Been waiting for these restrictions to lift so I can come back in again! Before our most recent lockdown, my boyfriend and I enjoyed an amazing glass of wine and some food at Vino Cruz. The food and wine were great, however our server was top notch and the reason we are looking forward to coming back. Brandon, one of Vino Cruz's bartenders/servers, was absolutely amazing! He was very attentive, gave great recommendations on both food and wine, and we had great conversation about his time in the military and his travels around the world. My boyfriend and I enjoyed their burger and one of their flatbreads and Brandon was able to give us wine pairings that fit perfectly with each dish. I heard Santa Cruz is slowly reopening, and we are so excited to return for more great good, wine, and conversation. We will make sure to call to ensure Brandon is serving, and we recommend you do the same! read more

If your expectations are low, you may be impressed. But given the yelp reviews and being excited for a new wine bar in the area, we were super disappointed. First, when you walk in, it is confusing whether you seat yourself or check in with someone. We finally found someone to clean off a table so we could sit. Second, service was very slow. The people at the bar got their drinks well before us even though they arrived and ordered after us. Third, we were told the incorrect house flat breads for the night but both were good so it's ok. Then, we were told the meatballs were our waitress's favorite, but when we finished our other two small plates and our waitress noticed that we didn't have the meatballs yet, we were told that they were out of meatballs. Mind you, this was before 7 pm and at least 40 min after we ordered. Otherwise, food was good, but nothing amazing. Felt the same about the wine. Which, for the price, was a little disappointing. Not sure if we'll be back to try the meatballs. Btw, park in the church parking lot off of Main cuz they're parking lot is tiny. read more

Enjoying girl time and a glass of wine. Good generous pours here! Love that Vino Cruz moved to Soquel! The food is so yummy and the ambience is welcoming. I got a sparkling wine and sat at the bar. Will definitely come back again. read more

Vinocruz - Wine Bars Near Me - Soquel, California

Rude and very disappointing. My wife and I showed up tonight around 8:15 p.m. We walk inside and see the sign "Seat Yourself." We look at the daily special blackboard and make our decisions. There are 3 - 4 women waitresses behind the bar and the bartender (a male with dark hair and a white shirt). No one greets us. No "hello." Nothing. We decide to sit on the patio. There's a large group of women customers at the table next to ours. Our table was greasy with a few crumbs on it. We assumed someone would come wipe it off. Never assume anything here. The waitress comes over to take care of the other table several times. No "hello." No smile. Slinks in and slinks away. The other waitresses behind the bar are chatting with each other. Two of them are drying off washed wine glasses. After 15 minutes of being there and being ignored, we leave. Curses to them. read more

We continued to give them a chance after the manager followed up to fix the issue. So happy VinoCruz is still here...wine is pricey but it's so nice to have a place to go for a special treat. And the food has been delicious on numerous visits. read more

We had one of the best meals during quarantine from here! -Brie and pear flatbread: so good! Tasty mix of savory and sweet with a hint of heat from the jelly -Uncle Jesses special flatbread: super yummy and great if you are looking for a meat pizza -Lamb meatballs: really tasty and they come with pickled onions and a yogurt dipping sauce -Arugula salad: super tasty and could be a meal on its own! We got it with chicken on top. Definitely will be coming back. read more

I've only had their food via DoorDash and it by far the best delivery food we've had! Excellent burger and Chicken Ciabatta. The beet salad was perfect! read more

Small shop with a table as a tasting area, but I got a bit of a sterile vibe when I was there. I've been wanting to come here for a while and was disappointed to not have a stellar experience. Cost to worth it ratio: 3 (wines $20 and up, tasting $9) Highlights: - Local area wines: I like this angle, as it gives exposure to local wineries as well as pare down the region as a buyer. In addition to the well known names, I was thrilled to see a small winery we visited in Cupertino (at a guy's actual house) being sold here. - Tasting: 5 wines and I liked at least half of them which is great. A dessert wine was even poured as part of it which was unique. Lowlights: - Staff interaction: We had the wines poured but didn't get the warm, friendly, nice, story-telling experience everyone was raving about. Upon paying for our bottles we picked out, we didn't understand how the waived tasting worked and I paid separately than my hub because I had a gift card and paid for 1 bottle of wine and he paid for our other 2 bottles of wine. We thought our tasting fees would be waived, but when I went back to ask, but they told us we needed to spend $60 on one card and looked away. $9 isn't a big deal, but customer service wise, I would have appreciated them going the extra mile and offering to take one off, knowing that we were together, paid over $60, and went back and asked about it. That bothered me and I unfortunately left the shop with a sour feeling. We buy a good amount of wine regularly and our friends who took us here come in here often so I'd assume they'd want to encourage customers to return. This visit for me unfortunately wasn't the greatest, but I'd like to think it was an off day for them. We have friends that speak highly of this place and know the owner and more importantly we liked the wines, so I'll probably give it another shot. read more

