Three miles off Highway 1, up narrow Glen Haven Road, visitors are rewarded by discovering the fine boutique winery of Soquel Vineyards. This little gem is nestled on the crest of a hill outside the town of Soquel and produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Nebbiolo and old-vine Zinfandel.

The serene location is surrounded by redwood trees, hillside vineyards and a spectacular view of Monterey Bay. It was established in 1987 when the twin Bargetto brothers left their family’s nearby historic winery to start their own label. With a passing nod to the family’s Italian roots, the brothers and a friend ventured out to produce Nebbiolo and first-class French varietals. Their small hillside vineyard supplies the winery with Pinot Noir and Nebbiolo fruit, while the rest is sourced from various vineyards in Santa Cruz, the Russian River Valley and Napa Valley.

The winery building itself has its own history, with its handmade Italian roof tiles dating back to the mid-1700s. The winery doors are made from an old 12,000-gallon redwood tank salvaged from the original Bargetto winery. Inside the stylish tasting room is an inlaid wood tasting counter, along with a wall of wine barrels. Large glass doors lead out to a small patio, complete with a high-powered telescope for spotting distant flora and fauna. The mood is casual, the wines are serious, and the focus is on the tasting, with barrel samples available most weekends.