Uncork the merry: 10 great Santa Cruz holiday wines under $30

The holidays are upon us, and what better time to share some great local wines with friends and family? Whether you are hosting or attending a holiday party, preparing a special meal or giving the gift of wine, you can’t go wrong with Santa Cruz wine.

Our local winegrowing region, the Santa Cruz Mountains American Viticultural Area (AVA), produces some of the finest wines in California from a range of grape varietals, and usually in small lots from small family-owned vineyards and wineries. And a major plus: You don’t have to break the bank to enjoy fine Santa Cruz wines.

Here are 10 local wines under $30 that I recommend for your holiday enjoyment. All of these wines are not only reasonably priced but are also perfect wines for sharing at holiday parties or for gifting. I prefer wines that pair well with food (wines that are higher acidity and lower alcohol), and all of these wines fit that profile perfectly. And because they are approachable and not overly fussy, these are all good candidates for sharing with people who don’t usually drink wine.

Many other Santa Cruz wines are available for under $30, and many local wineries are offering special holiday discounts through the end of the year. For example, Lester Estate Wines is offering a 50% discount on the 2020 Domingo Pinot Noir with an in-person purchase of six bottles, an amazing deal for an excellent local pinot. Check your favorite winery’s website.

You can purchase my recommended wines directly from the wineries, and many are available at Shopper’s Corner in Santa Cruz. In fact, as wine buyers for the past 50 years, Shopper’s Corner has incredible prices on wines from around the world throughout the store. Find out more plus 10 other recommended wines in this recent blog article I wrote on Shopper’s.

Deer Park Wine & Spirits in Aptos, Staff of Life Market in Santa Cruz and Watsonville, and New Leaf Community Markets (Capitola, Santa Cruz and Aptos) have good selections of local wines, too.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season filled with joy, laughter, warmth and good wine!

Common Thread Wines 2022 Carmel Valley AVA Chenin Blanc, $28

Common Thread is one of those wineries that isn’t necessarily on everyone’s radar. But it should be. David Baird, owner and winemaker, has been making wine for other Central Coast wineries since 2006 and started his own label in 2021 with a mission and a message. “Common thread” refers to a genetic trait that Baird shares with his two sons — a single palmar crease in the left hand — that is a marker for Down syndrome, a condition that his son Colin has. Baird is passionate about making wines from the heart and for the common good, donating 10% of his proceeds to charities that support children with special needs. Not only is Baird just a great person, his wines are excellent and worth seeking out.

Chenin blanc is such a versatile grape and can yield wines in a variety of styles, from super dry and linear to medium-sweet to sparkling. This chenin blanc is dry with a gentle, soft body and texture from three months’ barrel fermentation on native yeast. The wine shows lovely lemon, white flowers and hay notes, like a meadow after a rain. It is very fresh and refreshing and only 12.4% alcohol by volume. It’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser at your next gathering. I recommend pairing this wine with lighter meats (roast turkey or chicken), locally caught lingcod with a light lemon thyme marinade, ripe cheeses or Waldorf salad. You can purchase the wine on the Common Thread website.

Storrs Winery 2022 Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay, $27 at Shopper’s

One of my favorite chardonnay producers on the planet happens to be right here in Santa Cruz. Storrs Winery has been making some of the best chardonnay in California for nearly 40 years. It is consistently good and regularly wins state wine competitions and huge scores from the media. I love the acid-fruit balance of this wine with just a touch of French oak notes on the finish. It’s not an overly oaky-buttery style but shows restraint and elegance. The citrusy-acid and medium body would lend this wine to seafood dishes of any kind, especially butter-poached lobster or scallops in a wine-butter-lemon sauce.

Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Orange, $14.99 at Shopper’s

This is just a fun wine to drink and share. Take it to your next holiday gathering and watch it disappear. Made from five different white grapes (with grenache blanc dominant) that macerated on their skins for 14 to 16 days, this “skin-contact” wine is vibrant orange. With notes of apricot, tangerine and peach skin, the wine is dry with bright acidity, light tannin and medium body. Pair this wine with spiced Mediterranean cuisine, salty olives, soft cheeses or anything with bacon (bacon-wrapped shrimp, anyone?).

Soquel Vineyards 2022 Partners’ Reserve Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir, $26.99 at Shopper’s

One of two recommended local pinot noirs, this highly acclaimed wine (“Best of Class” winner at the 2024 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition) is a screamin’ deal at Shopper’s Corner for only $26.99 (normally priced around $40). If you are a fan of Santa Cruz Mountains pinot noir, you owe it to yourself to grab some of this for your holiday dinner table. Plenty of good red fruits (raspberry, cherry, pomegranate), baking spice notes (allspice, cinnamon) and vanilla, this pinot is sure to pair well with most any protein you may be serving: lamb, duck, salmon, beef or turkey.

Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard 2019 Bailey’s Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir, $29.99 at Shopper’s

Another standout pinot noir at a good price, this wine is from Bailey’s Vineyard and is so elegant, smooth, rich and complex. Jeff Emery, owner/winemaker at Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard, has been making world-class, age-worthy pinots in Santa Cruz for 45 years. The fruit for the wine comes from a vineyard planted in 1999 at 1,200 feet in the Vine Hill area along Jarvis Road. The mountain terroir expresses itself beautifully in this wine with notes of redwood, ocean mist and savory mushroom alongside rich cherry, plum and spice. Another great pairing with turkey, duck, salmon and rich mushroom dishes.

Emery’s wines taste smooth and approachable upon release, but they are also built to age. So at this price, I suggest you buy a case of this wine and allow a few bottles to age.

Birichino 2022 Little Block Vineyard Old Vines Contra Costa County Mourvèdre, $24.99 at Shopper’s

This is the wine for the meat lovers. Mourvèdre wines have a meaty, savory quality to them with some age. This wine has big shoulders, smooth tannins and rich fruits and would pair well with grilled, smoked or braised meats. The fruit comes from a vineyard planted in 1895 in deep, sandy soil near the Sacramento Delta. A classic red from a consistently excellent local producer.

Birichino’s 2023 Bechtold Vineyard Old Vines Mokelumne River Cinsault ($28) is also a fantastic red that is lighter-bodied, similar to a pinot. Coming from Bechtold Vineyard, one of the oldest vineyards for cinsault in the world, the wine is concentrated and complex and super food- and palate-friendly.

Bottle Jack Winery 2018 Zayante Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Zinfandel, $29.99 at Shopper’s

Another incredible price for a fantastic red wine made from old-vine grapes. Zayante Vineyard is a historic Santa Cruz Mountains vineyard planted before Prohibition in sandy soils. (Read about the history and wines of this vineyard and the people who lovingly tend to it here.) The 2012 vintage of this wine won Best Microwinery Red at the 2015 California State Fair. John Ritchey, owner and winemaker at Bottle Jack, is one of the few local winemakers to source zinfandel from this special vineyard.

Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, Christmas spices, dried flowers, mocha and orange marmalade, the wine is an elegant lower-alcohol, higher-acid zinfandel than those you find from warmer climates. As such, it makes a fine partner to a variety of foods: turkey with cranberry sauce, roasted pork, duck, sausage pizza, Manchego cheese and any tomato-based dish like lasagna or spaghetti marinara.

Big Basin Vineyard 2018 Rattlesnake Rock Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Syrah, $29.99 at Shopper’s

This savory and rich syrah was made 100% whole cluster from Big Basin’s estate vineyard that is planted to Côte Rotie clones. Whole-cluster fermentation (stem inclusion) brings out savory notes and adds body and tannin, while the Côte Rotie clone expresses floral qualities (lavender and violets). The certified organic vineyard is the oldest of several estate blocks at Big Basin, planted at 1,300 to 1,400 feet in 2000. 

Normally, this wine sells for $60 – so at 50% off for this gorgeous, silky syrah that will pair with rich meats and cozy gatherings, what are you waiting for?

Bargetto Winery 2020 Regan Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Merlot, $24.99 at Shopper’s

Another excellent wine at an unbeatable price. Merlot is a satisfying and food-friendly wine, and this one is no exception. The grapes came from Bargetto’s estate Regan Vineyard, long held as the de-facto quality merlot plot in the appellation. Winegrower and owner John Bargetto farms the vineyard using organic practices. This merlot is rich and smooth and silky, and with its moderate fruit expression, it is just so approachable. Pair this with any kind of meat (lamb is a classic pairing with merlot).

El Vaquero 2019 Athena Vineyard Santa Clara Valley Cabernet Franc, $26.99 at Shopper’s

Cabernet franc is the aromatic and lighter-bodied cousin to cabernet sauvignon. Winemaker Alex Prikazsky has a knack for making cabernet franc that respects the varietal’s inherent characteristics while showcasing terroir. This lovely wine with well-integrated smooth tannins shows perfect varietal typicity: floral notes, blackberry, black currant, baking spice, minerals and a dash of jalapeño pepper. Pair this wine with a charcuterie board, roasted veggies, steak or tomato-based dishes.

Until next time …

Cheers,

Laurie

Have something to say? Lookout welcomes letters to the editor, within our policies, from readers. Guidelines here.