Quick Take
The 2025 edition of Slow Wine Guide USA, which highlights wineries and winegrowers that are using sustainable and ecologically sound practices both in the vineyard and in the winery, will have plenty of representation from Santa Cruz Mountains wineries.
For me, summer means writing about Santa Cruz Mountain wineries for the Slow Wine Guide USA, and I’ve just wrapped up my work on the 2025 edition. Slow Wine USA, an extension of Slow Food USA, exists to highlight wineries and winegrowers that are using sustainable and ecologically sound practices both in the vineyard and in the winery.
Every year, a team of industry-leading contributors visit wineries, assess their farming practices and review their most outstanding wines. As a contributor myself, I am proud to work with wineries in the Santa Cruz Mountains to increase the visibility of those that prioritize stewardship of the land.
The vetting process is rigorous, and those that make the guide are proud that their sustainability efforts are recognized in this way. “It has been a great reward to be included in the Slow Wine Guide and build a relationship with the editorial team. The grid of criteria is very transparent and provides readers with personal information about the true nature of the winegrower behind the bottle,” said Nicolas Vonderheyden, winegrower and winemaker at Maison Areion.
Dave Ferrari, owner and winegrower at Ferrari Ranch Wines, agreed: “As a winegrower we are so honored to be recognized by the Slow Wine Guide. What you taste in the glass is in direct correlation to our sustainable and intentional farming practices without the use of pesticides and herbicides.”
Cole Thomas of Madson Wines said, “To be featured in Slow Wine is an honor for our winery. Slow Wine connects and highlights the producers around the globe that are passionate about responsible farming and winemaking practices, and it is an honor to be included in that group.”
Slow Wine Guide USA covers 400 wineries in the United States, including California, Oregon, Washington and New York. In the upcoming 2025 edition, over 25 Santa Cruz Mountains wineries gained a spot and garnered awards in this prestigious guide, including Beauregard Vineyards, Ferrari Ranch Wines, Lester Estate Wines, Madson Wines, Maison Areion, Neely Wine, Ridge Vineyards, Sandar & Hem, Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard, Storrs Winery, Windy Oaks Estate and others.
Just being listed in the Slow Wine Guide is an honor. In addition, we confer three different awards to wineries (Snail, Bottle, and Coin) and three different awards for their wines (Slow, Top, Everyday). Not every winery or wine receives an award, only the top ones according to our farming assessments and sensory evaluations.
This year, the top winery award, Snail, was awarded to Mount Eden Vineyards, recognizing its exceptional efforts in representing Slow Wine values. In addition, 16 Santa Cruz wineries earned the Bottle Prize, which represents excellent overall quality across all their wines based on our sensory evaluations. The Coin Prize, for wineries whose wines are good value, was awarded to several Santa Cruz wineries including Alfaro Family Vineyard, Bargetto Winery, Margins Wine and Precedent Wine. Congratulations to all the Santa Cruz Slow Wine wineries!
The 243-page Slow Wine Guide 2024 ($25) is available for purchase here. The 2025 edition will be available later this year. If you are a winery that might meet our criteria for being listed in the guide, email me.
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