Curated by the Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the “Mountain Collection” offers eight custom packages, along with a build-your-own option; proceeds will benefit Fire Relief Fund
APTOS, Calif. (September. 14, 2020)–-Good news for those who love Santa Cruz Mountains wines: the region’s best bottlings are now available to all through the new “Mountain Collection” limited series, orchestrated by the region’s winegrowers association. A collaborative partnership between 35 wineries, the Mountain Collection features eight unique “tasting tours” spotlighting the region’s terroir and signature grape varieties. From September 15 to November 15, 2020, the collections will be available for purchase online at winesofthesantacruzmountains.
“The Mountain Collection gives people access to those hard-to-get bottles, which COVID has made even harder to get,” says Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains Executive Director Keikilani McKay. “Now, we’re also driven by the need to help those in our community who’ve been displaced or otherwise hurt by the CZU August Lightning Complex Fires. By donating a portion of the proceeds to the Fire Response Fund, we hope to help our friends and neighbors get back on their feet more quickly.”
In addition to the eight pre-selected Mountain Collections, a “Create Your Own” package allows for customized selections from among 35 wineries’ exclusive offerings. Selections are available from among 75 wines that winemakers usually only offer to their club members or have held back for library collections. Exclusive opportunities include: 2012 Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard “Vine Hill Reserve” Pinot Noir; 2010 Clos de la Tech Domaine Valeta “Sunny Slope” Pinot Noir; 2016 Domaine Eden Pinot Noir; 2017 Ridge Vineyards “Klein “Cabernet; 2017 Windy Oaks Estate “Proprietor’s Reserve Estate “Pinot Noir; 2017 Vocal Wines “Bates Ranch” Cabernet Sauvignon
“The Mountain Collection project has been in the works for some time,” says McKay, “but now the timing is allowing us to help the community in ways we couldn’t have anticipated.” According to McKay, the project is a win-win for those who love the region’s wines and also want to aid
its most vulnerable community members in recovering from the recent spate of devastating wildfires.
The curated options include:
Tour of Corralitos Stage 1
- 2018 Sante Arcangeli “Split Rail” Pinot Noir
- 2017 Lester Estate Wines Reserve Syrah
- 2018 Alfaro “Lindsay Paige” Estate Chardonnay
Tour of Corralitos Stage 2
- 2017 Nicholson “Estate” Chardonnay
- 2016 Storrs “Wild Cat Ridge” Pinot Noir
- 2017 Windy Oaks “Special Release” Pinot Noir
Mountain Bordeaux
- 2015 Kathryn Kennedy Serious Merlot
- 2017 Ridge “Klein” Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2015 Mount Eden Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
The Whites
- 2016 Mindego Ridge Chardonnay
- 2017 Big Basin Vineyards “Howard Family” Chardonnay
- 2018 Bargetto Winery “Regan Vineyards” Reserve Chardonnay
Taste of the Summit Pinot Trio
- 2012 Muns Vineyard Pinot Noir
- 2018 Wrights “Far & Away Block” Pinot Noir
- 2013 Silver Mountain Vineyards “Estate” Pinot Noir
Off the Beaten Path volume 1
- 2017 Big Basin Vineyards “Homestead” Roussanne
- 2018 Cooper-Garrod Viogner
- 2017 Ridge “Rousten” Cabernet Franc
Off the Beaten Path volume 2
- 2015 House Family Vineyards “Estate” Cabernet Franc
- 2012 Thérèse Vineyards Soulmate Nebbiolo
- 2017 Lexington Wine Co. “Alma” White Bordeaux
Off the Beaten Path volume 3
- 2016 Thomas Fogarty Winery “Walker’s” Nebbiolo
- 2013 Woodside Vineyards “Autovino “Dolcetto
- 2018 Vocal “Alfaro Family Vineyards” Gruner Veltliner
Those who purchase a Mountain Collection package will also have the option to add a Coravin Model 2, ideal for extending the enjoyment of each bottle.
For more information, contact Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains at (831) 685-8463 or visit www.
About the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association
Overlooking the renowned Silicon Valley, the Santa Cruz Mountains is a winegrowing region where high tech gives way to high altitude. Spanning 60 miles along the California coast, the appellation is defined by its high-altitude vineyards and unique location at the convergence of the mountains, Pacific Coast and San Francisco Bay. This combination of steep slopes, ridgetops, and cooling marine influences creates a patchwork of microclimates, enabling the region’s nearly 300 growers and wineries to produce excellent wines ranging from sun-loving cabernet sauvignon and merlot to cool-climate pinot noir and chardonnay and more. As most are small, family-owned wineries with limited distribution, the best way to experience Santa Cruz Mountains wines is in the place where they’re grown. Visitors can easily reach the region’s many wineries and tasting rooms by driving in from nearby San Jose or San Francisco. Contrasted with these large cities, the Santa Cruz Mountains is a bucolic region defined by charming small towns and an independent spirit that welcomes those with a taste for the extraordinary. More information is available at www.
