Santa Cruz Wine Country

Windy Oaks Estate Winery & Vineyards owners Judy and Jim Schultze are so proud of their Burgundian-style Pinot Noir that they planted 14 acres of their Santa Cruz Mountains property with the vines.  (João Canziani / For The Times)

Windy Oaks Estate Winery & Vineyards owners Judy and Jim Schultze are so proud of their Burgundian-style Pinot Noir that they planted 14 acres of their Santa Cruz Mountains property with the vines.  (João Canziani / For The Times)

Within minutes of the shore, dense redwood groves pocket the Santa Cruz Mountains.  (João Canziani / For The Times)

Within minutes of the shore, dense redwood groves pocket the Santa Cruz Mountains.  (João Canziani / For The Times)

Tapas at Soif, in downtown Santa Cruz, Calif.  (João Canziani / For The Times)

The Beauregard family has grown grapes in the Santa Cruz Mountains for more than 60 years.  (João Canziani / For The Times)

In addition to tapas, the bar at Soif, in downtown Santa Cruz, Calif. pours more than 50 wines by the glass.  (João Canziani / For The Times)

Tapas at Soif, in downtown Santa Cruz, Calif.  (João Canziani / For The Times)

The Santa Cruz boardwalk, as seen from the Beauregard Tasting Room at the end of the wharf.  (João Canziani / For The Times)

Wine has been produced in the Santa Cruz Mountains since the late 1880s  (João Canziani / For The Times)