Some picnic-perfect wineries
We’re in the height of summer, which means it’s prime picnic season. In addition to possessing their own unique charms of the vine, the following Santa Cruz Mountains wineries offer excellent picnicking opportunities. Before the carefree days of summer begin to fade, the time to visit is now, so pack up your favorite portable edibles, hop in the car and go. Burrell School Vineyards andWinery: Just off Highway 17 on Summit Road, you’ll come upon a charming red schoolhouse that dates to 1890. The site is also home to David and Anne Moulton’s small-production winery, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. In addition to offering tastes of six estate wines, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Merlot, for $5, the property features various picnic places for small groups, including a veranda that overlooks rows upon rows of lush vines, along with the valley below.
24060 Summit Road, Los Gatos; (408) 353-6290. www.burrellschool.com. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. ThursdaySunday. La NebbiaWinery: The verdant hills above Half Moon Bay at the northern tip of the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation are home to owner-winemaker Kendyl Kellogg’s La NebbiaWinery. The tasting room, where you can sample a wide variety of wines, including a dry Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, for $10, is petite, but the grounds, which boast picnic tables, bocce ball courts and even a glassblowing studio, are expansive and inviting. There’s no need to pack dessert in your picnic basket; for an additional $2, the tasting room serves a sample of Kellogg’s
Port-style wine in a chocolate cup.
12341 San Mateo Road, Half Moon Bay; (650) 726-9463. www.lanebbia winery.com. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Ridge Vineyards — Monte Bello: In addition to its high-caliber wines, Ridge’s mountainside property features a stunning covered picnic area that’s available on a first-come, first-served basis, as well as spectacular views of the South Bay. Several tasting options are available, including free tastes of two house-selected wines, a single-vineyard flight of four wines for $5 and four estate single-vineyard wines for $10. For an additional $10, a taste of the much-celebrated Bordeaux-style blend, Monte Bello, can be added to the estate tasting. And, of course, you can always purchase a bottle to enjoy with your alfresco meal.
17100 Montebello Road, Cupertino; (408) 867-3233. www.ridgewine.com. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. weekends April-Oct., until 4 p.m. Nov.-March; weekdays by appointment. Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards: This welcoming tasting room is housed in an old redwood barn that’s nestled in the hills above Saratoga. Sample a flight of six wines for $10 ($5 refund with bottle purchase). The picturesque property also boasts a number of primo picnic locales, including a shady grove of redwoods, a handsome 1920s villa inspired by the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris in Montmartre and views of the Santa Clara Valley. Public tours of the property start at 1:30 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month ($30/person; includes tasting of six wines and a souvenir glass.) Fridays and Saturdays until Sept. 27, the winery also hosts live local bands from 6 to 8 p.m.
23600 Big Basin Way (also known as Congress Springs Road), Saratoga; (408) 741-2934. www.sa vannahchanelle.com. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.; until 7 p.m. on Thursdays (AprilOctober). Alfaro Family Vineyards andWinery: Part of the Corralitos wine trail, located at the southern, coastal end of the appellation, Alfaro Family Vineyards is housed on 75 acres of land that was once home to an apple farm. The property now grows both certified organic and conventional grapes and offers tastes of at least seven of Alfaro’s finished wines for $10 at the winery’s indoor and outdoor tasting bars. The children and dog-friendly winery also has two picnic areas with sweeping views of the vineyards, which decorate the sloping hills.
420 Hames Road, Corralitos; (831) 761-1174. www.alfarowine.com. Noon-5 p.m. Saturdays year-round; also open noon-5 p.m. on Sundays during the summer months.