Windy Oaks Winery

A stunning estate with warm, knowledgeable staff, and truly exceptional wines. As a wine nerd, I love their wine club for value and quality, especially their Pinot Noir. Their wines really highlight the distinctive character of the Santa Cruz AVA. Don’t walk, run to Windy Oaks as soon as possible.

There’s so many good things I can say about this winery, so I’ll keep it short. I decided to proposed to my now fiancé at this winery and the experience was absolutely amazing. When we arrived, I let Michael know I’d be proposing. He was very attractive and always made sure we were comfortable. When it came down to the moment, he drove us up to the hill top, where he prepared a table and bottle of champagne. Without Michael, the proposal would have not gone as great as it did. Also, the wine is amazing! Each tasting was better than the last. The blankets that they offer and the wild cats are a added bonus! 10/10 recommend this place. It will be a winery I’ll definitely revisit.

We love this winery and my husband, Joel DeWitt, has been a member for awhile. We usually get good service, but today they forgot about us, and the server seemed unapologetic.

The setting and atmosphere are very peaceful and the owners/staff are very friendly. They have a Pinot Noir from grapes grown on location that is quite good. Plan on buying a bottle and walking through the vineyard to the viewpoint. It's well worth the windy drive to Windy Oaks.

We stopped at this Winery on our recent trip up to Santa Cruz, it was highly rated by our hipcamp host. It was a beautiful spot nestled in the Redwoods and our server Caroline was fantastic! The entire time we were there all of the patrons were raving about her. The wine was delicious and we left with three bottles! We definitely recommend and would go again the next time we we are up there!! * added bonus the patio area is pet friendly!

Very nice experience overall. Rachel was very nice to show us the winery and give us a little tour. Will definitely come back :)

What a great experience!! Where do I start… atmosphere was great! Patio was very nice! Caroline was very knowledgeable about their wine selections! Very friendly as well! We also met Michael and Yovania who were top notch! Can’t forget their cat, Cookies, who greeted us and allowed us to pet him! Didn’t realize their cat was a celebrity who was part of a New York Times article featuring the vineyard!! Please visit these nice people who will show you a great experience!!! 🍷🍷🍷

By far one of the best places I have been for wine! I could not get enough of the pinot!

Wine tasting on a beautiful afternoon. We drove out to Windy Oaks in the hills above Corralitos and could not have been more pleased with what we found! What a lovely, lovely spot! The tasting area was nestled up against the vineyard and the tables were shaded by umbrellas. The area was graced with a few barn cats, too! We opted for a standard and a premium tasting so we could taste all the wines on offer. Most were typical Santa Cruz mountain type varietals, so familiar flavors. When we finished the tasting, they offered to take us to the top of the vineyard and show us the views and vines. What a treat!! We will absolutely come back here and tell others that it is worth a trip to Windy Oaks.

One of the better wine makers in the region. The wines had a little more body then surrounding vineyards. They offered two different tasting menus. One menu was $20 per person the other was $30 per person. If you spend $50 on wines you get your tasting fee waved. One thing we enjoyed about our wine tasting was they encouraged people to bring their own snacks for the wine tasting experience, we had stopped in at Corralitos Market for some of their house made sausages and cheese.

What a sweet and beautifully located winery! Had a girls day on Saturday and spent it enjoying the wine at Windy Oaks. Our wine specialist was as charming as could be and the tasting was wonderful. I joined the club! Unfortunately, I put the wine in my car haphazardly and when I opened my passenger door at home, it fell out and broke! Sad to miss my choices but SO looking forward to the next shipment!

Hidden Jewel with beautiful landscape and scenery that is breathtaking. The service was friendly and informative. We were able to bring our own charcuterie picnic. The wines were all pretty good. The service, ambiance and friendly hospitality gives this winery 5 stars.

Hidden gem of a winery with great wine. I enjoyed sitting out on the patio. Beautiful views surrounded by red woods.

I found this spot on SCMWA.com when I was looking for some tasting spots in Corralitos area where I can use my Passport. I was so very happy to have found it‼ We were the only visitors at 12:30 on Saturday, so we got to talk to a wonderful young couple who helped us with tasting. Two menus were available - a mix of whites and reds with no additional charge with Passport, and four Pinot Noir only for $5 with Passport ($20 without Passport). I without any hesitation went for all Pinot. The first sip made me smile big, and the rest even bigger We were told that we could take a short walk up the vineyards where we could see the Monterey Bay. It was cloudy and we couldn't see but nevertheless it was a very nice walk with a glass of wine in hand. I really loved their inviting tasting room, the patio, the vineyards, and of course all their Pinot I'll definitely go back soon.

