Wrights Station Vineyard & Tasting Room
The Vineyard
Wrights Station Vineyard sits at 1,800 feet along the summit of the Santa Cruz Mountains, above the fog, but still tightly connected to the maritime influences of the Pacific, just over 10 miles away. The vineyard faces northeast, advantageous in avoiding most of the direct sunlight in the afternoon heat, and slopes fairly steeply down towards the genesis of the Los Gatos Creek below. The soils are composed of a complex mix of sand, clay, and slate, undoubtedly influenced by the shifting earth caused by the San Andreas Fault, which is (almost literally) a stone’s throw away.
Originally planted in 1981, the vineyard’s Chardonnay is some of the oldest in the region. Planted to AXR rootstock that has survived any threat of phylloxera, the Wente Clone 4 scions typically produce a beautiful crop of large clusters. In its mountain climate, the fruit’s natural acidity is retained, and flavors of citrus, apple, and pear are the backbones, with hints of tropical fruits rounding out the experience. These vines are non-irrigated, intensifying the flavors of the berry.
Where once a horse jumping and riding arena stood—that doubled as a staging area for fire trucks during the Lexington Fire of 1985—Pinot Noir was planted in 2000 and 2001. Clones 667 and 777 predominate, with a selection of Pommard completing the roster. New plantings are on 101-14 rootstock with the remainder being grafted onto aged Chardonnay rootstock. Fruit flavors are typically bold—cherries and dark berries—and the subsequent wines produced rich and rewarding.
The Tasting Room
We have remodeled the original 1947 farmhouse into our elegantly appointed tasting room. As you enter we invite you to feel at home; relax in our living room, lounge on our enclosed porch, or utilize our dining room for an intimate winemaker dinner or corporate meeting. Of course if it’s wine you are interested in, stroll up to our tasting bar fashioned from reclaimed barn wood, and sample our selection of handcrafted estate and other wines sourced from local vineyards. From the bar, enjoy the spectacular views of our vineyard below, with the ridges of the Santa Cruz Mountains in the distance.
The Winery & Winemaker
In a space that initially housed chinchillas, and then horses, we now age and store Wrights Station wine. Our entry room is highlighted by three chandeliers fashioned from wine barrels. This room serves many purposes; laboratory, fermentation room…dance hall? Our second room houses our barrels, a mix of ages and cooperages providing the wine a complex diversity of flavors. Finally our tank room, which holds temperature controlled tanks for blending, storing and bottling our vintages.
Our winemaker is owner Dan Lokteff. He was Winemaker at Storrs Winery in Santa Cruz before finding his dream property above Los Gatos and holds a wine making certificate from UC Davis. Dan strives for as little intervention as possible during winemaking, allowing the vineyard to express itself and show the brilliance of Santa Cruz Mountain fruit.
