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Santa Cruz Mountains

California · United States · Wine Auction Prices

Santa Cruz Mountains is a sub-region within California, United States renowned for its Pinot Noir. The auction database contains 1,576 lots, averaging $109 per bottle and ranging $3–$3,383. The median auction vintage is 2012. The top wines at auction include Ridge, Monte Bello Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains, Kathryn Kennedy, Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains, Windy Oaks, Pinot Noir Proprietors Reserve, Santa Cruz Mountains, Windy Oaks, Schultze Family Vineyard Limited Release Wild Yeast Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains, Ridge, Estate Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains, while leading producers include Ridge, Windy Oaks, Rhys, Kathryn Kennedy. The Santa Cruz Mountains sub-region is recognized for its distinctive terroir that produces wines of consistent character and quality. Collectors are drawn to the combination of geographical specificity, the quality of individual producers, and the historical significance of the sub-region's wines in the context of California. Auction activity reflects sustained international demand for the region's finest bottles, with the best examples demonstrating clear aging potential and site expression.

Santa Cruz Mountains
01

Santa Cruz Mountains contributes 1,576 lots to the auction database, averaging $109 per bottle and ranging $3–$3,383, reflecting sustained collector demand for Pinot Noir from this sub-region.

02

The price range from $3–$3,383 encompasses entry-level village wine to Ridge, Monte Bello Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains, the most sought-after sub-region bottlings from top-rated producers.

03

Leading producers Ridge, Windy Oaks, Rhys, Kathryn Kennedy have established consistent reputations for quality, forming the core of auction demand within Santa Cruz Mountains.

04

The top-traded wines — Ridge, Monte Bello Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains, Kathryn Kennedy, Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains, Windy Oaks, Pinot Noir Proprietors Reserve, Santa Cruz Mountains — represent the benchmark for sub-region-level quality and are the primary drivers of auction pricing.

$109

Avg Price / Bottle

1,576

Auction Lots

2012

Top Vintage

$3 – $3.4k

Price Range

In the Glass

Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir is characterized by red cherry, raspberry, and earthy complexity typical of its California terroir. The wines show fine tannin structure, natural acidity, and the capacity to develop secondary aromas of truffle, game, and dried herbs with age. The specific soils and microclimate of Santa Cruz Mountains produce a style that is recognizable within the broader regional context.

Red Wines

WineAvg PriceLots Sold
Kathryn Kennedy
Cabernet Sauvignon
$101
121
Windy Oaks
Pinot Noir Proprietors Reserve
$61
91
Windy Oaks
Schultze Family Vineyard Limited Release Wild Yeast Pinot Noir
$96
65
Ridge
Jimsomare Zinfandel
$51
51
Rhys
Swan Terrace Pinot Noir
$97
45
Mount Eden Vineyards
Pinot Noir
$118
44
Thunder Mountains
Veranda Vineyard Pinot Noir
$108
41
Ridge
Cabernet Sauvignon
$335
34
Ridge
Jimsomare Cabernet Sauvignon
$156
33
Ridge
Estate Merlot
$55
29
Mount Eden Vineyards
Old Vine Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
$95
24
Ceritas
Peter Martin Ray Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
$84
18
Rhys
Alpine Vineyard Hillside Pinot Noir
$76
18
Rhys
Horseshoe Vineyard Syrah
$65
15

White Wines

WineAvg PriceLots Sold
Ridge
Monte Bello Chardonnay
$207
246
Ridge
Estate Chardonnay
$49
63
Rhys
Alpine Vineyard Chardonnay
$74
41
Thunder Mountain
Bald Mountain Vineyard Chardonnay
$37
24
Rhys
Horseshoe Vineyard Chardonnay
$72
24
Ceritas
Peter Martin Ray Vineyard Chardonnay
$69
16

Top Producers

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