Booze Cruz
Hit California's overlooked wine country--for one day only
The Santa Cruz Mountain region isn't your typical wine destination: It's full of tiny operations that aren't usually open to the public.
But every few months they throw open the winery doors for a few hours (buy tickets here). Your next opportunity comes November 21: Here's where to spend your day:
Zayante Vineyards Husband and wife winemakers Kathleen Starkey-Nolton and Greg Nolton are rather particular about their grapes: Their vines grow at a precise elevation (between 1,100 and 1,300 feet above sea level), and they use traditional winemaking practices (extended barrel-aging, no fining, and minimal filtration), which produce standout wines like their flinty 2007 Chardonnay and berry-forward 2007 Zinfandel. 420 Old Mount Rd., Felton; 831-335-7992 or zayantevineyards.com
Silver Mountain Vineyards Jerold O'Brien, a former military pilot, has been making organic wine since 1979--long before the style was trendy. He recently installed a giant solar panel that generates more energy than his winery can consume. While we applaud his eco-initiatives, we're more excited about his Pinot Noir, Chardonnays and Bordeaux-style blends. Los Gatos; 408-353-2278 or silvermtn.com
Sones Cellars This mom-and-pop winery is so small that you can't find its bottles outside the area. Until last year, owners Lois and Michael Sones were making their wines at other wineries, and their label is still something of a part-time gig (Michael is the winemaker at Bargetto). However, their distinctively Californian wines--especially the fruit-forward Petit Sirah--hold rank with much larger producers. 334B Ingalls St., Santa Cruz; 831-420-1552 or sonescellars.com
River Run Vintners J.P. Pawloski's one-man show turns out some of the area's best wines. To augment the grapes Pawloski grows and picks himself to make his excellent Cabernet, Chardonnay and Syrah, he sources fruit from other coveted spots, such as Paso Robles's Dusi vineyard. 65 Rogge Ln., Watsonville; 831-726-3112
