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The days are growing shorter, but the list of things
to do in the Santa Cruz Mountains to celebrate
the end of harvest continues to go on and on.
Join us in November for wine tastings,
paired with local food, a beautiful scenery,
and much more.
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LAST CALL FOR PREMIER CRUZ
This event will sell out! Buy your ticket today to enjoy premier Cabernet Sauvignons at Toll House Hotel Los Gatos this Saturday from 3-6pm.
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NOVEMBER EVENTS & SPECIALS AT OUR WINERIES
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In the Fall/Winter, Alfaro Family Vineyards is usually only open on Saturdays, but in November we will also be open two extra Sundays - November 5 & 12 from 12-5 pm.
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Thursday, November 9, 5:30-9pm
Meet us at Taste of Santa Cruz. For more info click here.
Sunday, November 12; 2pm-5pm
Stop by our booth at the Downtown Santa Cruz Wine Walk. For more info click here.
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We have live music in the tasting room every Saturday.
Friday to Sunday, November 24-26
Join Us at the Festive Holiday Boutique in the Schoolhouse with artisan vendors, live seasonal music and wine specials!
Saturday, November 18, 12-5pm
November 18 Passport Day
Passport holder can enjoy live music and cheese plates in the tasting room.
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Cooper-Garrod has "Music at the Vineyards" on Sunday afternoons, 1-4 pm. through the Sunday BEFORE Thanksgiving. Folks can bring a picnic, bring friends, and enjoy great music and Cooper-Garrod wines on the plaza in front of our historic Tasting room. Performers include:
Sunday, November 5 Blue House/
Acoustic Rock
Sunday, November 12 TBD
Sunday, November 19 The Honey Wilders/
Classic Rock & Power Pop
Friday, November 3, 6-9pm
Saturday, November 18, 12-5pm
November 18 Passport Day
Special attraction for Passport holders is the great band Hootenanny, playing your favorite Pop and Rock Gems here 1-4 pm. Passport holders receive complimentary tasting at Cooper-Garrod plus discounts on purchase.
Friday, November 24, 5-8pm
Saratoga Tree Lighting and Holiday Wine Stroll
Folks can also find us pouring wine at the Saratoga Tree Lighting and Holiday Wine Stroll. For more info click here.
Week of Thanksgiving
We are open regular weekday hours 12-5pm.
Thanksgiving
We are closed for Thanksgiving Day but open over the weekend from 11 am-5 pm.
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Saturday and Sunday, November 4 and 5
Tasting and sale of very limited 2011 Montepulciano and 2011 Petite SIrah
Saturday, November 18
Thanksgiving Day Sale-mixed cases and select wines at 50% full case discount
Sunday, November 19
Music with Better Daze from 1-4pm
Tuesday, November 21
Last day for the Thanksgiving sale
Saturday, November 25
closed
Sunday, November 26
Regular hours 11am-4pm
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Friday, November 3, 6-9pm
Meet us at the Evening of Wine & Roses, Santa Cruz County Fair. For more info click here.
Friday, November 10, 7pm
Chef Baca's 5 course dinner @ House Family Tasting Room. For more info click here.
Friday November 17 - Sunday November 19
Holiday Special: "Trio of Pinots" at HFV. Offering a trio package of California Pinot Noirs at 15% off.
November 24, 5-8pm
Stop by and meet us at the Saratoga Holiday Wine Stroll in Downtown Saratoga. For more info click here.
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In addition to our regular hours (open every Saturday & Sunday, from noon-5pm), Loma Prieta Winery will also be open on the Friday after Thanksgiving, 11/24/17, from noon-5pm.
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Open November 3, 4, and 5 from 12-5pm and November 17, 18, and 19 from 12-4pm.
Please note that our hours are impacted by the time change.
Friday, November 3, 6-9pm
Meet us at the Evening of Wine & Roses, Santa Cruz County Fair. For more info
click here.
We also now offer Luxury Private Tastings by appointment (408) 842-9197
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McHenry Vineyard will be open 12-5pm on Saturday, November 18th (Passport Day) and Sunday, November 19 from 12-4pm for our annual Open House. We are only open a few times per year!
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Saturday, November 11, 12-5pm
Salute with a Veteran at Russian Ridge Winery
Share a glass with our winemaker who is a U.S. Navy Veteran! He will be in the Tasting Room all day talking about his craft and maybe even sharing some stories from his days in the service. All are welcome to join - flat feet or not!
Friday, November 24, 5-9pm
Black Friday Recovery Center at Russian Ridge Winery
Looking for a way to unwind after a busy day? Visit Russian Ridge Winery this Black Friday and we'll keep the wine flowing! This is the perfect place to avoid the chaos of the big box retailer and still get your holiday shopping done. Support a local, family owned business and treat yourself while you're at it too.
