THE STORY
In last week’s post, I told you about my attendance at The Perfect Pair – a Cabrillo College Culinary & Wine Showcase. Today’s post is about the second flight of wines at the pre-event seminar: Pinot Noirs from Soquel Vineyards.
At the food pairing portion of the event, we tasted many wines. Some standouts for me were the 2022 Storrs Rusty Ridge Zinfandel (presented in last week’s post), the 2014 Silver Mountain Alloy, the 2021 Regan Merlot, the 2021 Wrights Station Cabernet Franc, and the 2019 Quinta Cruz Sparkling Souzão. I loved the food pairing of the sparkling red with the culinary students’ Raspberry Mocha Delight. I managed to take a bottle home with the idea to serve it to the AWS Monterey Chapter Board with my own dark chocolate-raspberry dessert. As I said last week, this annual Santa Cruz Mountain AVA and Cabrillo College Culinary event is not to be missed!
You can read last week’s post here:
THE WINERY
From their website:
“Welcome to Soquel Vineyards. Our small, family owned and operated winery is nestled on the coastal side of the Santa Cruz Mountains. We are committed to producing extraordinary wines with an emphasis on integrity and sense of place.”
Soquel Vineyards was founded by Peter and Paul Bargetto, in partnership with Jon Morgan back in 1987. They wanted to make wines focused on the Santa Cruz Mountain AVA. They began building their current winery location in 2001. Today they are considered among the most renowned wineries in the AVA.
Their website is full of history and information about each vineyard from which they source fruit. Read more about them here: Our Story.
THE WINES
Today I am presenting 4 Soquel Vineyards wines. Winery notes come from the tasting sheet or their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ notes.
As with last week’s wines most of these wines have not yet been released and these Pinot Noirs do not taste like Monterey’s famous Santa Lucia Highlands Pinots. They displayed, in general, a richer flavor profile.
2024 Soquel Vineyards Ascona Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains, $60 (#1750) 94 points – Wine Enthusiast
My Review: Translucent Ruby with a clear rim. Stemmy, warm nose. Light on the palate. Tart on the finish. April 2026
2024 Soquel Vineyards Pinot Noir, Lester Family Vineyards, Santa Cruz Mountains, $50 (#1751) 97 Points – Wine Enthusiast
My Review: Pretty ruby with a peachy rim in the glass. Rich bright cherry, plum, raspberry on the nose. A big wine with a fruity underpinning. April 2026
2023 Soquel Pinot Noir, Coast Ridge Vineyards, Santa Cruz Mountains, 13.1% ABV, $50 (#1752) 94 points – Wine Enthusiast
Winery Notes: “A solid core of cherry, cranberry and raspberry on the nose of this single-vineyard expression is bolstered by a cardamon pod spice. Floral flavors range from rose to lavender on the palate, where cran-cherry and peppercorn flavors are wrapped in a solid tension.”
My Review: Ruby with a pale rim. Nose is harsher, stinky, plum. Earthy. Palate makes up for the nose. Tobacco on the finish. April 2026
2024 Soquel Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains (#1753)
My Review: Ruby with a clear rim. Faint nose of sweet tart and vinegar. Rich and tasty palate. My preferred Pinot Noir of this flight. April 2026
THE TASTING ROOM
“Our winery is open for tastings Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 4pm. Come join us on the patio for a flight or a glass and enjoy panoramic views of the Soquel hillside and Monterey Bay.” Tasting fee is only $15! Located at 8063 Glen Haven Road, Soquel, CA 95073. Call them at 831-462-9045 to reserve your spot.
© Decanting Monterey 2026
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