Have you ever had one of those experiences where you are treated so poorly, you take a sneak peek around to see if Candid Camera is shooting a special, and the joke is on you? Me neither, at least until last weekend when we sat down at one of the two outdoor tables for the flight tasting. If being treated with complete indifference, and lack of social skills isn't a big enough turn off maybe the brusk "don't ask me questions glare' from the overly uptight owner will give you a giggle. Apparently being a wine-loving local isn't enough. I went thru my check list: brushed my teeth, out on a date and dressed nicely, bought wine, have ability to pay, and still treated like a vagrant. Skip the 'tude and head to Bonny Dune on the west side..nice service, nice local wine, and a smile at no extra charge. read more

It is really great to have a local wine store and tasting room that also showcases the best of local vineyards. We've been loyal customers of VinoCruz since the day the store opened. When we have guests in town we always stop by Vino Cruz to taste some wine and show off to our friends the great vintages that come from these parts. (I am sick of being forced to trek up to Napa in search of good wine!). I consistently get good recommendations from JP--not only for wines that I would like myself, but also when I am having an event or party. The selection is broad with the majority of their selections seeming to fall in the $15 to $30 range. All in all it is a great experience. They have a nice outdoor patio for tasting but I haven't seen anyone there enjoying it yet. read more

A nice relaxing place to stop and sample wines before a meal. Our flight hit the spot, and we stayed for one more glass. There are about 7 tables and one bar with a handful of chairs. About half of the people came in to taste wines, the others ordered their favorites and relaxed. No college kids here, the atmosphere is much more adult-friendly. The owner loves to talk about the wines and events, and is very helpful with recommending local places for out-of-towners. I think the prices are very reasonable for tastings, wines by the glass, and by the bottle. If you check in on yelp, you get a cheaper tasting, but if you buy a bottle from the tasting, your tasting fees are waved. Vinocruz also has a free corkage program with some of the downtown restaurants, so you can save even more that way. read more

Best hangout ever. We love this place for the best local wines, handmade delectable flatbread, and the best hummus . If you love wines and want someone to give great suggestions come here . Matt the owner is always there to help you if you need suggestions and Annie is phenomenal. Our favorite day off hangout ... read more

We came here for much-needed "date night" recently. The outside dining area is small, but well spaced and has heat lamps. It actually started raining lightly shortly after we sat down, but they moved us under some big umbrellas and moved the heat lamp close to us, and we were good to go. Everything we had was delicious - we shared spiced nuts and house salad, we both chose the apple and brie flatbread, and shared the fall fritters for dessert. Add a couple of glasses of wine and some coffee and we were rolling our way back to our car. The servers were attentive and friendly, and as someone else said, the bathrooms are clean! (Yes, customers notice these things!) I hope to go back soon! read more

Dinner for four friends. Limited beer menu but we found a schwartzbier that was perfect for drinking and pairing with food. We shared crab cakes, a flatbread pizza, po' boys and blue corn tortilla snapper tacos. Food a five. Server a five. Atmosphere a three. We would definitely go back for the food. read more

This has become one of our standard weekend stops. I'm happy to see more and more people discovering it. We love the variety of wine we can taste here--and all of it is Santa Cruz mountain appellation. A good way to discover some new favorites. The wine club is fantastic, since you're receiving a variety of wines from different vintners. We enjoy talking with JP, the very affable and very knowledgable proprietor. We also enjoy chatting with the other people who are tasting. It's convivial and fun. read more

I had the pleasure of getting to go wine tasting at this fine establishment this past Tuesday (8/7/12). We almost missed it but so glad we were able to find it. Our Host Ryan was the best. Very knowledgeable about all the wines, where they came from and how they are made. So it was a tasting and learning experience for me. I learned a lot in a small amount of time. If you are into wine or are interested in trying and learning about wine, this is a heavenly little place to try. I can't wait to revist. read more

Went last Saturday with my husband. Had high hopes. They did a great job with the interior prices good, great looking menu. Sat at the bar and one of the owners asked what I'd like. Came back with the smallest pour I've seen in a long time. Sent a pic to my girlfriends and they thought I was drinking a flight....nope. then he walked away without asking my husband what he would like. Weird. Not a great first impression. We left and went elsewhere. My husband won't go back I'm undecided. read more

