Varietals - scmwine/Wineries GitHub Wiki

Wine Grape Varietals

Wine grape varieties grown in the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley region.

For planted acreage statistics, see Acreage.

Red Varietals

Bordeaux Varieties

Cabernet Sauvignon

The most widely planted red Bordeaux variety in the region. Particularly successful in the warmer sites of Santa Clara Valley and south-facing slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Planted Acreage (2024):

  • Santa Clara County: 800 acres
  • Santa Cruz County: ~12 acres
  • San Benito County: 375 acres
  • San Mateo County: 6 acres

Notable Producers: Ridge Vineyards (Monte Bello), Kathryn Kennedy Winery, Mount Eden Vineyards, Savannah-Chanelle

Key Vineyards: Monte Bello Vineyard, Bates Ranch, Kathryn Kennedy Estate Vineyard

Merlot

Widely planted throughout the region, often used in Bordeaux-style blends but also as a varietal wine.

Planted Acreage (2024):

  • Santa Clara County: 450 acres
  • Santa Cruz County: ~15 acres
  • San Benito County: 188 acres
  • San Mateo County: 1 acre

Notable Producers: Naumann Vineyards, Ahlgren, Ridge Vineyards

Cabernet Franc

Increasingly popular both as a blending component and varietal wine. Known for elegant, aromatic wines in mountain sites.

Planted Acreage (2024):

  • Santa Clara County: 120 acres
  • Santa Cruz County: ~1 acre
  • San Benito County: 19 acres

Notable Producers: I. Brand & Family, Ahlgren

Key Vineyards: Bates Ranch, Peter Martin Ray Vineyard

Petit Verdot

Typically used in small amounts in Bordeaux blends, adding color, tannin, and floral aromatics.

Notable Producers: Ridge Vineyards, Sandar & Hem

Key Vineyards: Monte Bello Vineyard, Bates Ranch

Malbec

Grown in limited quantities, primarily in warmer sites.

Notable Producers: Lester Estate Wines

Burgundy Variety

Pinot Noir

The region's most important cool-climate red variety, particularly successful in the Santa Cruz Mountains and coastal-influenced sites.

Planted Acreage (2024):

  • Santa Clara County: 900 acres
  • Santa Cruz County: 269 acres
  • San Benito County: 660 acres
  • San Mateo County: 73 acres

Notable Producers: Mount Eden Vineyards, Thomas Fogarty, David Bruce, Big Basin, Rhys Vineyards, Trout Gulch

Key Vineyards: Mount Eden Estate Vineyard, Peter Martin Ray Vineyard, Mindego Ridge Vineyard, Trout Gulch, Lester Estate, Windy Oaks Estate

Rhône Varieties

Syrah

Increasingly important in the region, particularly in Ben Lomond Mountain AVA and warmer Santa Clara Valley sites.

Planted Acreage (2024):

  • Santa Clara County: 250 acres
  • Santa Cruz County: ~22 acres
  • San Benito County: 21 acres
  • San Mateo County: 3 acres

Notable Producers: Bonny Doon Vineyard, Lester Estate Wines

Key Vineyards: Lester Estate, Maridon Vineyard

Grenache

Grown primarily in warmer sites, increasingly popular for Rhône-style blends and rosé.

Planted Acreage (2024):

  • Santa Clara County: 80 acres

Notable Producers: Bonny Doon Vineyard, Sandar & Hem

Key Vineyards: Bates Ranch

Mourvèdre

Used in GSM (Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre) blends and occasionally as a varietal.

Notable Producers: Bonny Doon Vineyard

Other Red Varieties

Zinfandel

Historic variety in the region, with some old-vine plantings dating to the 1800s. Particularly important in Santa Clara Valley.

Planted Acreage (2024):

  • Santa Clara County: 350 acres
  • Santa Cruz County: ~9 acres
  • San Benito County: 55 acres
  • San Mateo County: 3 acres

Notable Producers: Ridge Vineyards, Solis Winery, Guglielmo Winery

Petite Sirah

Traditional California variety, particularly in Santa Clara Valley.

Planted Acreage (2024):

  • Santa Clara County: 150 acres

Notable Producers: Solis Winery, Guglielmo Winery

Sangiovese

Reflecting the region's Italian heritage, particularly in Santa Clara Valley.

Notable Producers: Clos LaChance, Solis Winery

Barbera

Another Italian variety with a long history in Santa Clara Valley.

Notable Producers: Guglielmo Winery, Solis Winery

White Varietals

Burgundy Variety

Chardonnay

The region's most important white variety, particularly successful in cool mountain sites.

Planted Acreage (2024):

  • Santa Clara County: ~248 acres
  • Santa Cruz County: 147 acres
  • San Benito County: 576 acres
  • San Mateo County: 38 acres

Notable Producers: Mount Eden Vineyards, Thomas Fogarty, David Bruce, Storrs, Rhys Vineyards

Key Vineyards: Mount Eden Estate Vineyard, Peter Martin Ray Vineyard, Mindego Ridge Vineyard, Bald Mountain Vineyard, Bozzo Gulch Vineyard

Bordeaux Variety

Sauvignon Blanc

Grown in limited quantities, primarily in warmer valley sites.

Notable Producers: Clos LaChance

Key Vineyards: Triolo Vineyard

Alsatian Varieties

Riesling

Small plantings, primarily in cool mountain sites.

Planted Acreage (2024):

  • Santa Clara County: ~60 acres (primarily Gewurztraminer)

Notable Producers: Bargetto, Stirm Wine Company

Key Vineyards: Peter Martin Ray Vineyard

Gewürztraminer

Historic variety in the region, particularly in Santa Clara Valley.

Planted Acreage (2024):

  • Santa Clara County: 60 acres

Notable Producers: Bargetto

Rhône Varieties

Viognier

Increasingly planted for Rhône-style white wines.

Notable Producers: Bonny Doon Vineyard

Roussanne

Used in white Rhône blends.

Notable Producers: Bonny Doon Vineyard

Marsanne

Used in white Rhône blends.

Notable Producers: Bonny Doon Vineyard

Grenache Blanc

Emerging variety for Rhône-style whites.

Notable Producers: Stockwell Cellars

Key Vineyards: Bates Ranch

Other White Varieties

Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris

Limited plantings.

Notable Producers: Bargetto

Albariño

Emerging variety suited to cool coastal sites.

Notable Producers: Bonny Doon Vineyard, Storrs

Related Entries

  • Acreage - Detailed planted acreage statistics by county
  • Vineyards - Vineyard directory
  • AVAs - American Viticultural Areas
  • Vintages - Vintage reports by varietal group

Sources