Windy Oaks Estate Winery is located in one of the most idyllic settings in the Santa Cruz Mountains, overlooking the Monterey Bay—a bay that delivers the ever-present fog and steady Pacific breezes that make for long growing seasons and help the grapes retain outstanding acidity.

Proprietors Jim and Judy Schultze fell in love with wine while living abroad, and were especially drawn to the wines of Burgundy. When some land became available adjacent to their property in Corralitos, they were immediately interested. After extensive research, the Schultzes discovered that it would be ideal for Burgundian varietals. Sparing no expense, Jim and Judy have taken great care to plant and maintain one of the most pristine vineyards in the mountains.

Although the Schultzes employ some state of the art vineyard monitoring equipment and practices, most of their winemaking follows classic Burgundian tradition. In fact, except for the surrounding redwood forest, this fabulously hilly vineyard could have been ripped from the slopes of Burgundy. You really could get lost trying to find this place, but it’s worth a visit if you want to see a classic Pinot Noir vineyard and taste some exceptional wines. And you’ll get to experience the wind in the oaks. It’s aptly named.

I caught up with Jim just before the harvest (always a little later in Corralitos) kicked into high gear.