Santa Cruz Pinot Noir lovers are in for a treat this weekend, as it’s the 11th annual Pinot Paradise (Saturday-Sunday March 21-22, 2015).
Brought to you by the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association, the main Saturday event is a “Pathway to Pinot Paradise” self-guided tour of wineries that produce Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir. These tickets are $25 and enable individuals to taste barrel samples of Pinot Noir at over 25 wineries, plus limited library wines at selected locations. Online ticket sales have ended, but you can buy Pathway tickets at any of the participating wineries on Saturday (see list below, followed by information on events for Sunday, March 22). See scmwa.com for more information and a map.
Many wineries will have special amenities and/or entertainment on Saturday. For example, Alfaro Family Vineyards will open at noon and have live flamenco/fusion guitar by Paul Renslow from 1-4pm. The Corralitos winery is dog- and child-friendly and will be pouring eight Pinots on March 21. Location: 420 Hames Road, (831) 728-5172.
Participating Pathway wineries:
- Alfaro Family Vineyards
- Bargetto Winery
- Beauregard Vineyards
- Big Basin Vineyards
- Burrell School Vineyards & Winery
- Cinnabar Winery
- Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards
- Dancing Creek Winery
- House Family Winery
- Hunter Hill Vineyards & Winery
- Left Bend Winery
- MJA Vineyards
- Nicholson Vineyards
- Odonata Wines
- Roudon-Smith Winery
- Russian Ridge Winery
- Savannah Chanelle Vineyards & Winery
- Silver Mountain Vineyards
- Silvertip Vineyards
- Stockwell Cellars
- Storrs Winery & Vineyards
- Thomas Fogarty Winery
- Windy Oaks Estate Vineyards & Winery
- Wrights Station Vineyard & Winery
There are two Pinot-related events on Sunday, March 22, both held at The Mountain Winery in Saratoga:
The annual Pinot Paradise Technical Session featuring wine education takes place from 9am-noon. The session will discuss “Signature Elements: Defining Characteristics and Discerning Quality in Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir.” Speakers are Luke Sykora, senior editor and critic at magazine Wine & Spirits; and Dr. Gary Griggs, Professor of Earth Sciences at UCSC. Griggs’ research is focused on the coastal zone and ranges from coastal evolution and development. Tickets are $45.
The Grand Cruz Tasting is from 1:30-4:30pm and features Pinot Noir from 40 wineries paired with food from local restaurants and food vendors such as Bruno’s BBQ, Cin Cin Wine Bar & Restaurant, Paradise Beach Grille, Sid’s Smokehouse, and True Olive Connection. Tickets are $85 for general admission or $100 for VIP entry (arrive one hour early, at 12:30 p.m.).
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