Vinocruz - Small pour disappointed - Wine Bars Near Me - Soquel, California

Folks, this is as good as it gets in Santa Cruz! Knowledgeable staff: CHECK Great atmosphere for people of all sorts: CHECK Great Amazing Wines: CHECK CHECK VIP handling: CHECK Always something new: CHECK CHECK CHECK ...is this mic working.... I make coming here a part of my life, not just a hobby. I recommend coming to all those who visit Santa Cruz and eat and dine. Love Love Love. If you choose an alternative your really making a mistake, this is the place to be, read more

Beautiful spot with amazing wine (get that Bordeaux, fellow lovers of earthy-mushroomy wine) and tasty morsels. We got the apple and brie flatbread which was a perfect "welcome to autumn" snack and a burger studded with bacon bits. The burger was cooked more medium than the medium rare I requested. read more

We went to Vinocruz last night for the Rose tasting, and had a great time. The food was excellent and prepared with fresh local ingredients. The value was terrific and the pairings were very enjoyable. One thing you can tell about Vinocruz almost instantly is that the owners and employees care so much about wine. It really shines through as a passionate endeavor, which really leads to a comfortable atmosphere. They lead instead of SELL, if that makes sense. We had a great time and hope to go again soon. One other thing, the food was prepared by two young local chefs who were very enthusiastic and really got into explaining each pairing. That was a nice touch. read more

This review is two-fold: - a review for this amazing establishment; - and, another review for a *select special few* of the reviewees. We'll start with the good (the business) and end with the bad (the reviewees). Read on... Firstly, VinoCruz is a wonderful addition to Soquel and our community. Beyond the exceptional and unique wine choices, minimalist yet tasteful atmosphere, and kind, knowledgeable and attentive staff, the food is simply not to be missed. They've added a brunch option, which is the best that you can find in Santa Cruz. A few of my favorite brunch items include: the most adorable plate of tiny biscuits with homemade honey butter (get outta here), crab cake benedict, and tater tot waffles with lox and crème fraiche. These items are not only creative and inventive, but delicious. Needless to say, I love this place. Now, onto the reviewees! Amanda, Allison, Melissa...when you use poor grammar, name dropping, and misinformation, I judge your reviews. It saddens me that reviews such as these are available for public consumption. Someone must be really unhappy with their life to make a statement such as: "If your expectations are low, you may be impressed." Hey Melissa, guess what? There are signs EVERYWHERE in the front parking lot stating that there's additional parking in the back - thanks. Also, punctuation always goes inside of the quotes, regardless; you're welcome. Amanda, really? You didn't even dine here. That's shameful. These people are serious a-holes. I'm impatiently awaiting Yelp to add a "stupid" category next to useful, funny and cool, as all three of the aforementioned would receive that qualification. Okay, that's all! Happy dining everyone. read more

Nice airy space with nice wines from Santa Cruz county and local-ish beers. I had a small snack but saw others around me order more substantial entrees that looked very good. This place is nice wine bar to unwind by yourself or with a friend or two. The service was friendly too and the food came out pretty quick. Definitely recommend. read more

Came here for a small birthday celebration. We decided to eat outside and it was small yet very spacious and I loved the ambiance . They had a great variety of wine but the cheese platter was extremely small and hardly enough to share with 2 people yet alone for the 4 of us which cost us $20 . We decided to eat somewhere else after we saw the small expensive portions. Still delicious though !! read more

I've dealt with the two guys at Vinocruz a couple of times now and have been very impressed. We try our best to buy local wine as much as possible and this place really stands out above the rest. The staff are friendly and knowledgable but not overbearing - which is nice as we are definitely not connoisseurs. My fiancee and I went in today to look for a special bottle to be part of our wedding. We picked one out after a tasting from a local vineyard (another plus) and the owner gave a beautiful box to store the wine in insisting that it was their gift to us. If you are looking for good wine without pretentiousness, Vinocruz is a sure bet. read more

This artful wine bar really meets the need for a place to hang out, sip and nosh. What a fun menu. The staff are attentive and friendly. We can't wait to return. Nice going, Matt and Ashley! Thank you for an exquisite Christmas celebration. read more

As a huge fan of Santa Cruz Mountain wines, this place is like a little slice of heaven. While I love actually visiting local wineries, meeting the winemakers, and taking in the scenery, Vinocruz hits the spot when I need my wine fix in the heart of Santa Cruz. It's sort of like a "best of" list of all my favorites (Sones, Alfaro, Soquel), as well as some smaller wineries that I'd never even heard of because they aren't generally open to the public. The owners have always been super friendly and helpful in suggesting wine that might be to my liking. Prices tend to run from about $15 up to closer to $50 for the oh-so-delicious Heart o'the Mountain Pinot Noir, but a lot of their really impressive ones hover right around $25, perfect for a unique bottle to serve to friends without breaking the bank. Tastings change weekly and will run you $9 for five wines, waived if you purchase $60 of vino or more (tempting every time!!). They also do tasting wines by the glass and the occasional $5 per glass special, so you'll often find a mix of loyal Vinocruz patrons and those that have stumbled across the shop for the first time hanging out chatting about wine, Santa Cruz, and life in general. I frequently bring friends here, especially for the winery events on weekends, and we've never been disappointed. Vinocruz is a gem of a local business! read more

