Wining and dining over the Easter holidays and beyond
Wine Tasting
The Santa Cruz Mountains are awash with incredible wineries, so it’s good to get out and try new wines, and discover a new place you haven’t been to before. Visit the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association website—scmwa.com—for a list of wineries and tasting rooms in the area.
A good place to go if you want to cover a lot of territory without driving all over the place is Surf City Vintners on the Westside of Santa Cruz in the Swift Street Courtyard complex. You’ll find about a dozen wineries here all ready to pour you their very best. Bonny Doon Vineyard is still at this location, but will be moving to a new spot in Davenport in May.
Mica Cellars, Roudon-Smith and Wargin Wines have all joined forces under one roof at Hangar Way in Watsonville. These three wonderful wineries are offering free tasting at weekends. Download their coupon at scwinemakerstudio.com. April 6 (date to be confirmed) they’re doing a Swine & Wine event at their studio.
Easter Dining
Chaminade always puts on a lovely spread at Easter, and so does Sanderlings Restaurant at Seascape Beach Resort. Café Rio in Aptos is doing an amazing Easter brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Easter Sunday. Try their famous sand dabs or Rio Crab Benedict as you gaze out onto the sparkling ocean.
Jozseph Schultz of India Joze fame is still cooking up a storm at his downtown Santa Cruz restaurant. At the First Friday event on April 5 Schultz is doing a Persian-inspired art show complete with Persian appetizers and desserts. Sounds delicious! Visit indianjoze.com.
Hot Wine Tip
If you want hard-to-find wines shipped to your door, contact the Wine Club of the Santa Cruz Mountains. They specialize in wines from the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation and right now they’re doing a 10 percent discount on all wines. Visit wineclubsantacruzmountains.com.
Spring Forward Against Cancer
The Santa Cruz Cancer Benefit Group (SCCBG )is putting on its annual Spring Forward Against Cancer fundraiser from 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 13 at the Top of the Ritt in downtown Santa Cruz. As well as a splendid silent auction, live auction and art auction, there is always an amazing wine auction – with wines donated from far and wide. This sit-down dinner event is always fabulous, and all money raised goes to SCCBG’s beneficiaries. Visit sccbg.org for more information.
And last but not least, try the new Lago di Como Restaurant on East Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz. They’re serving up some superb Italian food.
Happy Easter to all Good Times readers.
