Hilltop picnic lawns, redwood groves, and city rooms near the restaurants. Updated for 2026.
In the Santa Cruz Mountains, pairing wine with food is often about the setting as much as the plate. Because so many of the estates are spread across scenic hilltops, redwood groves, and ridge-top terraces, the appellation is tailor-made for a leisurely picnic, a bottle of estate Pinot and a packed lunch beneath the redwoods or on a lawn with a bay view. A handful of larger estates add culinary and event programs, and down in the city of Santa Cruz, the tasting rooms sit steps from excellent restaurants, so there is a food-and-wine day to suit every style.
Below are the Santa Cruz Mountains wineries we think are best for pairing wine with food, from the best picnic-and-gather estates to a culinary program and city rooms near the restaurants. Picnic and food policies vary, so confirm each winery's rules when you book. Current as of October 2026.
The hilltop picnic estate
With broad lawns, bocce courts, grand grounds, and views, Byington is one of the appellation's best picnic-and-gather estates, an ideal place to pair a bottle with a spread and a leisurely afternoon on the hilltop.
Good to know: Tastings; picnic lawns and bocce. Santa Cruz Mountains.
Our tip: Pack a picnic for the lawns; bocce and views included.
The redwood picnic grounds
A historic estate set among redwoods in the Saratoga hills, Savannah-Chanelle offers shaded, atmospheric picnic grounds, a serene, woodsy place to linger over wine and a packed lunch beneath the trees.
Good to know: Tastings; redwood picnic grounds. Saratoga hills.
Our tip: Picnic beneath the redwoods; shaded, serene, and lovely.
The estate with a kitchen and events
A large estate on the appellation's eastern edge with broad lawns and a culinary-and-events program, Clos LaChance makes it easy to pair wine with food in a spacious, welcoming setting, good for groups and gatherings.
Good to know: Tastings; grounds, dining, and events. Santa Cruz Mountains / San Martin.
Our tip: Pair wine with the culinary program; spacious and group-friendly.
The garden estate for a long lunch
Regale's Italianate gardens and grand grounds above Los Gatos make a beautiful setting for a leisurely food-and-wine afternoon, a lavish, celebratory place to linger over a bottle and a spread.
Good to know: Tastings; gardens and grounds. Los Gatos hills.
Our tip: Linger in the gardens; a grand setting for a long lunch.
The schoolhouse view terrace
Set in a historic one-room schoolhouse on Summit Road with a view terrace over the vineyards, Burrell School is a charming, scenic spot to settle in with a picnic and a glass on the ridge.
Good to know: Tastings; schoolhouse and terrace. Summit Road, Los Gatos.
Our tip: Settle on the terrace with a picnic; charming and scenic.
The Skyline view terrace
Thomas Fogarty's Skyline estate pairs estate Pinot and Chardonnay with sweeping bay views from its grounds, a spectacular place to enjoy wine and a bite high above the Peninsula.
Good to know: Seated tastings; hillside views. Woodside / Skyline.
Our tip: Take in the bay view; a spectacular setting for a glass and a bite.
The historic creekside setting
One of the region's oldest wineries (founded 1933), Bargetto offers a historic, welcoming setting, an easy, time-tested stop to pair approachable wines with a relaxed, unfussy bite.
Good to know: Tastings; historic winery. Santa Cruz area.
Our tip: A historic, easygoing stop; relaxed wine and a bite.
The city room near the food
A longtime Santa Cruz producer with a city tasting room, Storrs is steps from the restaurants and cafes of Santa Cruz, an easy way to pair mountain wines with the city's food without a mountain drive.
Good to know: Tastings; Old Sash Mill. Santa Cruz.
Our tip: Pair mountain wines with the city's restaurants; no drive up required.
To build a food-and-wine day in the Santa Cruz Mountains, decide first between a picnic and a sit-down meal. For a picnic, the scenic estates shine: pack a spread and settle on Byington's hilltop lawns (with bocce), beneath Savannah-Chanelle's redwoods, or on Burrell School's ridge terrace, pick up provisions in Los Gatos or Santa Cruz on the way, and confirm the winery allows outside food, since policies vary. For a sit-down option, Clos LaChance has a culinary-and-events program, and the city of Santa Cruz puts tasting rooms (Storrs, and nearby Birichino) steps from its restaurants. Either way, pace the day around the meal, keep to two or three stops given the drive times, bring a layer for the cool heights, and arrange a driver on the winding mountain roads.
Do not assume every winery allows picnics; policies vary and some do not permit outside food, so confirm when you book. Do not treat the food as an afterthought on a scenic estate; packing a proper picnic turns a tasting into an afternoon. And do not over-schedule, the pleasure here is lingering over a meal with a view, not racing between stops.
Which Santa Cruz Mountains wineries are good for a picnic?
Scenic estates like Byington (hilltop lawns and bocce), Savannah-Chanelle (redwood picnic grounds), and Burrell School (a ridge view terrace) are among the best for a picnic. Policies vary, so confirm each winery allows outside food when you book, and pick up provisions in Los Gatos or Santa Cruz on the way.
Do Santa Cruz Mountains wineries have restaurants?
A few larger estates have food or culinary programs, Clos LaChance on the eastern edge is the clearest example, with dining and events. Most estates focus on tasting but have picnic-friendly grounds, while the city of Santa Cruz puts tasting rooms steps from its restaurants, so you can pair mountain wine with the city's food.
Can you bring food to Santa Cruz Mountains wineries?
At many of the scenic estates, yes, picnicking on the grounds is part of the appeal. But policies vary and some wineries do not allow outside food, so it is important to confirm each winery's picnic rules when you book, and to pack provisions from a town deli or market on the way up.
Where can I pair wine with food in the Santa Cruz Mountains?
For a picnic, scenic estates like Byington, Savannah-Chanelle, and Thomas Fogarty (with a bay view) are ideal. For sit-down dining, Clos LaChance has a culinary program, and the Santa Cruz city tasting rooms (like Storrs) sit near the restaurants, letting you pair mountain wines with the city's food without a mountain drive.
How do I plan a wine and food day in the Santa Cruz Mountains?
Decide between a picnic and a sit-down meal. For a picnic, choose a scenic estate that allows outside food, pack provisions in Los Gatos or Santa Cruz, and confirm the rules. For dining, try Clos LaChance or the Santa Cruz city rooms near restaurants. Keep to two or three stops, pace around the meal, and arrange a driver.
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