Some wineries you don’t want to miss just south of Wine Country

Everyone knows of the iconic Wine Country in California, which is world-renowned for its vineyards and high-end wineries. Most people don’t realize there is amazing wine throughout California, specifically a few hours south in the Santa Cruz Mountains. I luckily had the opportunity to visit a few wineries with some locals and want to share a couple of my favorites.

Hallcrest Vineyards

To start, their grounds are gorgeous. When you first drive into the parking lot it doesn’t look like much, trees block most of the grounds and you can’t see the main building from the parking lot entrance. But once you get out of your car and walk towards the path, you’re welcomed by a large field and you’re surrounded by mountains. It’s a short walk to their main building which has tons of outdoor seating with a rustic, farmhouse vibe. The owners are very friendly and helpful. They carry a variety of wines and ciders along with mead, they even have a “Meadarita”, which is very refreshing on a hot day. 

Visual Branding

Overall, I think their visual branding online matched pretty well with the experience they created. Their logo has a vintage-style typography which pairs well with the rustic environment along with their extensive history. The color scheme of their website is primarily earth tones with a minimalistic, and neutral design which ties into their eco-friendly practices and their timeless identity.

Wrights Station Winery

Wrights Station Winery is also a beautiful location right in the mountains. It’s very relaxing, with a mix of indoor and outdoor seating. Outside, you’re surrounded by their vineyards and the building has more of a modern feel. Unfortunately, I was so focused on the experience that I didn’t get any pictures, but there are many on their website and online if you want to see the location! They offer three different tasting flight options, each containing four wines: one with only red, one with white, and the “Station Flight” which has two reds and two whites. If you reserve your tasting ahead of time, you can also order a customized Charcuterie box, but you can also bring food for a picnic. Outside of just tasting the wine, there are a variety of events that the winery hosts including tours, special dinners, and more that you can reserve ahead of time for a more immersive experience.

Visual Branding

As for their visual branding, I believe their branding reflects their history very well, but that is not reflected in the experience I had. If it weren’t for my research I would’ve had no idea that the winery came from an old, major train station that was located nearby. I’d personally recommend that Wrights Station try to incorporate its history more in the environment of its location since it does seem to be a major part of its brand that gets lost when you visit.

Overall, my experience at both of these wineries was absolutely amazing. I loved the environment, which just enhanced my time outside of the amazing wine. I’d highly recommend both of these locations for wine enthusiasts and young wine lovers alike.

More about the Author

Sofia Hessevick

Creative Assistant at Mark'd by design, LLC

Sofia recently graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville with a degree in Marketing and a Minor in Graphic Design Studies. During her studies, she gained valuable experience in marketing, design, SEO, and public relations through a variety of internships. She's passionate about working with brands to elevate their identity and share their story while growing their business. She's excited to work with a team whose mission is to bring the client’s stories and inspiration to life.