I've been to the Carmel Valley tasting room a couple times and just recently visited the winery. The wines are pretty tasty, lighter and more delicate style but overall good. Definitely focusing on the aromatics of the wines. Most made from SCM and Monterey area. Unfortunately most are quite pricey, but if you've got the disposable cash then there is no issue. Staff is friendly and slightly pretentious however very informative and knowledgeable about their various wine making processes. There is nice intimacy to the place. For me, these are wines I'll have two to three times a year just because I normally purchase wine around the $30-$40 dollar range. Overall it's worth a visit to see if this fits you! Cheers.

Had the best time with my girlfriend on our little wine adventure. The view, the wine, the service, all amazing. It was a pretty hot day, they had umbrellas up to keep us all cool. You can walk the vineyard when you're done sipping the delicious wine they have. It's right down the street from my house, I will defiantly be back.

Amazing Mother's Day Sunday They had a great set up this Sunday for families to enjoy picnic on the hill. Great people, views, and wine!

Would you like to taste wine surrounded by the beauty of vineyards, redwoods and oak trees on a glorious Corrilitos ridge? Our visit to Windy Oaks Estate Winery was a glorious experience. We brought our own picnic and stayed a couple luxurious hours hanging out with Cookies the Cat and a caterpillar while the very knowledgeable Elaine told us all about the wines and the wine maker. Special thanks to Judy who made our reservation process smooth and easy. Delightful folks and delicious wine. Now that's what we call a terrific afternoon!

Went there once and the service was good- the wine not so much. Came back again and this time we were turned away by Judy the owner who disliked that we had our daughters with us. There was only one other person there tasting. The property is nice. Oh well there wine is not good so no big loss.

We've been to a lot of wineries in our time but I must confess that this is one of the most fun and tasty wineries we've been to that I can remember. Honestly I have to say that the Roses, Chardonnays and if you're lucky enough to get a sparking Viognier are superb. The Pinot Noirs are lovely as well and a fantastic setting in a beautiful tasting room. And if you want to be adventurous ask them if it's OK to walk your way up to the picnic tables at the top of the mountain with a breathtaking view of the Monterey bay area. Take your picnic lunch, a bottle of their wine and sit there and enjoy the view. Many thanks to Judy and Briana for their hospitality. Looking forward to coming back soon.

Some mornings you wake up and you need a little adventure. Nothing crazy... just a little something out of the ordinary to spice things up. In my not so humble opinion, I truly feel this is what wine tastings are for. With a few hours set aside for my Saturday adventure, my girlfriend chimes in that we should drive up to Windy Oaks (tasting room open Fri/Sat 12:00-5:00). Sure. I love Corralitos. I can stop off at the Market (http://www.yelp.com/biz/corralitos-market-and-sausage-company-corralitos#hrid:lS1ufFOFrV7p5_z2rmcePw) score a couple of sausage sandwiches for us and spend lunch sipping on wine in the countryside. Coming from Santa Cruz, there is signage to direct you to the Winery. I hadn't realized how far up into the Santa Cruz Mountains this place was, and so I foolishly double backed a few times thinking I had missed it. No, no. Once you get on Brown Valley, you will probably be driving another 20 minutes to get to the winery. You will drive through the last of the Corralitos flat lands, only to begin a long-ish accent up through the redwoods. Don't fret. Just keep driving. Brown Valley becomes Hazel Dell, and once you pass Sweetwood Way, the winery will be the next driveway on the right. Now that you have successfully made it, you deserve to treat yourself to whatever tasting flight ($10) Windy Oaks has selected for the day. Today we sampled four different bottlings of pinot noir. The 2008 Cuvee, while still young, has clear potential. While it was an easily drinkable pinot at this age, I can only imagine how wonderful the wine will become in a few years. I bought a bottle ($40) to save and find out. Spencer was very knowledgeable about his families wines and the terroir they represent. He graciously directed us up to the Ridge (see photo) from where, on a clear day, you can see all the way to the Monterey Bay. Toting our tasting glasses, we scurried up the hill, made ourselves comfortable at one the seating areas amongst the vines, and chilled out admiring the amazing view. As a small family owned estate, Windy Oaks can maintain an amazing level of quality control. Their pinots really are as special as everyone else has made them out to be. What makes this tasting room so special is that you will inevitably meet one, if not two, of the wine makers at any given time. Which I think justifies a little adventure Saturday.

