The "Somewhere-ness" of California's Santa Cruz Mountains

by Talia Baiocchi Jan 17, 2011, 9:20am EST

Overlooking Mount Eden Vineyards from Martin Ray's old house, December 2010.
The inimitable winemaker Martin Ray, the Santa Cruz Mountains' most influential figure.
California "Burgundy" circa 1940s.
Santa Cruz Beach amusement park, with the Mountains rising behind it.
Paul Masson, Burgundian import and "King of Calfornia Champagne" in the early 1900s.
Jeffrey Patterson, winemaker at Mount Eden Vineyards and one of the Mountains' enduring visionaries.
Lower lying vineyard blocks at Rhys' Horseshoe Ranch property.
Kathryn Kennedy, one of the pioneers of Cabernet production in the Mountains, here in the 1970s tending vine in a skirt.
Twins Bob and Jim Varner of Varner, one of the great producers of mountain Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. [Source: Prince of Pinot]
Head trained Cabernet vines at Ridge Vineyards, overlooking the Silicon Valley. [Source: Harper Wells]
Eric Baughner, current winemaker at Ridge. [Source: Reign of Terroir]
A ridge at Ridge, December 2010.
Paul Draper, one of the great icons of modern American winemaking in his Montebello cellars, Santa Cruz Mountains, CA.

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