This place was spot on for a celebration during the pandemic 2020! The service was impeccable, hosts had a great attitude and the property is beautiful. It made our day. Tables were spread out so proper social distancing while you sip and enjoy. The drive to this place is beautiful (excludes the silly Bay Area traffic even during pandemic, you just have to live with it). Great wines! They allow you to bring in your own picnic/snacks/lunch as long as you clean up after yourself and pick up your trash which you have to take long with you. Not sure if it's a Covid thing but doesn't seem too much of an ask so we were happy to oblige. Definitely will visit again! read more

Silver Mountain Vineyards - Picnic area - Wineries Near Me - Los Gatos, California

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This is one of the best places in the SC mountains...unpretentious and very chill.Gerald the owner is a local legend,a real character.wines are solid and compared to most places,relatively cheap.We were very fortunate to come on a Sunday and be served by the wonderful Charlene..she made everything that much better with her warm and friendly personality....an extremely impressive lady in every way....cute to read more

$15 for 5 wines, but you can revisit the wines. We made reservations for Saturday at 1pm. Good amount of people were wine tasting in the tasting room. We are scared of covid so we kept our masks on while we wait for someone to pour us wine and then we go outside to drink. The portion size poured is sometimes a good pour and sometimes a small pour. Depends who you get. There's a cute friendly dog that's always hanging around. You can picnic here too. Plenty of tables and chairs. It was cold, damp, foggy, and gloomy when we went so we didn't stay for the picnic. We liked the 2 Chardonnay. One was reserve and the other one was regular. The Alloy red wine was good. The tasting fee is waived if you buy a bottle. read more

Silver Mountain Vineyards - a hand holding a glass of wine - Wineries Near Me - Los Gatos, California

Love this winery! It's a challenging drive but totally worth it! They are only open on the weekends but worth the traffic and the mountain roads... read more

First, at 2100 ft. elevation, the grounds are amazing. The actual tasting area might be a little tight- it's in a room with educational posters and maps, collected rain water for drinking, food (on special occasions), and dozens of ribbons they won from fairs and festivals. But they have a large deck with great views of the redwoods of Monterey Bay, and they have a huge amphitheater (where on special events like Passport Days and Solstice, they have live music). Bonus for the animals: I went down to pet Spencer, the dog for whom some of the wines are named, but he was not showing me happy dog signs, no wagging tail, no hand sniffing, he looked at me as if I farted in an elevator. But when I gave up, he exposed his neck and belly for rubs, and would grumble when I tried to leave. (Miguel L. rudely said the dog was neglected- but truth is, the dog is exhausted from all of the attention). The white cat is harder to find- and it is really fluffy and light, sweet and and meowy. Miguel didn't mention it, but the cat has emotional issues and is bad at math. The tasting is a good deal, especially considering you get to pick your own pours. On Passport Days, we got to pick five wines. All of them were good to great. I especially liked the dry but fruity wine named after their dog, Spencer's Choice or Spencer's Pick. It had notes of dead fish and butt. (I'm kidding). read more

Silver Mountain Vineyards - the only shade - Wineries Near Me - Los Gatos, California