Alright Yelpers, despite my totally selfish desire to keep this precious little gem all to myself I'm adding and reviewing Windy Oaks Estate. They are making, hands down, the best wine in the Santa Cruz area right now. A relatively new winery, we happened to go to a restaurant tasting one night a year ago since we'd never heard of them. Boy were we surprised. We joined their wine club immediately and never looked back. If you like a somewhat softer, more elegant style of Pinot and crisp Burgundian style Chardonnay you will love these very limited production wines. A bit of a drive out in the middle of nowhere to get to their facility but worth it... and the owners are so very nice. You can also occasionally find their wines at Soif in Santa Cruz, if you're not up for the drive out to Corralitos. Manresa also just picked up some of their wines for their list as well so look for them there. Enjoy!

We were surprised to be driving through redwoods and anticipated a memorable experience. We were met by two enthusiastic and knowledgeable employees. The tasting was five varietals and each an ample pour. All were very pleasant and worthy of our purchase except for our flight the next day. I took their suggestion and we walked through the vines up the hill to a vista all the way to Monterey Bay.

The view is the best part!! We did enjoy the wine tasting and will come back!! Don't get discouraged by the long drive, it is definitely a gem when you arrive at the place- The actual wine tasting us done at the bottom but you need to get a full glass and trek to the top- You get a full view if the Monterey Bay from the top!! Watsonville needs to continue expanding these type of establishments!!

We love WINDY OAKS WINERY and everyone in it, what an excellent space to enjoyably while away a few weekend hours. Cheers, Tom & Dotty

A year ago we went to a Pinot Noir fest in Campbell where out of 65 wineries, the taste of the Windy Oaks wines stood out. This year we spent some time in Carmel and decided on the way home on Saturday to stop by Windy Oaks. On the drive up we thought 'hey, just in case we better call ahead'. The wife called and got hold of Jim, the owner and winemaker. Turns out that Windy Oaks is only open to the public by appointment only (other than a few special occasions), and he handed my wife off to the winery business manager, Jim's wife Judy. Judy says "Sure, come on in - we're about 30 minutes away and would love to see you!" When we get there Judy meets us at the gate and takes us into the winery. Jim shows up a few minutes later and between the two of them they tell us the story of their winery and wine making philosophy (well-described here by Leela S). They opened four wonderful bottles of wine for us during our chat, which was an education for the wife and me. These two folks are very knowledgeable, eloquent and nice. It was a pleasure to spend time with them. And time it was. By the time they were offering to take us on a tour of the vineyards we looked at the watch and had been there for two hours, making us late for later commitments. Needless to say, we bought a bunch of wine and joined their wine club. To recap: great people, great wine . . .

Nothing about this winery is beyond an excellent standard. The Pinot Noirs are amazing and yet I love their Chardonney. Judy and Jim are amazing vintners, and passing the torch to their children and daughter's in law. They have been nothing but accomodating and the highlight of my shipment .. we.ll goes without saying.

Windy Oaks Winery was another stop on our Santa Cruz winery tour. The winery owners were out of town, so their son did the tasting for us. Luckily, he was also very knowledgeable about wines and was clearly passionate about the family business. The wines at Windy Oaks were not the most or least expensive wines we had that day. Their wines had a decent price range, though, and they have varying levels in their wine club for their more and less pricey wines, depending on your budget. I was disappointed we only got to try a few wines, but they were all excellent. The tasting finished with a walk to their grounds, which had a stunning view of the Santa Cruz mountains. There was a picnic table already set up that was perfect for drinking wine on a nice day. This was the final sight of our day in the mountains, and it was perfect. I'd love to come back and have a picnic.

