It's our first time wine tasting in Soquel. Never knew there's a city that has wineries and tasting rooms. I made reservations a week ago to make sure we had a spot in case it was a busy weekend. I made reservations for a group of 4 on Saturday at 1pm, but we actually had 5 due to last min decision. It was not busy when we arrived Saturday around 1:10pm. Later, more people came by. I don't think you really needed a reservation. The winery doesn't allow outside food or picnic, but we saw people brought snacks and food. The tasting fee is only $10 for 5 wines. There was no price on the tasting menu, but we should've asked. It's two bottles to waive a tasting fee. We got to try an extra Pinot noir and the 2017 Atlas Peak Cab. The cab was the best one. It had more body, flavor, and was smooth. We bought a bottle after we joked and asked if we could waive our tasting fees. All the wines on the tasting menu were just ok. More Italian style of light flavors, but smelled really good to the nose. The best view and nice winery in Soquel so far. Cute garden with foundations. It is located in the mountains with winding roads. Stephanie was also amazing. She's very friendly and knowledgeable. read more

See all

Had a great celebration with my friends and family for my birthday! Great wine lovely people and the owner was very friendly! I will be back soon. read more

We visited Soquel Vineyards for the first time today. Our host, Raquel, was very welcoming, knowledgeable about the wine, and made us feel right at home. The tasting flight consisted of five pours: Chardonnay, two Pinots (one Estate), a red blend, and a Cab Franc. All wines were delicious. We purchased the Estate Pinot Noir and the red blend. The grounds and views are stunning, and on a clear day like today we could see the ocean. Highly recommend and we'll visit again. read more

Soquel Vineyards - View from the patio. - Wineries Near Me - Soquel, California

Outstanding winery and tasting room. We love there Trinity Rosso has been a favorite for years. Actually we used to bring the bins of grapes up to the winery for the brothers for many years. We have enjoyed their wines for 20 plus years even though we are from the Lodi area. read more

Soquel Vineyards is a gorgeous breath of fresh air. I called ahead to make a reservation for a party of two. Peter was helpful and got right back to me. I asked about their Covid-19 guidelines and they told me all the ways they were keeping themselves and everyone who visits safe. All must wear masks when they arrive or when they leave their table. All staff wears their masks and respects your space. The lower wine tasting deck is Santa Cruz grapes and the upper seating is the reserve tasting. Gary told us about the wines and was very welcoming. He treated us well and taught us about their reserve wines. It was nice to be able to social distance and get a break from the world around while also being risk aware. This is a great way to enjoy safer activities during Covid-19 and get a breath of fresh air. I hope to return again! read more

See all

My wife and I have always enjoyed the services of Soquel Vineyards. From a simple afternoon of wine tasting to the periodical events. We recommend our local favorite. read more

Excellent winery! I have visited several times and order their wine online. It is family owned and run by brothers Peter and Paul with one of their sons working there too. They are all very welcoming and informative and atmosphere is relaxing, especially since the snobby lady left. They have a nice selection of wines and phenomenal views of the Pacific Ocean - well worth a visit! read more

Had to visit after having a glass of their Pinot at a restaurant here in Los Gatos. The staff was very welcoming, accommodating, and knowledgeable. One of the twin owners was around too and gave us some history about the property. The views of the Monterey Bay were unbeatable. Everywhere we walked was covered with flowers and plants. Most importantly the wines were over the top. 10/10 The outdoor setting is lovely, inside it's quite intimate/small. The various styles of Pinot Noirs we tasted in our group were exceptional and is the reason we asked to join the wine club. Gary sold us on the delicious Nebbiolo too! A Pinot Noir dominant producer but there are quite a few others to pick from on the menu such as Cab Franc, Nebbiolo and Sauvignon Blanc. Probably best to book a reservation. Overall a lovely variety of wines, affordable pricing, great quality from entry level to upper end, and beautiful atmosphere. I highly recommend! A hidden gem for sure read more