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Saturday, November 4, 12-3pm
Ser Fall Wine Club Release Party
Members are free, Non-members $10. Ser Tasting Room, 14572 Big Basin Way, Saratoga
Wednesday, November 8, 5-8pm
Winemaker Wednesday, Shadowbrook Restaurant, 1750 Wharf Rd., Capitola
Thursday, November 9, 5:30-9pm
A Taste of Santa Cruz, Museum of Art & History, 705 Front Street, Santa Cruz
Friday, November 24, 5-8pm
Saratoga Wine Stroll & Holiday Tree Lighting, Ser Tasting Room, 14572 Big Basin Way, Saratoga
Thanksgiving
The Ser and Silvertip tasting room in Saratoga will be closed on Thanksgiving.
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Saturday, November 4
Chocolate Sampling at the Winery: Chef Ellie Lavender will be sampling her chocolate confections paired with Silver Mountain wines.
Saturday, November 11 and 18
Irish Music at the winery and discounts of the day and extra free appetizers.
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Meet us and taste wines from the Santa Cruz Mountains at the following events:
Friday, November 3, 6-9pm
Evening of Wine & Roses, Santa Cruz County Fair. For more info
click here.
Saturday & Sunday, November 4 & 5, 1-5pm
San Francisco Vintners Market. For more info click here.
Thursday, November 9, 5:30-9pm
A Taste of Santa Cruz, Museum of Art & History. For more info
click here.
Sunday, November 12; 2pm-5pm
Downtown Santa Cruz Wine Walk.
Friday, November 24, 5-8pm
Saratoga Wine Stroll & Holiday Tree Lighting. For more info click here.
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ONLINE SALE FOR NOVEMBER 18 PASSPORT DAY
CLOSES ON NOVEMBER 10.
Get your passport now to enjoy tastings at 50+ wineries in and around the Santa Cruz Mountains. Passports are good for 2 years, all year round.
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TASTE OF THE MOUNTAINS MENLO PARK WINE WANDER
Enjoy wines from small, local boutique wineries of the Santa Cruz Mountains poured in various designated tasting locations up and down Santa Cruz Avenue. Purchase your favorites from the bottle booth for Christmas and stay downtown for a dinner or movie to follow! Tickets are $49 when purchased before the event, tickets purchased at the door are $55.
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This month we would like to introduce you to
George Troquato
winemaker at Cinnabar Winery
George, how long
have you been making wine and what first attracted you to winemaking?
My family has always made wine so I was exposed to it at a very young age, helping my dad pick and crush grapes, and make wine. I started making wine commercially in 1985 at my family's winery, Troquato Vineyards. I always knew I would do something in agriculture, and winemaking was a natural progression for me.
What is one aspect of your job that might surprise people?
Being a winemaker is not about what you do but who you are. In many ways it consumes you in regard to the way you live your life and the way you see the rest of the world. For instance, changes in weather, the amount of rainfall, and temperatures are things you pay keen attention to. So, you come to remember seasons and vintages based on the quality of the wines from those years. I live the weather on a day-to-day basis. Other people don't live it the way we [winemakers] do.
Also, your sense of smell and taste become highly attuned to the point where some smells drive you bonkers. Sounds are another aspect. For instance, the sound of running water inside a closed building will make you jump or flinch for fear of wine spilling onto the ground or a tank overflowing. You are never fully on "vacation" because you are always in touch with the wine to ensure maximum quality.
What is the most difficult aspect of making wine?
Extremes in weather throughout the season: severe heat, drought, and rain at the wrong time of the year - such as severe wind or fog during bloom - can affect fruit set and impact the quantity and quality of the wine.
Besides your wines George, what are a few of your favorite
wines?
I don't drink a particular brand or varietal. It has to do with what I am doing and eating at the moment. If I'm by the pool maybe I'm drinking Rosé. If I'm just socializing or celebrating, maybe I'm drinking sparkling wine. If I'm eating oysters, I might be drinking a Sauvignon Blanc. If I'm eating lamb, then Pinot Noir would be my choice.
And the last question of the day: Are there varietals that grow better in the Santa Cruz
Mountains AVA than other regions? What are they and why do they grow better in SCM?
I'm attracted more to the Monterey Bay-side of the appellation - Corralitos, Watsonville, Aptos - for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. I really like the marine influence on these varieties, resulting in wines with minerality, brighter acidity, and a rich silkiness. The mountains make for nice wines too - such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc - as long as the growing conditions are right: warmer sites with rockier, lighter soils and southern-facing vineyards.
Visit Cinnabar Winery's tasting room in Saratoga
at:
14612 Big Basin Way, Saratoga CA, 95070
or shop George's handcrafted wines online at:
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