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What are we trying so desperately to find when we travel somewhere special to taste fine wine? What are we hoping to feel, beyond the momentary pleasures of a mild buzz? I set off recently on a visit to Silver Mountain Vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains in search of answers. Three hours later, I ended up with a few bottles instead. The visit did help clarify things, though, and that's a really good reason to return in search of future insight. Basically, I learned three things about my wine tasting proclivities that may resonate with you as well. If so, I would encourage you to contact Silver Mountain to arrange a tasting of your own. First, I respond positively to compelling human interest stories that make me feel warm and fuzzy inside knowing that life, while full of setback and sorrow, doesn't have to entail endless suffering. Second, I am highly susceptible to fun-filled consumer experiences that provide me with lots of new topics to discuss with my friends and family when next we meet. Third, as someone with more than a casual interest in wine, I become very excited when I discover wines of character and charm that capture my attention and make me want to learn more about them as they continue to age. This ability of fine wine, regardless of how much it actually costs, to entertain us in its youth but then to evolve over time is the true source of its enduring appeal. If wine can gain in beauty and complexity as it gets older, then so in theory can we. Wines that are made honestly and expertly invite us to drink deeply and with intent, but they also make great company if we decide it is time to confront life's challenges directly rather than grasp for yet another distraction. And that's a very cool combination, in my book at least. To recap: wine tasting at its best is one part personal story, one part consumer experience, and one part sensory impression. It's not about finding the perfect food and wine pairing, trying an obscure grape varietal, or adding a 98 point wine to one's cellar. It is simply a way to form meaningful connections to the world around us through the magical medium of wine. The Silver Mountain Vineyards story is structured around the personal life journey of its founder, Jerold O., who rehabilitated an abandoned orchard deep in the Santa Cruz Mountains in the late 1970s with a goal of making fine wines similar to those he enjoyed from France and that were being made by pioneering California winemakers after the Second World War, including the Russian River Valley vintner, Joseph Swan, and the founder of Chalone Vineyard, Richard Graff. After years of effort, Jerold and his small support staff turned Silver Mountain into a thriving vineyard with an attached winery known for its sustainable, earth-friendly practices. When floods, fires, and even a major earthquake in the 1980s threatened to destroy the dream, Jerold doubled down and rebuilt the winery and continued to craft fine wines with the help of a talented assistant winemaker and group of dependable growers who supplied him with grapes to supplement the estate's limited production numbers. Now more than forty years on, thanks in no small part to a devoted circle of wine club members and the support of the Santa Cruz Mountains winemaking community, the Silver Mountain story continues. The consumer experience here doesn't attempt to outdo the luxury offerings you'll find in Sonoma or Napa, where attentive, attractively styled staff cater escort you around immaculately landscaped grounds as if it were a tour of the Palace of Versailles, often while serving your wines in varietal specific stemware as they do so. What you can expect here instead is more modest but also more meaningful: a gracious, unassuming welcome, polite and helpful table service, and a comfortable, quiet location beneath the shade of a few ancient looking trees to enjoy your wines. You can choose one of four separate wine flights (4 wines for $15), order wine by the glass or bottle, or do a combination of both. Picnics are welcome and encouraged and lingering for two hours or more is very easy to do. A bottle of the estate rosé ($22) is perfect for sharing in warmer weather, but glasses ($12) of Pinot Noir (from multiple vineyard sites), Chardonnay, or "Alloy" Cabernet-dominant Bordeaux red blend would be equally enjoyable following a tasting flight. Don't expect anyone aggressively to sell you the wines or convince you of their merits. Chances are good, however, that the owner himself will be present to assist you with wine recommendations, talk about the winery's history, or share his thoughts on the current harvest. It's not a candlelit tour of the wine caves or ATV ride through the vines, but it is the sort of simple human kindness that one tends not easily to forget. read more

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Amazing winery - absolutely beautiful setting and very friendly service. Wide selection of varietals to choose from and most are very good so easy to find something for everyone. Would absolutely recommend. read more

Great spot .. great wine ... def would suggest an update to the patio but the tasting was delicious knowledgeable staff friendly and amazing view read more

Silver Mountain Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Los Gatos, California

I love Silver Mountain Vineyards - they are a great budget-friendly winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Favorites: Alloys (2012 is my personal favorite, but you can't really go wrong) Chardonnay - specifically, the Tondre Rose - light, bright, and drinkable It's totally worth it to join their wine club - low commitment and you get fantastic case prices (Alloys are now our go-to for any night of the week, which is a major step up from average grocery store bottles that are the same price or even more) and access to pickup parties (the best one I've been to) and wine maker dinners (so fantastic!!!). There is also a patio for picnicking with a great view of the mountains and bay on a clear day. read more

Winemaker Jerold O'Brien does a number of beautiful things. He made the 2000 Monterey County Chardonnay. He grows the wine grapes on the estate - organically. He makes it easy to enjoy lovely sunsets overlooking the Monterey Bay. Get Thee to the Winery read more

Silver Mountain Vineyards - Thursdat, May 10, 2007 mimi - Wineries Near Me - Los Gatos, California

