This page isn't a huge listing of all wineries in the area, if that's what you want take a look at Santa Cruz Mountains Wine Growers' Association.

This page is more a reminder that the Santa Cruz Mountain area has a number of wonderful wineries. Our wine and wineries rival any you will find in the rest of the world. Our area is more beautiful than Napa and has the added benefit that most of our tastings are still free!

Send us your favorite tour and we'll include it here.

Top 12 tips for a good tour:

Tip 1 : Some people can't take all the twisty roads you must travel to get to many of the wineries. You may want to limit your trip to 5 or so wineries at a time.

Tip 2: For the above reason you may not want to eat a big breakfast.

Tip 3: Bring water. It can get real hot in the summer.

Tip 4: Fill your gas tank. There aren't a lot of services for large chunks of the trip.

Tip 5: Pack a picnic. Most wineries don't have food for sale and there aren't a lot of stores along the way, but there are many lovely spots perfect for a picnic. Most of the wineries have picnic areas with unbeatable views. If you miss your chance to picnic at a winery you'll find many picnic benches in parks along the way. The Summit Store (near Burrell School Vineyards) is a good place to buy provisions if you should forget. We always buy a bottle of wine at one of the wineries and drink it with lunch. Marvelous.

Tip 6: Buy a good area map. Getting lost isn't any fun.

Tip 7: Look around. You are driving through some of the most gorgeous scenery in the world. Don't let it just pass you buy.

Tip 8: You can visit fewer wineries than you think you can. Try for fewer wineries rather than more in each day trip. Five wineries is probably the most you can do without making it feel like too much.

Tip 9: Dress in layers. The Santa Cruz Mountains is the land of microclimates. In a few miles you can find any weather you want. It can and will range from cool to boiling. Be prepared for anything.

Tip 10: Overheard at a winery: One traveler complained about how twisty the road to the winery was. "That's your problem," said the guy at the counter, "you are counting curves, you should be counting the straight parts."

Tip 11: Visit on Passport Tour weekends. The passport program gives you access to wineries that aren't normally open to the public. Passport wineries will be open on the third Saturday of January, April, July and November, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., as well as during their regular hours. For more information see http://www.scmwa.com/passport. For special events take a look at http://www.scmwa.com/calendar.htm.

Tip 12: Enjoy the beauty. Enjoy the wine. Enjoy your friends. Drive safe. Have fun!