The SantaCruzMountain Range occupies most of the San Francisco Peninsula and stretches south, separating the cities of San Jose and SantaCruz.
A vast array of flora exists in the SantaCruz Mounatins, with misty redwood forests dominating the northern part of the range, to dense chaparral-covered hillsides in the south.
The SantaCruzMountains are also very seismically active, due to the fact that the San Andreas fault runs through the entirety of the range.
The University of California, SantaCruz, established in 1965, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California.
It is located just northwest of SantaCruz, California, built amidst a redwood forest on a former ranch and lime processing site in the foothills of the SantaCruzMountains, overlooking Monterey Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
Although the original founders had outlined their plans for the University in the 1930s, the opportunity did not present itself to build such a unique educational experiment until the City of SantaCruz made a bid to the University of California Regents in the mid-1950s to build a campus in the mountains outside town.
The SantaCruzMountains has been recognized as a premium wine producing region since the late 1800's when local wine growers first began to win acclaim for their wines in national and international competitions.
In 1981 the SantaCruzMountains Viticultural Appellation became federally recognized, one of the first American viticultural areas to be defined by geophysical and climatic factors.
The appellation encompasses the SantaCruzMountain range, from Half Moon Bay in the north, to Mount Madonna in the south.
The SantaCruzMountains Viticultural Area extends roughly from Highway 92 in the north to the town of Aptos in the south.
When Ridge uses the term "SantaCruzMountains" on a front label, a narrower definition is intended.
The so-designated Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet all come from vineyards on Monte Bello Ridge, whose cool climate and limestone sub-soils are particularly well-suited to cultivation of those varietals.
One of SantaCruz’s finest hotels, the West Cliff Inn is perfect for a romantic getaway or a family trip to the sun-drenched activity filled beaches that SantaCruz has to offer.
Great for the business and leisure travelers, and within walking distance to all of what Downtown SantaCruz and the Boardwalk and beach have to offer including dining, sporting events, conference venues and all of the fun amusements and games at the Boardwalk — where they are celebrating 100 years of fun at the beach.
A ten minute walk from SantaCruz beach and Boardwalk, the Travelodge SantaCruz Riviera is a 2-story family motel with an indoor swimming pool and hot tub open year round.
Almost half of the 39 wines tasted are from the SantaCruzMountains American Viticultural Area (AVA), which is not legally included in the Central Coast appellation.
Even within the SantaCruzMountains AVA, there are a multitude of microclimates that favor everything from cool climate-loving Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to warmer weather Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.
TWO STARS 2003 Thomas Fogarty Rapley Trail Vineyard SantaCruzMountains Pinot Noir ($50) Aromatic floral rose petal, lavender, flberry and cinnamon lead to surprisingly tart though soft flavors of red cherry, citrus and tart plum, which finishes with zippy acidity.
Family-owned winery producing wines from the estate vineyards located at 1,650 feet of elevation in the SantaCruzMountains and planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot.
Family owned winery established in 1980 in Bonny Doon and producing wines from grapes grown on the estate vineyard in the SantaCruzMountains and on the Massaro vineyard in the Carneros region of Napa.
Small family winery established in Aptos in 1985, producing a selection of wines made from vineyards located in the SantaCruzMountains and Arroyo Seco.
The SantaCruzMountain appellation encompasses the land between Half Moon Bay in the north and Mount Madonna (just near Monterey) in the south.
Producing wine since the early 1800's, some of these wineries have been around for quite some time, mingling their vineyard lands with the sprawling redwood forests.
Over 50 wineries operate in the SantaCruzMountains, which encompasses the land between Half Moon Bay in the north and Monterey in the south.
Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association, News Articles(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-16)
Still, anything that demystifies wine for either gender, as "Wine for Women'' does, is a welcome addition to the wine-book scene.
It's not strictly a visitors' guide -- the book includes information about wineries that can't be visited -- nor is it a critical evaluation of the region's wines.
"Mountain Vines, Mountain Wines'' may be a little hard to find, but it's sold in some tasting rooms as well as online at www.
scmwa.com /articles/winelover.htm (808 words)
SCMWA Events Calendar(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-16)
Description: An exclusive tasting of the finest Cabernets from the SantaCruzMountains including several rare older vintages.
Set in the luxurious ballroom of the Marriott Hotel in downtown San Jose, this is your opportunity to meet the winemakers and try these world class wines accompanied by the culinary artistry of Michael Mina, Executive Chef.
Each week Shadowbrook will be featuring two to four wines from a SantaCruzMountainswinery, offered by the bottle or glass.