Amazing Vineyard with incredible wines and incredible views - esp. love their Bordeaux flights. Susie explained the wines to us in detail with their history and was an incredible hostess. Susie is absolutely amazing, professional in all regards. Wine club members are very much valued and it is appreciated. The food served at the quarterly wine pickup and other events (today it was a super charcuterie tray), it was exceptional in all regards. Folks that work here enjoy thier jobs and make it fun for first-time guests who are exploring great tasting wines made with grapes grown right here in our own Bay Area or regulars like us that live down the street. Love this place. Excellence in action and knowing why! read more

Amazing views. Friendly staff. They had irish music playing which was a nice touch. They had a bunch of finger foods out which was yummy. The wines were pretty tasty as well! Not sure why Miguel said in his review that the dog looked abused. He is anything but. He's old if anything. The owner said he was a rescue that came from an abusive situation so if he doesn't seem super outgoing that probably has something to do with it..but he's takin care of. read more

Silver Mountain Vineyards - Amazing views! - Wineries Near Me - Los Gatos, California

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We came here as part of a wine tour stop, and it was our favorite of the day! The tasting room has a welcoming and relaxed vibe, definitely makes you feel at home. Their wines are some of our absolute favorites in the area, and writing this review now makes me wonder why we haven't joined the wine club yet! read more

I love Silver Mountain Winery. The grounds are beautiful especially in the spring. They do tours on occasion of the property and their sustainable practices. The staff are nice and laid back and explain each wine you are tasting based on what you like. I especially like their wines. The Cabs, Pinots and Syrah's are all excellent but I especially love the Alloy. If you want to have a nice adventure go up for a tasting and I bet you come back a member and not because they pushed it on you. Members get special pricing and pick up parties as some of the perks. read more

Silver Mountain is one of our favorite local wineries. The winemaker , Jerold O'Brien is often there pouring and he really makes it a fun experience. Laurie keeps us on track with our orders and pick up parties. As a wine club member we get wine pick up parties and opportunities to taste library wines. We love the Pinot Noir especially Tondre vineyard and their Alloy blend. We love our tastings and our wines! read more

They offer a great great wine, at affordable prices, drinkable now, and with great views. Their Pinots and Bordeaux blends are in par with anything good outthere. You can get 6-8yrs old vintages, so readily aged for drinking now. At least half price vs NapaSonoma, where they sell a 3 yr old Cab. Or you can sample their Chardonnays, of you care for white juice. Views from the top of Santa Cruz mountains go all the way to the ocean. Not to mention Gerold, the proprietor and soul of this place - a truly unique person. We are a member; the only winery we are still members of. read more

If you are doing wine tasting in the Santa Cruz mountains, you must visit Silver Mountain Vineyards near the summit in Los Gatos. It's off the beaten path and you have to traverse some narrow and twisty mountain roads but the wine is worth the effort. My wife and I have been wine club members for a couple of years now and many of Jerold's wines pleasantly suit our palates. We find his Pinot Noir and Syrah superior to most offering in the area. The tasting room is a bit small but never seems to be too crowded. That's because you can take your time tasting the wine as you go out onto the deck. and take in the wonderful view of the vineyard and the forest. The amphitheater is great for a picnic lunch as you as you relax and take in the delightful view overlooking Monterey Bay. read more

We have held memberships in four of the wineries up on Summit Road and Silver Mountain is definitely one of the best. We enjoy the wine pickup days for members only when Jerold (the owner) pulls out some of his library wines. The first time we went, one of the wines he pulled was a 1963 Charles Krug, Cabernet. When would I get a chance to try that? Views from the winery are fantastic, the tasting is very casual, and the tasting crowd is very friendly. As for their wines, I like the Chardonays, Pinots, Syrahs and Cabs. They make a good variety to keep me coming back - I always find something I like and usually take a case home with me. read more

My significant other and I have had great experiences here as wine club members. We enjoy the wine club dinners, the wine club pick-up parties and the beautiful landscape this place has to offer. We often enjoy it with a nice bottle or glass of wine and spend time relaxing on the weekend. read more

Truly a hidden gem in a neat location of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Great view from the patio balcony and not to forget the wine is amazing. Don't forget to try the Cab and Syrah two of my favorites although they have several other whites and older vintage red blends equally enjoyable. The owner Jerold has been producing wines from this Vineyard since the early 1970's which makes this the oldest standing vineyard in the Santa Cruz appellation. We joined the wine club, totally worth it for the release parties alone! read more

