31 Best Wineries near Capitola

“I walked in and inquired about a tasting session and the guy behind the counter was aloof didn’t seem to care that I was there, or extend any genuine effort to interest me in staying or completing any transaction; so I left and spent my time and money elsewhere.“

“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!!!“

“Excellent wines, excellent staff, always a pleasure to come to MJA. Marin, John, Ford, all the folks always take the time to really talk about what they are pouring in a way that is unpretentious and always educational. I love the nicknames - Hotflash, Still Horny - the sense of humor and the Aloha spirit is everywhere. These folks work really hard to create an excellent product and an excellent experience. Movie nights are super fun, often there is live music, and we always meet the most interesting and intelligent people. Their tasting room on the summit also rocks!“

“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.“

“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 :)“

“Beautiful location with great views!“

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

“Wonderful afternoon at Madson Wines. Great little spot to sit and chill over a tasting and glass of wine. All the wines we tasted were great and the service and attention we received from Charlotte and Ali made us feel right at home. Made sure to stay on top of our needs even as the place filled completely up. Extra points for the oysters from Parker Picks pop-up oyster bar. Would give six stars if I could. Definitely will be back.“

“What an amazing place. I was visiting from the UK and was lucky enough to visit here.

I really enjoyed the drive up. It's a windy road but beautiful driving through the hills up to the winery.

Great wine, fantastic service, good prices, beautiful views and all within a short drive of Los Gatos. One of the highlights of our trip to the area.

I'll be back on my next visit.“

“I found this place while making my way down the pacific coast, and I’m so glad I found it! The owner was fantastic, and very knowledgeable. My favorite wine was their new dessert wine. I definitely recommend this place to anyone who is looking for great tasty wine and company!“

“service was great, winery was beautiful👌🏽“

“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!“

“Me and my wife had our small wedding reception at Stockwell Cellar this past September and we could not have been happier with the outcome. Suzanne and Eric made our special day amazing through the quality of service throughout the night and of course through their amazing selection of wine. The wine slushies were a huge hit even for those who are not big wine drinkers. This is the perfect location for any wine lover looking for a fun space to host an event in!“

“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! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Patty Gilbert's band playing this afternoon..... Great music , great wine. Had a glass of That's Amore Blend. Wine is excellent....50% Barbera... Definitely fruit forward.... Cherry and plumb. On the back end Cab Sauv jumps out .... Warm spice. Barbara did a great job pouring.
Ron“

“Absolutely one of the most beautiful places I have ever DJed. Marky and her staff were exceptional. Very well kept grounds. Top notch venue!!“

“Great and friendly staff. Very helpful.“

“We just spent an extremely pleasant afternoon, sailing with Team O’Neill and sampling Pelican Ranch wines. Next time we’re in Capitola (soon), we will be visiting the tasting room and bringing a few bottles home for sure!“

“Nice property. Decent wines. Good prices. Great service.

Tasting is $10 for 5 wines. They make a nice variety of wines, but more pinot noir and red heavy with some Italian styles. Wines are all very fragrant, but taste was ok. Only 1 standout wine. They waive the tasting fee for every 2 bottle purchase, but their flexible. Bottles are mostly $30-50

Stephanie was awesome. Very knowledgeable, friendly, passionate about the wines. Not very busy on a Saturday. Outdoor seating only. A bit strange that there was only 1 low table with chairs. Rest were all high top standing tables so be prepared to stand or sit in the sun on the side areas. Open seating. You go up to the bar area to get your own wines and taste at your own pace. Only 1 restroom. Self serve water provided. No food allowed (not sure why, they don't sell food)“

“Great family gathering spot as well as great wine & friendly staff 🤗🍷“

“Did their tasting flight of 5 wines for $25! Was a wide range of great tastes and loved how they had a booklet for the pairing that had more information for each pour that was written by the owners.

If you can try their 2023 Chardonnay and 2023 Pinto!🥂Those were my favorite!“

“Very personal experience with amazing selection of wine and cider. The building serves both Sones cellars and Tanuki Cider but the owner serving us had great knowledge in both. The owner saw us looking at the menu outside of business hours and invited us in for some Santa Cruz history and delicious tasting. His knowledge and appreciation of cider and wine was superb. It will be a repeat visit when we are in the area and a recommendation for anyone heading this direction.“

“Lovely location with beautiful views. You can bring your own snacks. The wine available are great. The hostess was good. The flights we all enjoyed. On this January day we sat outside and enjoyed the sun, did not need the umbrella. You can get club membership as well. We saw some humming birds darting through the flowers, and caught a couple deer on the drive to the parking. View of the bay.“

“service was great, winery was beautiful👌🏽“

“Outstanding wines and good location“

“some of the best cider in the county being poured in a really beautiful taproom. definitely worth the stop, the owner and staff are cool, space is comfortable & classy, and everything tastes great. highly recommend if you're on the west side!“

“Lots of very unique blend wines, reasonable price and friendly staff!“

“Great cider, Great Wine...from Great People !!“