep on the grounds, overgrown weeds and not watered potted plants, debris everywhere. Outdoor patio furniture was dirty/dusty it just looked like no one had been there for a few months If this business is not permanently closed please advice. The place was closed June 8th, 2019 at 12:15pm, it would be extremely helpful to update your hours online seeing as to how the drive is not the most convenient for everybody.

We like to explore the wine growing areas around the Bay Area and the Santa Cruz mountains is a…read morefavorite area with many wineries beautifully tucked away in remote areas of the region. We picked up a flyer at one winery and it directed us to Poetic Cellars which is really tucked away on Soquel Road. It is unlikely you stumble across this winery, it is in the middle of nowhere. The winery is new, Katie the wine maker and owner is usually pouring the wine herself, there is usually a food pairing table to enjoy along with some interesting "artsy" stuff. The dogs Goldie and Whitie are on site to greet you and your dog is welcome as well. The vibe is warm and friendly, the wines are so good I joined their wine club.