Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard Winemaker Dinner w/Jeff Emery TICKET - Friday, August 14th, 2026 @ 6 PM

Join Winemaker & Proprietor Jeff Emery for a six-wine exploration of Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard, one of California’s most distinctive old-school producers.

The evening moves from coastal Pinot Noir and bright Grenache into mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, rare Cabernet Franc and Petite Sirah, each paired with a five-course dinner by Speckled Pear.

Event Snapshot

Date: Friday, August 14
Reception: 6:00 PM
Seated Dinner: 6:30 PM
Location: La Cave Cellar Room at Petit Philippe
Winemaker: Jeff Emery, Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard
Format: Six wines with a paired five-course dinner
Menu: Speckled Pear
Tickets: $139 per person, plus tax
Seating: Limited

The Experience

For fifty years, Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard has remained committed to a fresh, savory and site-driven expression of California wine. The winery builds its portfolio around individual vineyard relationships, allowing each grape and growing site to retain its own character.

Jeff Emery joined SCMV in 1979, working alongside founder Ken Burnap before becoming the winery’s winemaker and owner. Few people can speak with the same firsthand perspective about the estate’s founding vision, the evolution of its vineyard relationships and the decisions behind the wines being poured.

The six-wine lineup shows the full reach of the producer’s work, from fog-influenced Pinot Noir and peppery Grenache to mountain Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Two limited 2017 releases from Bates Ranch, made from vines planted in 1972, form the evening’s most historic chapter.

Featured Wines

2022 Las Nietas Vineyard Pinot Noir

Santa Cruz Mountains

A lighter, coastal expression of Pinot Noir with red fruit, black tea, forest-floor savor and fine texture.

2022 Hook Vineyard Grenache

Santa Lucia Highlands

Bright raspberry and strawberry fruit with white pepper, savory herbs, fresh acidity and a lifted texture.

2018 Luchessi Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Santa Cruz Mountains

Classic, restrained California Cabernet with mulberry, plum and tobacco over polished tannins and fresh acidity.

2017 Bates Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon

Santa Cruz Mountains

From historic vines planted in 1972, with dark red fruit, evergreen and saline detail over bright acidity and composed tannins.

2017 Bates Ranch Cabernet Franc

Santa Cruz Mountains

A rare release from a very limited 1972 planting, showing dusky blueberry fruit, savory herbs and aromatic lift.

2022 Pierce Ranch Petite Sirah

San Antonio Valley

Dark berry fruit, black pepper and spice, with deep color, plush texture and firm tannin.

Menu & Pairings

Reception

2022 Las Nietas Vineyard Pinot Noir

First Course

Smoked Yogurt & Salt-Roasted Beets
Blistered shishito peppers, toasted sesame and pickled red onion

Paired with 2022 Hook Vineyard Grenache

Second Course

Beef Carpaccio
Caper and tarragon aioli, Belper Knolle, extra-virgin olive oil, smoked sea salt and arugula

Paired with 2018 Luchessi Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Third Course

Wild Mushroom Risotto
Carnaroli rice, local mushrooms and Grana Padano cream

Paired with 2017 Bates Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon

Fourth Course

Wagyu Filet Mignon
Seven-ounce pan-roasted wagyu, duck-fat hash brown and creamed watercress

Paired with 2017 Bates Ranch Cabernet Franc

Dessert

Chocolate Hazelnut Torte
Chantilly cream

Paired with 2022 Pierce Ranch Petite Sirah

About Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard

Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard was founded in 1975 by Ken Burnap, who had spent years searching for a cooler California site for Pinot Noir.

Burnap later joined the growers who surveyed and petitioned for the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA. Rather than following county lines, its boundaries were drawn around elevation and climatic conditions. It became the country’s first mountain appellation defined on those terms, and the first AVA whose boundaries followed geophysical and climatic criteria rather than political lines.

As SCMV expanded beyond its original vineyard, it built its portfolio through relationships with individual growers and named sites. Every wine poured at this dinner carries a vineyard designation, reflecting the winery’s long-standing focus on grape, site and vintage.

About Jeff Emery

Jeff Emery joined Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard in 1979 as a 20-year-old geology student and began working alongside founder Ken Burnap in the cellar and vineyard.

He first arrived to help bottle the 1977 Cabernet Sauvignon. Exactly 25 years later, Jeff purchased the winery and became its sole owner.

His nearly five decades at SCMV give him an unusual perspective on the winery’s history, vineyards and evolution. Guests will have the opportunity to taste the wines with the person who knows the decisions and relationships behind them firsthand.

Why We’re Excited

Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard makes the kind of California wine we are excited to champion: fresh, savory, structured and full of character without relying on sheer weight.

We already know the Hook Vineyard Grenache and Luchessi Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon well. They have become trusted bottles on our California shelf and consistent favorites when we pour them. This dinner allows us to place those wines within the winery’s broader work and open several limited releases rarely experienced together.

We are especially excited to share the two 2017 Bates Ranch bottlings, made after SCMV returned to the historic vineyard following a 23-year absence.

Important Details

Friday, August 14
Reception at 6:00 PM
Seated dinner at 6:30 PM

La Cave Cellar Room at Petit Philippe
Six wines with a paired five-course dinner
$139 per person, plus tax

The featured wines will be available to purchase during the event with our standard event pricing. A limited allocation will be reserved for dinner guests.

Seating in La Cave is limited.