Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 12:16PM Discover: Los Gatos
Gateway from the Silicon Valley to the Santa Cruz Mountains Wine Country Escape to its Small Town European Ambience
By Mary Lindsay
The corner of Santa Cruz and Main in downtown Los Gatos. (Mary Liindsay)Nestled at the foot of the mountains rising behind it, Los Gatos serves as a gateway from the hubbub of Silicon Valley to the forested and scenic wine country of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Altogether there are more than 70 wineries in the Santa Cruz Mountains, about half with tasting rooms. Within 20 minutes of Los Gatos and its charming European ambience you can enjoy wine tasting at nearly 20 boutique wineries and wine bars - in town and close by in the mountains, including the neighboring village of Saratoga. Who knew there were so many wineries in Los Gatos?!
The wine produced in the Santa Cruz Mountains today continues the tradition of premium wine established over a century by Paul Masson, Martin Ray, and the legendary David Bruce. Regional wines are known for their balanced acidity, which complements food; and for a minerality rarely found elsewhere. The Santa Cruz Mountains is known primarily for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Zinfandel; and you will find much more. With only about 1500 acres of vineyards in the mountains, very little of the wine produced from these grapes gets very far out of the region – and those who live in the area feel mighty fortunate indeed. So you really need to come here to discover and experience the wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Los Gatos is a vibrant community where you can relax yet find plenty to do. Stroll the streets, shop at boutique stores, view art and the displays at the Art and History museums, and enjoy wine tasting. Spend a weekend here and relax with the small-town feel of this friendly town. Excellent restaurants (including Michelin-starred) will delight any discerning diner. For outdoor recreation, you can bike or hike a number of trails in town or in the mountains; or sail dinghies at Lake Vasona. Take the kids for a train ride on the Billy Jones Railroad at Vasona Park. During the summer months, enjoy Jazz on the Plazz on Wednesday evenings, and Music in the Park Sunday afternoons. Stay overnight in one of the small luxury hotels; and relax and be pampered at your choice of spas.
The wineries of the Santa Cruz Mountains are largely small, family-owned artisan operations with intimate tasting rooms. From Los Gatos you can visit a number of them, and enjoy a scenic drive in the mountains.
Where to Taste – Downtown Los Gatos
The downtown tasting room of Fliemiing Jenkins WInery. (Fleming Jenkins)Start your wine tasting foray in town at Fleming Jenkins on West Main St., a family winery owned by winemaker Dr. Greg Jenkins and his wife, Olympic Gold Medalist Peggy Fleming. Fleming Jenkins is known for its award-winning estate Chardonnay, and Rosé, Syrah and Cabernet. The Victories wines (a Rosé and now also a Chardonnay and a Meritage) were created to raise funds for breast cancer research and awareness, of which Peggy is a survivor. Over $38,000 has been raised since 2004.
A couple of doors down is the Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company, where on a nice day you will find locals congregating for a cup of java. You can get a gourmet sandwich next door at the Los Gatos Gourmet charcuterie where you can also sample select wines from their wine shop and on Friday evenings enjoy a flight. 
The Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company is a great place to stop for an afternoon snack. (Mary Lindsay)Across the street from Fleming Jenkins are the sinfully delicious temptations of the Icing on the Cake bakery, especially known for their amazing cupcakes. And if you enjoy French wines, a few doors down is The French Cellar, with wine tastings weekend afternoons.
Testarossa Winery, the Bay Area’s oldest continuously operating winery, is a five-minute drive up the hill on College Avenue in the historic 19th century Novitiate winery building. Testarossa is recognized for outstanding Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah. Picnic tables are available outdoors. In the summers the winery hosts a popular “Music on the Patio” series and other events, so check the website. (All contact information and websites can be found at the end of this story.)
If you are up for a stroll in town, explore all the little shops as you head towards Cin-Cin and Enoteca la Storia at the other end of town (near Hwy. 9). Enoteca la Storia is an informal, inviting wine bar and shop. You can have lunch here with a glass of wine - delicious charcuteries, panini, salads, sandwiches - and pick up a bottle of wine to go. There is a good selection of local wines to choose from, as well as from Europe and South America. You will enjoy this labor of love and the personal touches of Michael Guerra and Joe Cannistraci. Check the website for special tasting events.
