Bargetto Winery has been a fixture in the Santa Cruz Mountains since the 1920s. It is a family owned and operated winery established by brothers John and Philip Bargetto, who emigrated to the US from Piedmonte, Italy in the late 19th century. In 1918, the Bargettos established the winery on the banks of the Soquel River, in the town of Soquel, near the sea coast, where third generation winemaker John Bargetto tells me, “it’s cool enough to crush, but a bit too cool to grow.”

Today, the third generation of Bargettos source fruit from several areas of California, and have three wine labels: Bargetto for the classic Cabs, Merlots, Chards etc., La Vita for the Italian varietals that continue their family heritage, and Chaucer for their fruit wines.
 
In the past, Bargetto has been best known for their fruit wines -- (they are really excellent: I love the raspberry) -- and for their affordable staples from Monterey County. Of late, however, they’ve been focusing increasingly on their premium wines, which now come exclusively from their estate vineyard, the Regan Vineyard in Corralitos. Director of winemaking, John Bargetto tells Laura Ness that all the wines in their Santa Cruz Mountains portfolio now come from this estate vineyard. The 40-acre property in the southern part of the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation enjoys a cool, coastal climate overlooking the Monterey Bay. Days are warm, not hot, with a typical morning fog that burns off around 11AM. The perfect climate for Pinot, and as it turns out, superb for Pinot Grigio. It is also something of a wonder spot for that current whipping boy varietal, Merlot.