Wineries near Aptos

“Beautiful location with great views!“

“The staff are so welcoming and very knowledgeable. The site is gorgeous. Lots of fabulous events throughout the year. And of course, fantastic wine! Several different varieties - all delicious. The owners have a devoted passion for the winery and members and visitors. 5 Stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“This past weekend, we decided to visit Lester Estate Wines. The property is beautiful, with spaces for events and parties. Following the signs to the tasting room, you enter and see a long room decorated with all kinds of different woodsy/nature themed items. The staff greeted us and led us to a nice outdoor seating area. I tried the new Pinot Noir reds and she tried a mix of sparkling and still whites. Overall, it was a pleasant time and there is plenty to see! Another good wine tasting experience in the mountains north of Aptos!“

“The only thing that made me sad about Inversion Wines was that I hadn’t made it in sooner! I attended a baby shower this weekend that was superb in every way. Amazing wine, atmosphere, and people! Thank you!!!“

“Laurie is amazing and has a wealth of knowledge on the wines, business, and Santa Cruz! Her hospitality is on point; great balance of knowing when to check-in and when to give space. The outdoor patio is beautiful and has the perfect water fixture if you’re flying solo (like me). Prices are similar to going rates. I always love supporting my community and local business. Empanadas are amazing and the menu helps you pair food & wine. Because I was relaxing before the Santa Cruz Warriors game, they offered a special deal- glass of wine with 2 empanadas for $19 (great dinner value for one person).“

“Armitage wines offers a truly outstanding experience. It is not just the great history of the estate which was formerly owned by Alfred Hitchcock, but the delicious and high quality wines that you can sample in this amazing setting. The current owners are very welcoming and attentive and especially dedicated to creating a great tasting experience for their guests. We spend a whole afternoon trying the different wines and I have to say it is rarely the case that I am as pleased with the sampling as I was at Armitage. Next to this, the vineyard offers amazing views. Tucked away in the redwood trees you can see for miles while overlooking the grapes from the top of the estate. When the sun sets in the afternoon, it makes for an amazing play of light and shadows. We truly loved visiting this place and will definitely come back. It is well worth a trip. If this does not convince you, please see the attached photos. I am in no way affiliated to this place, but was simply amazed by our afternoon here.“

“Always a wonderful time when we hang out at El Vaquero.“

“Awesome tasting here! Recommend sitting at the bar, John was really great to chat with and really passionate about his wines. Came on a Wednesday when the market was on right outside and he was cool with me bringing oysters in. Such a fun space, full of personality, so would be nice for a glass or a catch up as well. 10/10 experience :)“

“I clicked that I don’t recommend the winery but it changed to I do. Loma Prieta used to be my favorite winery. The ambiance was great & everyone was so friendly. I would leave with 1-2 cases each visit. The last couple times I did wine club pickups I was so disappointed. The winery is run totally different! It is not the fun place it used to be. I’m considering cancelling both my wine clubs memberships there.“