Wine is excellent Wine makers are knowledgeable and fun to hang out with. They often have member appreciation parties and excellent sales from time to time open on weekends. If you have a few minutes go check it out. read more

Amazing ambience, staff and wines. We keep coming back. Absolutely our favorite winery. read more

See all

Decent tasting wine for $10 per person! I came here with my family last minute-- we had no reservations and there wasn't a wait. This vineyard is family owned and we got to meet the owner, Peter. He was very friendly and even gave my mom and I a tour of his house next door to the vineyard. This is a great place to spend time with loved ones, drink wine, and tour the beautiful garden. read more

Soquel Vineyards - a hand holding a glass of wine - Wineries Near Me - Soquel, California

Our ride here was taken up the mountain on a winding road through a redwood grove. Beautiful and very shaded, the moss all around the trees. Beautiful and looking like you'll see the hobbit soon. Closer to the top you'll turn into a clearing and the Soquel tasting room.Today the tasting was concentrating on their Pinot Noir. Excellent award winners everyone. read more

Soquel Vineyards - Awards - Wineries Near Me - Soquel, California

See all

I came here with a group of 6 for a tasting and we had a wonderful time! It was busy, but since I had called ahead, it wasn't a problem fitting us in. Gorgeous views (you can see the ocean from a distance over the vineyard!), lovely seating area, very friendly staff, and we all really enjoyed the wine as well! Had to take a few bottles home! Definitely will be coming back! read more

See all

I love it here. The wine is phenomenal, the staff is super nice and the view is breathtaking. Just be aware that you might not have service if you Uber there.. not a terrible place to be stranded ! read more

See all

I really enjoyed my tasting experience at Soquel Vineyards! There were two different, reasonably priced tasting options with different types of wine. The tasting area is lovely, and the views looking out to the Pacific Ocean are spectacular. The owner made complimentary homemade pizzas to share with guests. The staff and owner working there were very friendly and approachable. read more

Beautiful view and great service. We loved chatting with Raquel. I had a memorable birthday thanks to them.

Relaxed and friendly wine tasting room down a winedy and sometimes suspect road (there was some mudslide one lane action but grin and bear it because the winery is worth it!) we had a lovely tasting of four wines and selected a few to go. Their first Pinot Grigio (2017) is a win! The petite Syrah and trinity were lovely. The views are spectacular. read more

Soquel Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Soquel, California

See all

A beautiful place to taste and the wines are excellent. Gary was a fantastic host! Stephanie, the tasting room manager, was super informative and very fun to talk with. Highly recommend. read more

Stopped here on Saturday to pick up a wine donation for our November fundraiser. Peter is truly a generous business owner. My husband and I enjoyed wine tasting on their gorgeous patio. There were 4 or five couples enjoying the views and warm sunshine while sipping wine and taking in the vineyard views. This is a must see if your in the area. I tend to bounce back and forth between red and white depending on my mood. Their Steele barrel Chardonnay was so yummy! Looking forward to another trip put there very soon. read more

Soquel Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Soquel, California

A bit of a windy narrow road to manage then arrive at al lovely small tasting room with outdoor view seating. Enjoyed all of the wines & friendly staff. read more

Fabulous views and wine. The kids can run through the vineyards while you relax with a glass of wine. And if they are making their wood-fired pizza, it's always an added bonus read more

Wow. Views & fantastic wine, what more can a girl ask for! The grounds are gorgeous. We watched wild turkeys in fields of mustard flowers while sipping lovely wines. The rosé was delicious. The owners were very friendly. I only wish we could have bought glasses and had a picnic all day here. No phone service so it really makes you take it all in and enjoy the vibe. read more

See all

We really liked the wines and ended up purchasing few bottles. The staff was super nice. I will definitely come back another time. read more

See all

Okay let me just say this: 1. sweeping views over a vineyard facing the sea 2. majestic deer strolling through the hills 3. chocolate that comes with one of the reds in the tasting flight 4. free oven-fired pizza made on site come, enjoy the scene and the pizza. I'll see you there every Saturday. read more

