Storrs Winery, Santa Cruz
Hidden in a little industrial park near downtown Santa Cruz, California is the tasting room of Storrs Winery. The first time I tried to find the tasting room, I probably drove around the office park at least two or three times, passing a cookie bakery outlet and assorted warehouses and offices before practically stumbling across the tasting room on the outskirts of the terrain.
It's a small tasting room with the obligatory t-shirt shelves and a wooden bar tending to the rustic. The staff is universally congenial and the atmosphere all around fun. Sometimes on the weekend it can get rather crowded in the small space, but it seems to work. And the charm of the interior belies the location.
The wines are generally excellent. For a small winery, they offer quite a variety. Bordeauxs, Zins, Chards, Rhones, and Pinots among others. My personal favorites have been the Rusty Ridge Zinfandel, which if you can still get your hands on the 2006 is probably at its peak. A good sized Zin, though not overly jammy, with lots of cherry and a smooth finish. The Wild Cat Ridge Pinot Noir is a great example of a Santa Cruz Mountain Pinot. And the BXR Bordeaux blend, which is probably their signature wine, is an age-worthy red that will reward patience.
Founded in 1988 by Stephen Storrs and Pamela Bianchini-Storrs. Since 2007 they have been planting vines on their own estate in the Mount Madonna area of the Santa Cruz mountians. Storrs is located at Old Sash Mill, 303 Potrero Street, no. 35, in Santa Cruz. Tasting room hours are daily 12 to 5.
That's if you can find them.
You can read more about Stephen and Pamela Storrs and the winery here.
Hidden in a little industrial park near downtown Santa Cruz, California is the tasting room of Storrs Winery. The first time I tried to find the tasting room, I probably drove around the office park at least two or three times, passing a cookie bakery outlet and assorted warehouses and offices before practically stumbling across the tasting room on the outskirts of the terrain.
It's a small tasting room with the obligatory t-shirt shelves and a wooden bar tending to the rustic. The staff is universally congenial and the atmosphere all around fun. Sometimes on the weekend it can get rather crowded in the small space, but it seems to work. And the charm of the interior belies the location.
The wines are generally excellent. For a small winery, they offer quite a variety. Bordeauxs, Zins, Chards, Rhones, and Pinots among others. My personal favorites have been the Rusty Ridge Zinfandel, which if you can still get your hands on the 2006 is probably at its peak. A good sized Zin, though not overly jammy, with lots of cherry and a smooth finish. The Wild Cat Ridge Pinot Noir is a great example of a Santa Cruz Mountain Pinot. And the BXR Bordeaux blend, which is probably their signature wine, is an age-worthy red that will reward patience.
Founded in 1988 by Stephen Storrs and Pamela Bianchini-Storrs. Since 2007 they have been planting vines on their own estate in the Mount Madonna area of the Santa Cruz mountians. Storrs is located at Old Sash Mill, 303 Potrero Street, no. 35, in Santa Cruz. Tasting room hours are daily 12 to 5.
That's if you can find them.
You can read more about Stephen and Pamela Storrs and the winery here.