June 24, 2020 (APTOS, Calif.)––The Santa Cruz Mountains winegrowers association has launched a brand campaign to promote the region as one of California’s premier wine appellations. The Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains brand celebrates the region’s distinct geographic location and topography, dubbing it a place where “high tech gives way to high altitude” at the crossroads of Silicon Valley, the AVA’s namesake coastal mountains, and two neighboring bodies of water — the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. The brand’s logo is a nod to these attributes, incorporating topographic map-style lines, along with a coastal color scheme.
The Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains brand celebrates the region’s distinct geographic location and topography, dubbing it a place where “high tech gives way to high altitude” at the crossroads of Silicon Valley, the AVA’s namesake coastal mountains, and two neighboring bodies of water — the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. The brand’s logo is a nod to these attributes, incorporating topographic map-style lines, along with a coastal color scheme.
In addition to touting the AVA’s unique geography, the vintners and growers behind the new regional brand aim to enhance awareness of the high quality and distinctiveness of the wines grown in Santa Cruz Mountains’ unique terroir. Primarily comprising small-parcel vineyards planted at high altitudes where Redwood forests abut expanses of warm, dry chaparral, the appellation’s wines have a distinct regional identity, characterized by fresh flavors, bright fruit, and minerality.
The brand launch includes a new consumer-friendly website, www.
“As the recognition and prestige surrounding the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA continued to grow, we felt it was important to ensure our story was effectively being communicated to both the wine industry and wine consumers,” says Keikilani McKay, executive director of the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association. “The new branding and website truly feel on par with the quality of wines and the wine tasting experience offered by our region. We hope others will find it informative, helpful and inspiring.”
The association McKay heads will serve as stewards of the brand, drafting and implementing an annual marketing plan to help educate consumers and influential trade about the region, drive visitors to the region’s wineries and tasting rooms, and increase demand for Santa Cruz Mountains wines in key markets.
More information about the region is available online at www.
About the Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains
High tech gives way to high altitude in the Santa Cruz Mountains winegrowing region, overlooking the renowned Silicon Valley. 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 rural 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.