It is a bit of drive up in the hills but beautiful. Nice patio to sit and enjoy some afternoon wine tasting. I suggest stopping at the Corralitos Market and bringing some snacks with you. I enjoyed the Chardonnay even though it is not what they are known for I found it good. The blend Sirah was my favorite. Good afternoon

Very nice experience- excellent service from a young lady named Rachel who was very very sweet and accommodating the wines overall are good and fairly priced. A bit of an ordeal to get there because it's on a long winding road but once you're there it's an oasis of calm and wine heaven.

Amazing service, wine, and location. Definitely my favorite of all the wineries I have visited in the Santa Cruz area. Tasting fee was reasonable and they refund it if you purchase a bottle.

I was introduced to Windy Oaks at a friends wine bar in Carmel Valley. I Tate's the Chardonnay and it was lovely. I purchased a few bottles and I enjoyed them with friends. Being a local living half way between Carmel & Corralitos I decided to head to the vineyard. I went out and picked up a few bottles. So a friend and I headed out on a much needed distraction day. The weather was warm but we got a couple of seats under a tree and it was lovely. We did a tasting and it was all great! I became a member and can't wait to go out for a picnic. It's off the beaten path but worth the trek! Wine is outstanding. The only thing was they were pretty slammed so it took a bit to get through the tasting. I signed up for their wine club and am excited to get my wines quarterly. I met the daughter in law and she was very knowledgeable and helpful. She was patient for this wine dummy. Judy one of the owners just has a different personality, I spoke with her on the phone and she was very helpful and accommodating. I think that the size of the crowd maybe just a bit overwhelming. I'm definitely going back for a picnic on the ridge, I hear the views are beautiful! Just make sure to take snacks and there is no food available to purchase. Nice patio and tables with umbrellas. We were lucky we scored two Adirondack chairs and a small table under the trees!

Windy Oaks is a beautiful winery with a gorgeous view of Monterey Bay. Walking through the vineyard was so relaxing! I tried a number of wines and all of them tasted great. Very personable and friendly staff makes you feel right at home. They had great snacks in the tasting room to go along with the wine. Just talking about it makes me want to go back right now! Loving this place!

My girlfriend and I live in Aptos and frequently passed by a sign which said "Free wine tasting" and one weekend we decided to follow the arrow which lead to a Windy Oaks nightmare. We made the drive up to Windy Oaks Estate Winery, which is quite a drive, and be fare weren't sure we had reached where the "Free wine tasting" sing was pointing us,... were greeted by Spencer (owners son apparently) at the tasting room. We inquired about the free wine tasting, explaining the sign we had seen. Spencer promptly told us that "that's not our sign, we don't do free wine tasting and that there isn't anybody decent who does", Spencer was speaking in a borderline brash/rude tone and both my girlfriend and I were immediately taken aback and looked at each other in surprise. I informed Spencer that there certainly are decent vintners that offer free wine tasting such as Cline and Jacuzzi (right across from each other in Napa) and that we weren't opposed to paying. Spencer at this point saw fit to launch into a tirade sufficient to draw the attention of other guests and employees to our would be wine tasting. I don't remember exactly what was said, but it wasn't something that we (gf and I), as potential patrons, should have heard. I tried to interrupt Spencer several times to say yes, please can we just pay for the tasting. It was about this time that another sommelier approached us, gently trying to push Spencer aside, and did so amazingly even though Spencer was still trying to prove his point. He (other sommelier) managed to apologize over the top of Spencer, who was still talking AT us. We would have probably paid the price of 2 tastings just to get Spencer to shut up. Needless to say, we did the only reasonable thing to do,...we left. My girlfriend and I were both extremely upset. I'm getting heart palpitations as I write this and it's been over a year. We have never been treated so rudely at such an establishment.

I'll preface this review by saying that we are supporters of local wineries and have been members of several local wineries for a decade plus. We recently joined the Windy Oaks Wine club on the recommendation of some of our neighbors. Our last wine shipment missed the mark. We received four bottles of various Pinots and the wine had precious little color, aroma or flavor. It almost tasted as if it had been watered down. Perhaps there were challenges inherent to the vintage. I called Jim and cancelled our membership. I have just come to find out that we'll be charged a $60 penalty for cancelling before receiving four wine club shipments. So we'll accept our 4th shipment and then cancel. I have not heard of another winery that imposes a financial penalty on their customers because they do NOT like the wine! Windy Oaks will not go out business because I have chosen to exit their wine club, however, they may find that they have damaged their business if they reproduce this kind of customer experience enough. There are plenty of great wineries around the globe. And you have plenty of great wineries that will welcome your business without imposing financial penalties.