One of the true winery locations we visited on passport day. Highlights: - Outdoor view: we were up on the hill and could actually see the vines. After being stuck in garages and warehouses all day, it was such a pleasant site. - Tasting in 3 places: started outside then inside at the tasting bar and then the back room. - Wines: pretty good. I enjoyed the chardonnay and zins the best--surprise surprise. We also brought home a trinity. - Prices: pretty inexpensive. We got 2 bottles for just under $30. Lowlights (my flip side to highlights): - It was our 2nd to last winery of the day and we had to leave to get to another. I'd definitely come back here, get more wine, and spend more time soaking up the view. read more

These guys are great. Greg and Peter are so helpful and some of the most genuine people around. We will come back every time we are in town. read more

Excellent estate Pinots, beautiful views, comfortable seating, and friendly wine makers. The brothers are great hosts.

Best winery experience ever!! The location is beautiful. The wine is delicious. Greg is a great host. He got to know everyone in our party and made sure we had a fun time. Peter is the sweetest, most genuine person we have ever had the privilege of meeting. He went out of his way to make sure we got home and we all enjoyed learning about his families' history in the area. 100% will be back. read more

Their wines tasted good, no problems there. Their wines range from $15-75. The place is great for those who have the passport program. As for the view, I'm very jealous that these twin brothers who own the property get to work here everyday and see the ocean and beautiful mountains. Funny the owners names are Peter and Paul, twins. hee hee. They have the sweetest Golden Ret. dog outside that will let you pet him for days. That was my favorite part of the trip. Bonus points for pets. read more

Love the wines, even better are the owners Peter and Paul. The crew is also excellent. It's a bit of a drive, but absolutely worth it. A don't miss what winery. read more

Friendly winery, family run. Peter and Paul have some of the best reds! Love the atmosphere and courteous staff. Even better if Paul is making pizza! read more

Lovely picturesque winery! I made a reservation several days prior for my group of fifteen on the phone with Jeannette. She was helpful, offering advice on parking beforehand and despite being a bit evidently daunted by my large group of friends descending on the winery. When we arrived Saturday, Kimberly was able to help us get situated and was unperturbed with our two other last minute additions that put us up to seventeen people. She clearly explained the two tastings offered (a variety and a red option) and my group was able to easily divide and move to whichever tasting they preferred before bringing their glasses back to the main table we were congregating around. In the separate patio where they were serving the red flight, we met Greg who was manning the tastings, and he was very amiable and a great deal of fun to chat with about the wines. Peter also came around and introduced himself to us and was very much an excellent host. (Thank you for stepping aside to help us take a group photo!) The winery itself was stunning, and while I cannot speak for the variety flight having chosen the red, the red wine was very much a delight. There was also a wine club event going on that day so fresh pizza was being served and it was delicious! I know at least one person in my group pulled the employee making pizzas aside to ask how they were making the excellent dessert pizza they were serving. There were some excellent wines showcased and my group was very much pleased with the wines' flavor, the location, the ambiance, and the genial staff. I would absolutely recommend visiting Soquel Vineyards. Thank you for hosting us! read more

Soquel Vineyards - Soquel Vineyards was kind enough to host my large group! - Wineries Near Me - Soquel, California

Simone and his Dad Peter were extremely hospitable and knowledgeable about their wines. Peter provided us with a snack tray while Simone poured the wine. The wines were so good our friend joined their Wine Club. They have a comfortable terrace and seating area. Unfortunately, their pizza service was closed due to the fires in the area. We look forward to returning when this service is open. I highly recommend this winery. read more

Wonderful little winery. Great people. Tranquil environment. Very nice Pinot Grigio. Will come back!