Tucked away on Village Lane, only a couple of blocks away, is Cin-Cin Wine Bar & Restaurant, open in the evenings. Recommended by Michelin, Cin-Cin is a full-service restaurant, wine bar and cocktail lounge. Zagat says, “the best thing to happen to Los Gatos.” Owner Lisa Rhorer has assembled a global wine list with a special focus on sustainable, organic and biodynamic wines. On the Happy Hour menu (4-6 p.m.) the crispy calamari, wild mushroom empanadas and truffled French fries are local favorites.
Where to Taste: In the Mountains.
Regale Winery and Vineyards (Mary Lindsay)You could spend all day exploring downtown Los Gatos and tour the mountain wineries the second day. Or start your wine trail of local wineries in town with Fleming Jenkins and Testarossa and then drive up Hwy. 17 to Summit Road, where you will find six wineries to visit: Regale, Burrell School, Silver Mountain, MJA Winery, Loma Prieta, and Villa del Monte (open by appointment). Muns Vineyard’s wines can be tasted at special events (see the website). In the summer you may want to get up to Summit Road early in the day to beat traffic heading to the beach.
The wineries along Summit Road are only 20-minutes from Los Gatos, and just a few minutes apart. They comprise the Summit sub-region, one of the six growing regions in the Santa Cruz Mountains that define the AVA’s different terroir. All of them give you extraordinary views looking out over the mountains, but each winery offers an unusual experience.
Regale is the first winery you will come to on Summit Road, 3.5 miles from the Hwy. 17 exit. A handsome Tuscan villa surrounded by vineyard and olive trees greets you. Stroll the lovely garden, bring a picnic, and sip Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernets, Zinfandel, and Italian varieties while you soak in the view from the vineyards.
Next door is Burrell School, at a circa 1800s era historic schoolhouse. Sip wine on the tasting room deck overlooking the vineyard. Dave and Ann Moulton’s personal attention to the vineyard, the wines and the tasting room are evident. Burrell School is known for its estate wines, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.
Five minutes away is Silver Mountain, with its certified organic vineyard, beautiful views looking out to Monterey Bay, and a broad wine list that includes its estate Chardonnay, Pinot Noirs, Bordeaux blend ‘Alloy’, and other wines. Jerold O’Brien has been a proponent of organic and sustainable winegrowing for many years, and has built the largest solar array in the Santa Cruz Mountains. On the way you will pass the Summit Store, where you can pick up sandwiches, cheese, and all the makings of a picnic to take to the wineries.
Brand new to the Summit is MJA Vineyards, just a few minutes away on Highland Ave. Sit on the patio under the forest trees or by the fireplace in the tasting room and enjoy Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. You can also find some of the “best coffee in America,” according to Forbes Magazine in 2001, grown by owner Marin Artukovich on his Kona, Hawaii plantation and sold at the tasting room.
Then, further up the hill, you can be awestruck by the spectacular views at Loma Prieta Winery, at 2,300 feet elevation looking out over Monterey Bay all the way to Monterey. Loma Prieta specializes in Santa Cruz Mts. Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot; as well as the rare Pinotage, a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault originating from South Africa. This is a rare opportunity to taste it!
On the way back down the hill into Los Gatos you can visit Black Ridge Winery, (open only the third weekend of the month) near the Lexington Reservoir; as well as David Bruce and Byington a few miles up Bear Creek Rd. Nonno’s, a little restaurant and pizzeria in Redwood Estates, offers wine tasting Saturday afternoons, and you can play bocce ball there under the trees.
If you have another day to spend in the area, by all means go to Saratoga to wine taste there, too, where you will find five more Santa Cruz Mountains wineries within a few minutes of each other: Cooper Garrod Estate Vineyards, Mountain Winery, Savannah-Chanelle, Cinnabar, and Big Basin.
