Santa Cruz and Monterey County Wineries
The Santa Cruz Mountains and Monterey County offer amazing wines, often overlooked by tourists who head straight to Napa Valley to the north. I’ve compiled a list of the wineries that offer some food. If you want to read more on the history of the Santa Cruz Mountains, go to the history portion of this blog.
Not all wineries have tasting rooms in the vineyards; some bring their offerings to tasting rooms in town.
Santa Cruz Mountains
Cinnabar Winery
Tasting Room
14612 Big Basin Way (between 5th and 6th Streets)
Saratoga, CA 95070
(408) 867-1012
Hours: Sun-Thu, Noon to 6 p.m.; Sat and Sun, Noon to 5 p.m.
Self serve refrigerator. Cheese, salami, crackers, nuts, honey. Boards with knives available.
Clos La Chance
Tasting Room
1 Hummingbird Lane
San Martin, CA 95046
(800) 487-9463
Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Crackers, cheeses, and meats are available from the Tasting Room Bar.
Testarossa Winery
Tasting Room
300 College Avenue
Los Gatos, CA 95030
(408) 354-6150
Wine Bar 107, Wed to Sat, starting March 16. Cheese, charcuterie, smoked salmon fruit. Check website for timings.
Tasting Room open every day, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Artisan wine and cheese experience, Wed to Sat at 1 p.m. Reservations required.
Monterey County
Bernardus Winery
Tasting Room
5 West Carmel Valley Road
Carmel Valley, CA 93924
(831) 298-8021
Open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Fromage and charcuterie. Also fromage tasting.
Caraccioli Cellars
Tasting Room
Dolores between Ocean and 7th Streets
Carmel by the Sea, CA 93921
(831) 622-7722
Open every day, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Sunday hours 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Cheese, charcuterie, olives and chocolate.
Carmel Ridge Winery
Tasting Room
700 Cannery Row, Suite C
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 324-0035
Open daily, noon to late. Tapas plates.
Dawn’s Dream Winery
Tasting Room
NW Corner of 7th & San Carlos,
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93921
(831) 659-2649
Open daily, Noon to 6 p.m., except Saturday, Noon to 7 p.m. Gourmet cheese plates
Jarman Wine, sister winery to Holman Ranch
Jarman Tasting Lounge & Patio
18 W. Carmel Valley Rd.
Carmel Valley, CA 93924
(831) 298-7300
Open daily, Noon to 5 p.m. or by appointment. Picnic baskets, fromage board, charcuterie board.
Disclaimer: This information is correct to the best of my knowledge. Please call or check the winery website before making your plans. I am not responsible for any errors.
