Beauregard Vineyards Tasting Room

 

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Patricia M.

Palo Alto, CA

They give a good tasting here, and some of the wines are quite good.  But do not be tempted to sign up for the wine club!  I did, and opted to pick up my selections at the tasting room when notified to do so.  A few months later, I see a charge on my credit card bill from Beauregard.  I call and ask why, since I'd heard nothng from them, and I'm told it must be for my wine club selection.  But I was never notified that it was in, I said.  It must be down here someplace, I was told.  This is at least a month after the charge posted.   I just didn't trust letting these folks have my credit card number after that.

The tasting room is moving to the mountains soon.  They're going in where Bonny Doon Vineyards used to have their tasting room, in Bonny Doon.

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Elite '08

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126

Leslie R.

Santa Cruz, CA

Best way to encourage my newfound love of midday wine drinking?  Join a winery that is just a stone's throw from my house.  

Somehow all my weekend itineraries now seem to include a reason to make our way down to the wharf to see what wines Beauregard might be pouring today.  I completely blame the pourers for contributing to this with their tolerance of my frequent visits (often with friends in tow) and willingness to crack open new bottles (or just pour me some of what they opened for someone else) to cater to my whims.  We've encountered several different wine gurus behind the counter, some friendlier than others, but all seemingly knowledgable and willing to chat us up as they dish out the sweet nectar.   I am no wine snob, but I really believe they have a delicious variety of wines, and I've been pleased to see my friends enthusiastically agree.  

My partner-in-wine Rubes has summed up the essentials well, especially the lack of bathroom.  I have yet to have a strong enough wine buzz to brave the public bathroom, but it's inevitable.

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5

105

Pearly Q.

Santa Cruz, CA

My vote for best tasting room in Santa Cruz.  You can buy a bottle and sit in the room with windows facing the west side and steamers.  Or just sit at the bar and taste whatever they are pouring that day.  

This winery has a very talented young winemaker.  He keeps getting better and better, and I bet he will really be something in 10 years.  Not that he isn't now, but like I said, he keeps getting better.  The tasting room has a very nice friendly staff.  

The wine club here is good too.  Word of advice though.  Don't join spur of the moment and just get a couple bottles.  Take your time, try everything, then join.  You get 30 percent off the day you join.  It's a one time deal, so get some cases.  After that, it's only 20 percent off, which is still worth staying in.  

I can't think of one bad wine I've ever had by them.

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43

Scott R.

Santa Cruz, CA

We used to be weary of "the wharf", figuring it to be a tourist trap with little value.  However, we've found recently there's some good grub and grog to be had on the wharf, and Beauregard leads the charge for making the wharf relevant for locals.

The tasting room is large and comfortable.  The views, both west toward Steamer Lane and east to the Boardwalk, the harbor and beyond, simply cant be beat.  Savoring a delicious Pinot while watching the surf crank at the Lane at sunset is an experience no tasting room in Nor Cal can beat, in my opinion.  

The wines are almost all Santa Cruz Mountains Appellation varietals, and damn tasty.  The tasting fee is a high $10, but worth it, as the wines are good and the pours are generous.  Tastings are always free for members, so joining Beauregard is worth it right there.  Got guests in town? - take them here and they will be Cabernet red with envy.

The staff is friendly and fun and the space is available for events at surprisingly reasonable rates.  Great for groups and dates, too.  One big drawback is there are no bathrooms attached to the tasting room - you'll need to go next door to Olitas, or downstairs to the public bathrooms.  Regardless, check it out and bring home some of their great wines.

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13

Jerry P.

Oakland, CA

The tasting room: Nice location, great views, comfortable seating area.

The guy behind the counter: the day we were there he was a smarmy irritant who was derisive of other area wineries, quick with uneducated info and smelled of smoke.

The wines: truly great stuff. We walked out with a bunch and a wine club membership (the 33% discount to club members on their first purchase helped sell more wines and the membership).

They would have sold us more wine if we were not so irritated with the staff. Five stars without him.

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8

Dylan G.

Santa Cruz, CA

This is the place to take a date or just go with some friends and enjoy the best Santa Cruz has to offer. The winemaker is a unique character and is more than happy to discuss each of his wines and his local Santa Cruz Mountain Appelation vineyards when he's not busy racking barrels. If you're into wine, beautiful sunsets, and fun atmosphere this place is a must!

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