American Viticultural Area · CA
Santa Cruz Mountains
Santa Cruz Mountains is a federally-designated American Viticultural Area in CA, established in 1981. The map below shows its official TTB boundary alongside nearby AVAs.
The Santa Cruz Mountains boundary is highlighted. Nearby AVAs are rendered in gray — click any of them to view that AVA's page.
At a glance
Established
1981
State
CA
Climate
Mountain Mediterranean
Signature varietals
Boundary recorded in 27 CFR Part 9 · Source: TTB
About the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
Designated in 1981 — the same year as Napa Valley — the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA is unusual in being defined by elevation rather than political boundary. Vineyards must sit above the fog line, generally 400 feet on the ocean side and 800 feet inland. The result is a non-contiguous mountainous region carved across San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara counties, with each vineyard isolated by terrain rather than connected by a shared valley floor.
The AVA produces Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay across a wide range of microclimates. Iconic producers like Ridge Vineyards (whose Monte Bello vineyard was first planted in 1885) and Mount Eden Vineyards have made Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet and Chardonnay benchmarks in California history. The 1976 Judgment of Paris included Ridge Monte Bello among the top Cabernets.
Nearby AVAs
Other American Viticultural Areas closest to Santa Cruz Mountains — useful when a vineyard sits inside more than one AVA at once.