Saratoga Area Wineries
The Santa Cruz Mountains above Saratoga are home to a handful of world-class wineries with scenic views, tasting rooms and picnic areas that are just a short hop from the Santa Clara Valley. The region's diverse microclimates support excellent vintages of classic varieties, including chardonnay, cabernet, zinfandel and pinot noir.
Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards
23600 Congress Springs Rd, Saratoga; 408.741.2932
Nestled in the Saratoga foothills, Savannah-Chanelle Vinyards has produced phenominal boutique wines
for a number of decades. Just five minutes from the Saratoga Village up Highway-9 this beautiful mountain winery
is a romantic destination for those looking to escape for an afternoon. Relax amongst redwood tree laced mountains
while tasting some of the most extraordinary Pinot Noir Saratoga has to offer.
Picnic tables, specialty mustards and wine tasting. Tasting room open daily from 11am - 5pm.
Cinnabar Vineyards & Winery
23000 Congress Springs Rd. Saratoga,
CA 95070; Tel. 408.741.5858
Founded in 1983, the family-owned Cinnabar overlooks the San Francisco
Bay Area from its perch 2.5 miles above Saratoga Village. Its premium
wines include estate and single vineyard chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon
and pinot noir; a Central Coast merlot and the Mercury Rising Bordeaux
blend. The winery is open the public for several open houses and annual
events sponsored by the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association,
including the Santa Cruz Mountains Vintner's Festival the first weekend
in June and the Annual GrapeStomp the last weekend in September.
George Troquato, winemaker at Cinnabar Vineyards, in the cave
where wine-filled oak barrels are stored.
Cooper-Garrod Vineyards
22600 Mount Eden Rd. Saratoga, CA 95070;
Tel. 408.867.7116
Monday-Friday, 12-5, Weekends, 11-5
The family-owned Cooper-Garrod specializes in chardonnay, cabernet franc
and cabernet sauvignon varietals. The 21-acre estate vineyard is in
the Saratoga hills, and the Cooper-Garrod tasting room is open Monday-Friday,
12-5, Weekends, 11-5, and by appointment.
Bill Cooper of Cooper-Garrod Vineyards.
Kathryn Kennedy Winery
13180 Pierce Rd. Saratoga, CA 95070;
Tel. 408.867.4170
Kathryn Kennedy planted eight acres of cabernet grapes in 1973 and is
today a small-lot producer of celebrated Cabernet, Syrah and Meritage
wines aged in French oak and sold under the Santa Cruz Mountains appelation.
The Mountain Winery
PO Box 3166, Saratoga, CA 95070; Tel.
408.741.2822
Frenchman Paul Masson, born in Burgundy in 1859, was known in his day
as the "Champagne King of California." He bought a hilltop
above Saratoga in 1901, cleared the brush to plant vineyards and built
his house, known as "The Chateau." Though winemaking operations
ended in the 1950s, the site, now known as The Mountain Winery, hosts
an annual summer music festival of some renown, and the frequently photographed
vine-covered facade of the sandstone winery is a historic landmark.
Mount Eden Vineyards
22020 Mt Eden Rd. Saratoga, CA 95070;
Tel. 408.867.5832
Producer of estate bottled pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay
from old vineyards. Intimate tours by appointment only; no tasting room.
Troquato Vineyards
1791 Pollard Rd., Los Gatos, CA 95032;
Tel. 408.866.6700
Troquato Vineyards is a small, family-owned vineyard that has operated
in the Santa Clara Valley for more than two decades. It produces small
lots of award-winning cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, merlot and zinfandel.
Profile of vintner Angelo Troquato
Uncorked!
145000 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA 95070;
Tel. 408.741.9000
This small, tidy wine shop specializes in California wines.
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--Photograph by Kathy De La Torre, copyright Metro Publishing Inc. |