The winery is pleasant. The view from the ridge very nice. The experience could have been a whole lot better. We are a group of 7 friends hanging out for the weekend at a local vacation rental at the beach. Someone suggested we check out this winery so we take the 20 mile trek to get there. Upon arrival Judy, the owner, asks if we had an appointment. Well, no. We didn't know we needed one. Apparently a group of 6 or more needs an appointment before showing up. Judy was very put off. A fellow visiting taster told us to hang in there because the wine was good. She told us that if we paid by cash, we wouldn't be charged tax. True. So we each did a tasting. You must pay before tasting any wine. Unlike other local wineries, if you do a tasting, Windy Oaks does not give you a small discount on a bottle purchased. Also note, they have no food or snacks there, so plan accordingly. Needless to say, none of us decided to join the membership of this winery, though most in our group belong to one or more wineries. After our group enjoyed the views, purchased 7 tastings, 5 glasses of wine, 6 wine glasses and 10 bottles of wine, Judy apologized for the rough start she gave us when we got there. Thank you for that Judy. We enjoyed ourselves, but this winery lost its chance at having us as members, regulars or glowing referrals to our many other wine loving friends. There are so many winery choices in our lovely area of California. Reader, I hope you have a better experience. The vineyard and views are lovely and the wine is good but I didn't find a favorite. Please call to make an appointment if you are a group of 6 or more. If you might get hungry, bring something to eat.

So peaceful, beautiful and relaxing. This winery is in the middle of nowhere but it's worth it. Plenty of parking, great wine and the view after a short walk is incredible. There are two options for tasting the sampler is $15 and reserve is $20. I had the sampler they allowed us to sit outside and came out to us to serve us each tasting. Free crackers and cheese was provided probably not a regular thing. They allow you to walk through the vines up a 10 minute trail when you get to the top it overlooks all the way out to Monterey Bay. Absolutely beautiful with benches and trees to sit. Heads up I lost service halfway to the winery but there are plenty of roads signs to keep you going. You will eventually hit a one way road don't be alarmed it only lasts like 1/4 mile if that and the drive is beautiful.

In Honor of 9/11/09 - Review #200 Out of all of the wineries that we've been to we've never experienced such a horrendous experience like we did at Windy Oaks. You think Napa Valley and Bordeaux are rude and snobby? This place would've made you cry. Never would I have thought that my worst wine tasting experience would be at a winery up in the hills near Watsonville. It was a picture perfect day to go wine tasting and I wanted to try out a place we had never been to. I knew we wanted to drive over the hill so I began my Google search. Most of the places I called had limited hours or were closed until I hit the jackpot with Windy Oaks. The guy that answered the phone said "Yes we are open today come on down". We prepare for the long and windy road that awaits us. This place is so freakin' far and hidden that many times we thought we were lost. Even then once you find it there is no sign but you find two barrels with the street number that lead you up the dirt road. We are slowly driving up and still wondering if this is the place when all of sudden the creepy drive turns into a picturesque view of vineyards set along a barnyard that turns out to be the tasting room. We see cars and people and whoa this brought a huge sigh of relief for us! On this trip it was my wife, lil C, the mother in law and I. As we are getting the stuff out of the car to go inside a lady approaches us. Judy: Hi, can I help you? Me: Hi, yes we are here for the wine tasting? Judy: The wine tasting..? Are you members? Me: Uhm..no, we are not members..we are just here for the wine tasting. Judy: We are having a private event and I am the owner..how did you hear about us? Me: Well I was Googling wineries and I came across your winery. I called about an hour and a half ago and the guy that answered told me you were open and to come on down. Judy: Oh..did you talk to my son? Me: Well I don't know..I just called the business number and the guy told us you were open and to come down. We drove all the way from San Jose. Judy: Oh...ok I dont know why he told you that..he must've thought you were with the private group. I am hosting a private event but I suppose you can stay. The tastings are $10. Me: Uhm...Ok great, thanks. Judy walks back to the barn and I look at everyone else and I tell my wife/mother in law "hey what the heck we drove all the way out here we might as well stay". They didn't really want to stay but I wanted to taste some wine. Especially after that drive. I walked in with Lil C and Judy was busy with the group of about 20. I stood there patiently with the $10 in my hand and I never got a wine glass. I was completely ignored the entire time. Then for an unknown evil reason two rude and snobby ladies tell my wife and mother in law "uhm, I think you guys are at the wrong winery". It was at that moment vividly apparent that we did not belong at this Klan meeting. My wife and mother in law were so uncomfortable they pleaded that we leave immediately. At this point I too was upset at our experience. I walked over towards Judy and nicely told her "thanks for allowing us to stay but we will be leaving now". She said "hope to see you next time". Uh...ya right I thought to myself, there will never be a next time. Never ever have I/we had such an unpleasant and sour experience anywhere period. This place pissed me off so much that I will end this review here because it doesn't deserve me wasting more time on it. I hope my experience saves you your time, gas and the embarrassment.