Nice quiet environment with a nice selection of wines to have for a glass or purchase. There were no restrooms with in a near proximity though. read more

We were looking for a new dining place to try out & we found this amazing gem. Our experience was very heartwarming, especially with the service we received from Sarah. She made our time a true night to be remembered. The food & service is awesome & we will definitely be going back to enjoy more of what this pace has to offer. read more

I've been coming here for quite a while now it seems, since the original owners opened this place up, and have been loving it ever since. Great selection of Santa Cruz Mountain wines and their weekly flight is usually fantastic, with a detailed discussion with the owners and sometimes wine maker. It's worth it to join the Vinocruz tasting club. Never walked away without a full case of wine en towe. read more

Great wine and excellent service! But disappointed with Brunch menu and lacking items your menu such as biscuits. Hours for brunch aren't optimal, 12 to 2? We're rooting for you but think you're bang for buck not great. Food was solid but $$$. Vinocruz was our destination after Wharf to Wharf, but maybe not next year. read more

Such a great place! A wonderful showcase for our best local wines, great food, and Relaxed unpretentious environment. Bonus: not having to deal with the mess that is downtown Santa Cruz! read more

Vinocruz - Wine Bars Near Me - Soquel, California

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Read the reviews, decided to give it a try. Boy it did NOT disappoint.. we absolutely love this place!! Great wine selection and the food was deeeelicious!!! Owners were incredibly nice and our server, Annie, was so helpful and suggested many things to try. Any time we're in town, we'll be sure to come visit!! read more

Went on a Saturday late afternoon to try this new addition to our Soquel Village and was extremely impressed! Really good selection of all local wines and a great food menu to choose from. They even have a reserve selection by the glass to try! Laid back atmosphere, and they didn't have music blaring like most places. They did a really great job on the decor too. All the servers were friendly, and I'll definitely be back. Congrats to the owners. Great job! read more

We had an excellent meal at Vino cruises Saturday brunch lunch! Meera had the salmon waffle and I had the crepe and bacon! Delicious, Savory, a hint of sweet, fruity, and the blanc formage was creamy and light. Thanks, Brooke, Sally, and Matt! read more

Vinocruz - Wine Bars Near Me - Soquel, California

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This place is super classy. Had a few flutes of rose bubbles after an heroic work week. Matt the owner/manager and the staff are all excited to serve you. Gorgeous space. Just come. read more

This locale has always been under-utilized and past ventures were unappealing at best. The new owners have a done a great job with the exterior and interior design, both are enticing and welcoming. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable about the local wines they serve. Santa Cruz has incredible vineyards and wineries with great selections and I'm glad they are showcasing that at Vino Cruz. We've been twice. The food offerings were good, reasonably priced and honestly delicious (we had flatbreads and paninis). Happy to have this option in the neighborhood. read more

Super bummed with my experience here today. Heard it was a good place to go. But today, on Valentine's Day, made a res for 3 pm, got there early, waited at the entryway as directed on the sign, someone just walked in ahead of us saying they were just going in to use the restroom. Meanwhile, we'd been waiting approx 5 minutes and wait staff never made eye contact. Then, the guy using the bathroom gets sat before us. Then waitress asks which table we'd like, then she waves to the corner seat and never seats us, just sends us over. She never brings us a menu, or anything then drops water at our table doesn't make eye contact, tells us we didn't have a reservation, then we show it to her and she says the app wasn't working right, but we're ok and she goes to take the orders of people who were sat after us. She doesn't return for 25 minutes, we were having trouble viewing the online menu, she returns, she was annoyed we didn't know what we wanted, we explain we needed menus. . .why you should need to explain this in a restaurant setting? But she's annoyed because there was a QR code sitting at the table, something we saw and attempted, but she never communicated it to us like one would expect. So she gets us menus, we order wine, she took a long time getting it to us, one glass was full of cork. So we just paid for our drinks and left. We weren't going to be treated like that anymore. read more

Such a fun place with great food and service. The outdoor seating is really nice. Will be going back soon.

I just visited Vinocruz for the first time this week and had a great visit.Ryan is a total pro... go see him for some incredible wines and local winery knowledge. Enjoy! read more

This place is great! Small and intimate with FANTASTIC local wines. The staff and server/bartender Melissa were amazing. She asked what I liked, and brought me some wines I absolutely loved. The food is also tasty. Definitely will be coming back. read more