| Santa Cruz Mountains AVA (wine region) | |
|---|---|
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
| Year established | 1981[1] |
| Country | USA |
| Part of | California |
| Sub-regions | Ben Lomond Mountain AVA |
| Total area | app. 322,000 acres |
| Size of planted vineyards | 1,500 acres (6 km2)[2] |
| Grapes produced | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignane, Chardonnay, Dolcetto, Grenache, Malbec, Malvasia, Merlot, Mondeuse, Mourvedre, Nebbiolo, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Viognier, Zinfandel[2] |
| No. of wineries | 76[2] |
The Santa Cruz Mountains AVA is an American Viticultural Area centered around the Santa Cruz Mountains. It includes three counties in California: Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and San Mateo. Recognized as an AVA in 1981, the Santa Cruz Mountains Appellation was among the first to be defined by its mountain topography. Based on elevation, it largely follows the fog line along the coast, extending down to 800 feet (240 m) in the east (San Francisco Bay side) and 400 feet (120 m) in the west (Monterey Bay side), and encompasses the highest ridgetops at 3000’+ elevation.[2]
The mountain terrain, the Pacific Ocean, and the nearby San Francisco Bay have wide ranging effects on the appellation, creating myriad microclimates in the region - depending on the elevation of the land, on which side of the mountains are the vineyards, the effects of fog, sun exposure, soil type, etc.
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The region is bounded by the Santa Cruz Mountain range, from Half Moon Bay and Woodside in the north, to Mount Madonna and Watsonville in the south. The appellation encompasses some 322,000 acres (1,300 km2) extending through Santa Cruz, Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.[3]
The subregions are: Skyline, Saratoga/Los Gatos, Summit, the Coastal Foothills (above Santa Cruz), Ben Lomond Mountain, and Corralitos/Pleasant Valley.[4]
There are over 200 small vineyards totaling only app. 1,500 acres (6.1 km2) of wine grape varieties, divided about ¼ evenly among Pinot noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and other varieties (most notably Merlot and Zinfandel). The region’s vineyards and wineries actively support sustainable practices, including cover crops, erosion control, canopy management, solar, biodiesel. Several vineyards grow organically; presently four are certified organic by the CCOF and more are in the process of certification.[5]
The Santa Cruz Mountains are home to more than 70 wineries producing Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot moir], port-style wines and other varietals and blends.
Some of the oldest wineries in California are in this region. Two wineries from the Santa Cruz Mountain region participated in the 1976 Judgment of Paris wine tasting with the 1973 David Bruce Winery Chardonnay placing 10th in the white wine tasting and the 1971 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon placing 5th in the red wine tasting.[6]
Other notable wineries in the appellation include: Bonny Doon Vineyard, Byington Vineyard, Kathryn Kennedy Winery and Mountain Winery. Ways to purchase wines : Wine Club of the Santa Cruz Mountains
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