Where to Dine
After a day of wine tasting you can choose from any of a number of excellent restaurants in Los Gatos that will meet your gastronomic fancies. Here are some favorites:
Manresa, on Village Lane (down the street from Cin-Cin). Internationally renowned Chef David Kinch, winner of a James Beard Foundation award and Iron Chef competition, presides over this two Michelin Star restaurant, among the Best Farm-to-Table Restaurants in the U.S. according to Gourmet Magazine. Also, according to Gayot, one of the 40 best restaurants in the U.S. Dinners are often sold out; make your reservations in advance.
California Café (Chef Bobby Laggan) in Old Town and Restaurant James Randall (Chef Ross Hanson) offer innovative menus with excellent wine pairing and are strong supporters of local wineries. They, along with Viva! and Three Degrees restaurant at the TollHouse Hotel, hold regular wine tasting events (check their websites). Also highly recommended is Dio Deka, the Hellenic-inspired restaurant at the Hotel Los Gatos; and Forbes Mill Steakhouse, serving Wagyu beef and with a wine list that has won the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.
Where to Stay
Hotel Los Gatos and the TollHouse Hotel offer luxury accommodations in town. The Los Gatos Garden Inn offers a quaint option, and you may find yourself in the room where Marilyn Monroe stayed. You can be pampered at Spa Elia at Hotel Los Gatos, and at Spa-Los Gatos, a block from the TollHouse Hotel.
Enjoy a couple of days in Los Gatos, soak up the charm of this small but vibrant town, and discover the world-class wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Online resources:
About Los Gatos:
http://www.losgatoschamber.com/
http://www.discoverlosgatos.com/
Wine Trails:
About the Santa Cruz Mountains wineries:
Events:
Pinot Paradise
40 Santa Cruz Mountains wineries pouring Pinot Noir, with delicious food from a dozen local restaurants. Paradise for Pinot lovers!
Organic Wine Trail, April 23
Four Santa Cruz Mountains wineries showcase their certified organic vineyards and practices for Earth Day. Learn more about growing organic winegrapes, and taste their wines. Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards in Saratoga; Silver Mountain Vineyards above Los Gatos; Vine Hill in Santa Cruz; Alfaro Family Vineyards in Corralitos. www.organicwinetrail.org
Spring Fling, April 30-May 1
Celebrate Springtime with The Summit Wineries. Music, food, wine specials, mountain views and vineyards. www.thesummitwineries.com
Vintners Festival, June 4-5, and 11-12
Visit and taste just about all the wines made in the Santa Cruz Mountains over the course of these two weekends.
Dine with the Winemaker – Every Tuesday night at Viva! Restaurant
Tasting Room Tuesdays at California Café – wine tasting and music (on the patio when it’s nice out), 5-7:00pm
Wineries:
Fleming Jenkins: Tasting Room Hours: Tue-Sun 12pm-6pm
45 West Main Street, Los Gatos, CA 95030
(408) 358-4949, flemingjenkins.com
Testarossa: Tasting Room Hours: Daily from 11am to 5pm
300-A College Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95030
(408) 354-6150 ext. 21, testarossa.com
REGALE Winery and Vineyards: Tasting Room Hours: Open weekends noon-5:00
24040 Summit Road, Los Gatos, CA 95033
(408) 353-2500, www.regalewine.com
Burrell School: Tasting Room Hours: Open Thurs-Sun, 11-5:00
24060 Summit Rd., Los Gatos, CA 95033
408-353-6290, www.burrellschool.com/
Silver Mountain: Tasting Room Hours: Open Saturdays 12-5:00
Silver Mountain Dr., off of Miller Cut-off and the Old San Jose-Soquel Rd.
