Who knew Saratoga would become Silicon Valley’s hottest wine destination? Here’s where to sip.
Silicon Valley’s hottest wine tasting destination doesn’t have vineyards or grand winery buildings. There are no wine presses, stainless steel fermentation tanks or barrels full of aging wine. Instead, there are tony restaurants, spas, shops and coffee houses. Saratoga, the village nestled at the foot of the Santa Cruz Mountains, is now home to eight wine tasting rooms, all within a few blocks, making for a perfect day of wine-tasting. We checked out a few — and grabbed lunch — on a sunny afternoon. n Ser Wines and Silvertip Vineyards: Saratoga’s newest wine tasting room is a joint venture between these two boutique wineries. The minimalist space features a cool light fixture made from a wine-barrel hoop and a sleek copper-topped bar. Ser’s colorful, wave-inspired labels reflect winemaker Nicole Walsh’s love of surfing. Walsh also makes Bonny Doon Vineyard’s wines; Ser is her personal label. Silvertip’s evergreen tree label reflects the estate vineyard’s past as a Christmas tree farm. Details: Tasting fee $12. Open Thursday-Sunday. 14527 Big Basin Way, Saratoga; www.serwinery.com and www. silvertipvineyards.com
Big Basin Vineyards: The n folks behind the tasting bar here are serious about wine — and the wines are seriously good. Big Basin’s organic estate vineyard is tucked in among the redwoods near Big Basin Redwoods State Park, where winemaker Bradley Brown champions Rhone varietals such as roussanne, syrah and grenache and locally sourced pinot noir. Colorfully painted or hand-drawn labels reflect the aromas and flavors in the bottle. Sip at the bar, or take a glass outside to the front patio. Details: Tasting fee $18; open Thursday-Sunday. 14598 Big Basin Way; www.bigbasinvineyards.com East Coast Alice: Head n to this year-old eatery for Italian comfort food. Sit on the front patio or in the main dining room, with the big chalkboard wall menu, and graze on Steamed Clams ($17) bathed in a garlic white wine broth or share a House Smoked Trout platter ($17) loaded with mini pancakes and accompaniments. You won’t want to share the raisin and pinenut-studded Housemade Meatballs ($13) or creamy Carbonara ($17). Details: Open daily for dinner, weekends for
lunch at 14560 Big Basin Way; www.eastcoastalice.com M4: Michael Martella n
and Michael Michaud: Two Michaels share a tasting room that showcases each winemaker’s individual style. Step up to the barrel stave-lined tasting bar or take your sips outside to enjoy. Don’t miss former Thomas Fogarty winemaker Martella’s fruit-forward, California style wines. If you’re a fan of Old World European-style wines, try Michaud’s elegant sips. Or try them all. Details: Tasting fee $12, open Thursday-Sunday. 14598 Big Basin Way; www.m4tastingroom.com