Windy Oaks Winery, Wow! This estate is so gorgeous! The tasting room is quite cute with friendly staff. Perfect for a Saturday day to relax and enjoy some tasty wines. Make sure to get a bottle from the TR and take it up to the ridge! There is sure a view up there and sitting under the oaks is so peaceful. Bring your honey or some friends for an unforgettable mini adventure. Will come back and can't wait to join the wine club!

The first time I was here was very pleasant. I was alone and made conversation with a couple who were members and "know the family well". We talked about winemaking and the history of the vineyard. It was nice. I did not join the club then but bought a couple of bottles of their Reserve Pinots. The best wines are pricy but that's the norm these days at CA wineries. The other bottles were in the 25 to 35 range. Not bad for good quality, solid wine. Fast forward five months: After drinking one of the Reserve Pinots at home my friend wanted to check out the winery first hand. The next day we headed out after breakfast. When we arrived the two cars in front of us turned into the driveway also. At the top of the hill we saw lots of people. I said to the man directing traffic "Wow you're busy today!" He told us it was "Pick-up" day and we were directed to park up the dirt road in the vineyard. I was pretty excited to be there on a special occasion and to see so many people. I was looking forward to meeting some of the members. When we got to the tasting room we were told "Start with Judy out front. We're opening our newly released Rose' and she's pouring it out there." Cool right? When we saw Judy she asked our name and referred to a list. I told her we probably weren't on the list but were there to do some tasting. That's when she told us it was a private party for members only. "That's why we don't have the signs out by the road." she said as if we had crashed the party. I stood there for a second or two kind of expecting/hoping she might say "Join in the fun anyway" but she did not and then began helping another couple that walked up. Really? We drove all the way out there, watched lots of people enjoying themselves and had to drive away empty handed? It was just disappointing but I understand they were already very busy that day. As I learned later (from Yelp) Judy is one of the owners! Take some advice from someone who has been management for many years: customers and employees LOVE to be appreciated. It costs the company almost nothing to give out a small freebee (or even being asked to join in the fun anyway so we can spend some $$) and it makes the customer feel special--like a million bucks. At least it is a very pretty drive out to the winery and you can always stop at the Corralitos Market for their Famous sausages. I do love Corallitos. The Coralitos Wine Trail? Guess what..every winery in the area is closed on Sundays..What again?? I'm sorry but whoever wrote this business plan must be consuming the "other" cash crop that they grow in the Santa Cruz Mts. Either that or these cute mom-and-pop wineries don't really need the $$ generated from weekend tastings. Because the wines are great, the setting is nice (and casual) and the drive is beautiful I will probably be back to Windy Oaks when I have out of town guests. Ironically we ended up at Bargetto Winery in Soquel, just a 1/2 mile from where we had breakfast and our day began. My friend joined Bargetto's Wine club and we walked away with 2 bottles of La Vita plus other 4 other very fine wines. Our day was completed at home on the deck in the shade with glasses in hand, smoked BBB ribs and no need to drive. Yumm..oh yeah!

My favorite Santa Cruz Winery. Prices are in line with the quality of wine (absolutely amazing Pinot Noirs) and the family is so extremely nice and helpful with any questions! We became club members last year and regret not joining sooner!!! This will be a long time relationship for us! Oh and they have picnic benches at their scenic winery so you can take a picnic and wine taste while looking at the most beautiful and picturesque views!

Beautiful property with phenomenal views, great service, lovely wines.

just a partial interview now. My friend is a member here and the club had new tastings with a BBQ and Miyagi oysters. The oysters were darn good, sweet with a happy ending. Their Pinot Noir, imho, is the star here. The BBQ was catered and was of sufficient quality. Today's jazz band was musical and fun. Customer service: ok.