408-353-2278 / info@silvermtn.com, www.silvermtn.com
MJA Vineyards: Tasting Room Hours:
24900 Highland Way, Los Gatos, CA, 95033
831-421-9380, www.mjavineyards.com
Loma Prieta Winery: Tasting Room Hours: Open weekends noon-5:00
26985 Loma Prieta Way, Los Gatos, CA 95033
(408) 353-2950, www.lomaprietawinery.com
Villa del Monte Winery: Tasting Room Hours: Open by appointment only
Call 1-888-788-4583
http://villadelmontewinery.com
Muns Vineyard
On the Loma Prieta ridge top, Los Gatos
(no tasting room)
See the website at www.munsvineyard.com for tasting opportunities
408-234-2079
Black Ridge Winery: Tasting Room Hours: Open the 3rd weekend of the month, Sat & Sun, 11-5:00
18550 Black Road, Los Gatos, CA 95033
(408)399-6396, www.blackridgevineyards.com
David Bruce Winery: Tasting Room Hours: Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons
21439 Bear Creek Road, Los Gatos, CA 95033
800-397-9972, 408-354-4214, www.davidbrucewinery.com
Byington Vineyard & Winery: Tasting Room Hours: Open Tues-Sunday, 11-5:00
21850 Bear Creek Road, Los Gatos, CA 95033-9438
408-354-1111, www.byington.com
Wine Bars/Shops:
The French Cellar
32 East Main Street, Los Gatos, CA 95030
408-354-0993, www.thefrenchcellar.com
Enoteca La Storia
416 North Santa Cruz Avenue, Los Gatos, California 95030
408-625-7272, www.enotecalastoria.com
Open daily and in the evenings; check website for hours
Cin-Cin Wine Bar & Restaurant
368 Village Lane · Los Gatos, CA 95030
408-354-8006, www.cincinwinebar.com
Hours of Operation
Happy Hour - Monday - Saturday 4 - 6 p.m.
Serving Dinner Nightly
Monday - Thursday 5 - 10 p.m.
Friday - Saturday 5 - 11 p.m.
Closed Sunday
Restaurants:
Manresa
320 Village Lane (just off North Santa Cruz Avenue)
Los Gatos, CA 95030
408-354-4330
Hours of Operation:
Wednesday-Saturday, from 5:30 p.m., Sunday from 5:00 p.m.
Forbes Mill Steakhouse
206 North Santa Cruz Ave. Los Gatos, CA 95030
Open Sunday-Thursday, 5pm-9pm and Friday-Saturday 5pm-10pm
Phone: (408)395-6434
Restaurant James Randall
303 No. Santa Cruz Ave.
408-395-4441
Open for dinner Tuesday – Saturday, 5:30pm to 10:30pm
Tuesday through Saturday
www.restaurantjamesrandall.com
California Café
Old Town, 50 University Avenue Suite 260
Los Gatos, CA 95030
408-354-8118
losgatos@californiacafe.com
Open for lunch and dinner
Dio Deka
210 E. Main St. (at the Hotel Los Gatos)
Los Gatos, CA 95030
408-354-7700
Open daily for dinner
Viva!
15970 Los Gatos Blvd.
Los Gatos, CA 95032
408-356-4902
Open seven days/week for lunch & dinner; breakfast on weekends
Hotels:
Hotel Los Gatos and Spa
210 E. Main Street, Los Gatos, CA 95030
P: 408-335-1700 | F: 408-335-1750
Reservations: 866-335-1700
www.hotellosgatos.com
Toll House Hotel
140 S. Santa Cruz Avenue
Los Gatos, CA 95030
408-395-7070, Toll free 800-238-6111
www.tollhousehotel.com
Los Gatos Garden Inn Hotel
46 East Main Street
Los Gatos, CA 95030
Ph: 408-354-6446
Fax: 408-354-5911
Reservations: 866-868-8383
www.losgatosgardeninn.com
Spas:
Spa-Los Gatos
100 S. Santa Cruz Ave. Los Gatos, CA 95030
408-354-5901 | Fax: 408-354-5841
Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Spa Elia
210 E. Main St. Los Gatos, CA 95030
(at the Hotel Los Gatos)
(408) 335-1777
Reader Comments (3)
freelance writer
Thanks for the info! One of my favorite Los Gatos hotels is The Toll House hotel. Great atmosphere and great hotel specials!
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