Silver Mountain Vineyard's wines are top-notch. I especially enjoy their Alloys (a Red Bordeaux Blend), and have been fortunate to have now tasted 8 vintages. The pinot noirs are also outstanding, and there are several, each from a distinct Santa Cruz Mountains vineyard. There are also a Cab and a Syrah which are both also fantastic. I am not much of a white wine drinker, but their Chardonnay is very good, and I can imagine a great pairing with the right meal. The winery is rustic, with beautiful views out to the ocean and surrounding mountains, and plenty of outdoor seating to relax and enjoy the wines. Bringing a picnic is a great way to enjoy an afternoon while sipping on their wines. The owner, Gerold, is very knowledgeable and you can tell that he lives to make great wines. For the quality, the prices are super-reasonable. Being a wine club member makes the cost even more attractive, and there isn't a large quantity requirement to be a club member. You also get invited to some nice luncheons for their wine pick-up parties. read more

This winery is so fun and so beautiful to visit. I met the owner who is gracious, and the wine stewards remain the same so they become familiar to you. Great Pinot Noir, and lately their Rose's are very good. Linda J. read more

I've been going to Silver Mountain for well over a decade, and I love their pinot noirs and the Alloy Bordeaux blend. While the setting is a little rustic, the staff are very kind and helpful. I don't make it to the winery or the tasting room as often since leaving the South Bay, but Silver Mountain is always on my "must-visit" list when I return to the Santa Cruz Mountains for wine tasting. read more

We love their wine especially their Pinot Noir and Sonet. Not just the Wine but Jerold always gives you the best service. One time we could not pick up our wine, and he stopped by our house to drop them off. He was very nice. Thank you Jerold. read more

I've been coming to the Winery ever since I tasted their Pinot Noir at a Pinot Paradise event; full-bodied, fruit forward, and oh so delicious! The winery itself is a testimony to sustainability. Jerold O'Brian, the owner/winemaker is very available and ever willing to talk about wine. The servers are wonderful, and the view of the fields are spectacular. I encourage EVERYONE to visit and find for themselves-you will be enchanted! read more

I've been a member of Silver Mountain Vineyards' wine club for about two years. I absolutely love their chardonnays (and I'm not a huge chardonnay person), Alloy blends, and most of all, the Syrahs. The tasting room up at the winery is gorgeous - you can see out to the ocean on one side, and into San Jose on the other. They always have great events with tasty food. Highly recommend! read more

Great Wines, Great prices, Great people and a Great place to visit. You won't be disappointed. I highly recommend becoming a club member! The Jones's read more

The venue isn't very pretty, their website looks like it was created on GeoCities, and there's only about room for 15 people max. In addition, it has the most awkwardly-located restroom that's way too close to the tasting area. However, winery does manage to make up for those by having an absolutely amazing tasting. For $5, I had a massive wine tasting of 6 wines + 4 shared among friends (they let you do "couples" tasting). The Pinot noirs from the Miller Hill and Muns Hill vineyards were especially outstanding with their strong smokey-oak, semi-dry, chocolate mocha taste. These wines knocked the socks off every those at every other winery that I've tried in the Santa Cruz mountains. read more

A great winery with beautiful views! We found this hidden gem on a road trip a couple years ago and promptly became wine club members after our first tasting. We enjoy every new shipment we get! read more

Jerold is one of a kind and his tour of the winery is super informative! He really cares about the wine making process and really enjoys seeing others enjoying the wine he makes. The quality of the wine and the richness of flavors brings my wife and I back to the winery often! We highly recommend making the trip. Bring a picnic, buy a bottle and stay awhile! read more

Just happened to stumble upon this cute, quaint winery and tasting room while in the area. Very personable, friendly staff and fantastic wines! Definitely a must see! read more

Went for a tasting Saturday, quick to be seated but lacking a welcoming feeling like she didn't wanted us there. After speaking to another couple of the option to choose your tasting Sounded great.. but was not offered to us. I went to ask if we can pick our next pour, she almost rolled her eyes at me & said its after 4:30 I can't. WTF, 5 minutes later another group came in and was able to pick there own for tasting! I wish I knew her name as she didn't even offer it to me. Rude rude rude! read more