Okay, full disclosure time: I met Jim and Judy Schultze, the proprietors of Windy Oaks, through my business school a while back. They are possibly the nicest people on the planet and they make darn tasty wine to boot. Their case production is somewhere in the 1500-2000 range per year, so you won't see their wine in the Jug Shop or Costco, but rather in select restaurants, and apparently a sizeable portion of what they produce now goes to members of their wine club (ie people like me). I would highly, highly recommend any of their pinots, which are a burgundian style labor of love, produced with minimally invasive techniques (ie they manually harvest and they don't use additives, rack the barrels, filter or fine the wines - they typically let gravity and nature do its thing). I recently tried their '04 Wild Yeast pinot, a soft-tannined, light-colored wine which is available at Soif in Santa Cruz and which is absolutely delicious. These are particularly great food wines.

I cried for an hour earlier today when I realized we only have one more bottle of Pinot from Windy Oaks. The chardonnay and pinot noir rock. And Jim and Judy (the folks running the show) are front runners for the 2008 Coolest People Ever Award. Seek this wine out...

Fabulous tasting room. Great ambiance and delicious pour list! Absolutely recommend! The Terra Narro was hands down my fav!

Best Pinot Noir I have ever had. Jim and Judy (the owners) run the tasting room (open on Saturdays in the summer) and Jim loves to give detailed descriptions of his wine making process.

I believe windy oaks makes the best Pinot noir in the the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA. The wine will blow your mind but your actual tasting experience will vary widely based on who is working that day and how many people are there. (Its a small place and anytime there's more than 20 people I would say it's at Full capacity) I'm a member and we've equally been treated to a free lunch because they had left over catering (how deluxe!) and on other visits treated like we were bad children and had the owner explain how a tasting works and tell us they would only give us 5 pours so choose wisely. (Which is not what a member experience should be like) So the experience varies widely, I recommend you go to their Carmel valley or Carmel by the Sea tasting room instead. The road out to the winery can't handle much more traffic.

Excellent Pinot Noirs! Simple but lovely outdoor tasting area. Wooded one-lane road to get to the winery.

We live in Aptos so it was a lovely 30-minute drive out to the winery. Their Sampler Tasting was $15pp and the Pinot tasting was $20 pp so we decided to just buy a bottle of their Chardonnay ($28) to enjoy with our picnic lunch. It was very good. They have a number of tables on their patio with a friendly server.

Loved the wine and venue. It was super cool that we got to go up through the vineyards to the top of a hill with a view of the Monterey Bay once we were done. Highly recommend!

We visited this gorgeous winery on the recommendation from our wine tour host from Cane and Spur and so thankful we did! The drive up the mountain was beautiful and once you arrive at the winery you are greeted with the beauty of nature all around. We met the owner's son Spencer who was very friendly, knowledgable and a great host. Every single tasting we tried we loved especially their Pinot Noirs! We took the vineyard tour with him which I highly recommend. Walking the vineyard with Spencer and hearing about the vineyard's history, wine making and touring the grounds was such a memorable experience. We can't wait to go back one day and bring more people to enjoy this gem of a winery!

This winery is absolutely fantastic in so many dimensions. The wines are fantastic. Especially if you enjoy a lush pinot noir. They allow you to enjoy their wines while walking their vineyards. Their vineyards provide sweeping views of Monterrey Bay. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable.

Huge fun, just finished a 2010 Pinot Noir. Amazing. It's a schlep to get here, but WORTH it.

Well I have to say the Pinot Noirs are great. Probably the best in Santa Cruz. This is a very beautiful vineyard and the views are great. I don't really like the name though. Sure there are oaks but there are so many more beautiful redwoods around here that hold onto the fog until the tasting room opens! Windy Redwoods? The drive up is really great too. The tasting fee is $10 for just a few wines but that is typical of Corrallitos.

Good Pinot, but overpriced and not the best service or ambiance in the tasting room. When I went, there was an issue with double charging my card. They were immediately aware of the mistake but could not resolve it that day and kept following up with me by email. It was awkward and inconvenient.

Great Pinot. Great views (walk up the hill). Decent pricing, $10 per person for 6 wines