For every tough decision in life, there is a strategy that is simple, obvious and wrong. For example: which (and how much) wine to buy on your wine-tasting trip. Back in my early days, I had a strategy of simply buying the best-tasting bottle (within my price range) at every winery we stopped at. And while it eliminated those awkward post-tasting moments where you're trying to let the vintner down easy ("it's not your wine, it's me"), it was actually a very poor strategy for coming home with the best damn box of wine you could get. And the reason is this: the virtues of good winemakers (talent, technique, and a shrewd sense of pricing) generally apply across all their varietals and blends, and likewise the vices of bad winemakers. Case in point: on my most recent trip, I visited 4 wineries: Loma Prieta, Silver Mountain, Hunter Hill, and Soquel Vineyards. The 4 best bottles...were all from Soquel (in particular, the Pescadero Pinot, the Cabernet, and the Pyramid and Trinity blends. I didn't try the $50+ "reserve" pinots, although now I'm kind of regretting it). So forget your over-analytical brain, just learn to trust your taste buds. They'll tell you when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em (your hard-earned wine dollars, that is). read more

The wines are really exceptional. Great Pinots (a little on the spendy side, but definitely worth the 40 clams). They also have a really delicious Sangiovese. I love the wines and would love to give the winery five stars, but I'm knocking off two stars because... :( ...the winery is kind of stuffy. Despite the pretty views and lovely setting, I never quite feel welcome. Definitely worth the drive up the hill for the tasting, but when you are done head down to Hunter Hill and picnic there. read more

This is, without a doubt, my favorite winery in the world. It is easy to get to, boasts beautiful views, and has consistently excellent wines. They regularly offer barrel tastings, and are always willing to share their expansive wine knowledge - just ask! We're wine club members, so the tasting fees have been waived. Since I love the wines here and we visit regularly, the membership really makes sense. It gets us two choice bottles every two months, as well as regular correspondence about events and access to discounts. This is where the magic happened - James asked me to marry him at the table in the garden, overlooking the ocean. Even if nothing that life-changing happens for you here, relax for a few moments with a glass of excellent wine, good company and that amazing view. It'll become your favorite winery, too. read more

Okay, they benefit from our having gone to Burrell School Vineyards first. However, even without that trauma as a backdrop, Soquel would have gotten high marks. Congenial servers - knowledgeable without being pushy - good wines, and a lovely atmosphere. I didn't like all of the wines. I think that's a good thing. Until I get my own winery (=never), I want winemakers to create things for a range of tastes. Soquel does, and for a range of budgets as well. One wine we tasted retails for ~$12.99; others were in the $55-$65 range. What I was startled by was the Chardonnay (2007 Santa Cruz Mountains Trout Gulch Vineyard): so crisp and so clean that I briefly thought we must have been given a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio/Vin Gris by mistake. But it was richer than those usually are, without being at all cloying. I thought maybe it was just me, but when I raised my eyes from that first delicious sip, I saw that my friends were wrestling with a similar "Chardonnay? WTF?!? Yummy!" confusion. Later on, another group of tourists was asked, at the same time as we were, whether there was a tasting wine they'd like to revisit. As with us, unanimous: the Chardonnay. It's not even especially pricey. So much for my being a red wine person. The reds were good overall and a couple were really tasty, but nothing stood out as shockingly savory. Nothing was bad (or even mediocre), though, and I would definitely revisit their zinfandels. I was just so startled by that stellar chardonnay that it may have eclipsed the reds. Very pleasant staff (minimal attitude/maximal knowledge), lovely grounds, kid- and dog-friendly (I don't especially care for children, but they handled the little ankle-biters beautifully), laid back about our lounging on the chairs in the gardens and yakking well after we'd finished our tasting. Will be bringing the folks by next time they're in from the Other Coast. read more

Superb wines, friendly staff, nice grounds, reasonable prices. This place offers everything I want from a SC mtn winemaker. I remember tasting wines from their garage years ago. Since then Ive seen it blossom into one of my favorite wineries in the region! read more

This is our favorite winery in the area, great view of the vineyards and ocean. The staff is very knowledgeable, friendly and paid attention to our every need including generous pours of their delicious wines! read more