Everyone who worked there was very nice, even when a huge group of rolled in right when they opened. They were very accomodating but the place is not set up for large groups. I tried the rose, some pinots and alloys. I liked the estate pinot best. Everything was pretty decent so I wouldn't mind coming back here sometime. read more

Very nice place. On top of a hill with fantastic views all around. Friendly staff. The only negative thing about it is how they neglect their old dog. Poor dog looks very sad and miserable being outside day and night. We got there when it was pouring raining yet the poor soaking wet dog would slowly come up to visitors to greet them. We were told that the dog is not allowed in which is sad as he's old and in bad shape. Take care of your dog guys! read more

One of my favorite wineries and have been going there for years. Very friendly owner and staff, and while I am not a Pinot fan his white, rose, and bigger reds are very good. My favorite is their red blend: Alloy read more

This was such a great find. This was our first time to a Santa Cruz mountain winery and we couldn't have chosen a better winery to visit. The winery had around ten varieties to taste, from whites to rosé's, to reds. None of the wines disappointed. The views from the winery were breathtaking. The winery has an extended patio with views that stretch over the Santa Cruz mountains. The staff were perfect, knowledgeable on the history of the winery, the wines on offer, without being pushy or rushing you along the tasting. We'll definitely back, next time though, we'll be sure to bring a picnic to take greater advantage of the views afforded by the winery. read more

This is my favorite winery, and fortunately not far from home. From the friendly tasting room setting, to the gorgeous views, and comfortable picnicking spots, Silver Mountain is both local and world class. Now to the wines - Silver Mountain Chardonnay is not only excellent, but it lasts for many years and still good to drink. Alloy, the bordeaux blend, is always my go-to hearty red. And then there are various pinot noirs, of which I favor the Tondre vineyard, and an excellent Syrah. If you move quickly you can get some of the 2014 Zinfandel, rare and outstanding. read more

I really enjoy this winery and think it's a great place to take friends to show off the wines that the Santa Cruz mountains have to offer. The wines at Silver Mountain have a complexity and depth that many craft wineries struggle to achieve. Their tasting also offers a library of wines that is much more extensive than what you'd usually find at a boutique vineyard and everyone I bring finds something they like. The tasting room off of Summit Rd. is quaint and relaxed, with a nice balcony offering decent views. Tables are available if you want to bring a picnic. read more

We belong to a number of wine clubs in Sonoma and Napa, but Silver Mountain is the only one we belong to "over the hill" in the Santa Cruz mountains. Their winery tasting room near the summit is a friendly, relaxed place with great views. They also have a tasting room in Santa Cruz. The wines are really good and are great values, especially at wine club and special pricing. The release parties, including free wine and food, are free and great fun. read more

Beautiful location. Excellent views. Delicious Pinot noir. Rose is great too! I happen to be a newer wine club member and a big pinot fan/slave, so I'm very biased... but only because of how good the wine is. This was our first time to this tasting room, we always go to the tasting room on swift street in SC, which, by the way, if in need of a wine buzz, head over there bc there's 7+ different wineries there. Back to the wines: they poured a chardonnay, pinot rose, 4 different pinots, a 02 zin, a syrah, a cab, and an alloy (bordeaux blend). We generally skip chardonnays everywhere we go, nothing against winemakers, just not our cup of tea.. especially if it is buttery. The Pinot rose here is perfect for a warm/hot summer afternoon/morning by the pool, on a patio, etc. It is just the right amount of sweet and dry. A beautiful color too, like a pink rose. The pinots all have different characteristics. For those who are more inclined towards the french burgundy style pinots, go with the estate pinot. For the juicy awesomeness that is always coming from Santa Lucia Highlands region, try the Tondre. I don't really drink Syrahs or Cabs or blends. I thought the zin was good too, tho definitely showing its last legs for an 02. The berries have mellowed out and so you have a very balanced and soft zin. The syrah was good, but my wife the SYrah drinker definitely enjoyed it. We both liked th alloy, but I don;t think our tastes have matured enough to start enjoying the nuances of bordeaux blends. Get up here, buy a bottle of wine, sit on the patio, watch a sunset or enjoy the views and call it a great day. read more