It’s not every year that the Super Bowl is held in a wine region. And sure, you could drive all the way up to Wine Country. But this weekend’s Super Bowl LX, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, is nestled within the Santa Clara Valley American Viticultural Area, and just a stone’s throw from another American Viticultural Area, the Santa Cruz Mountains. So why bother when there’s a bounty of great wine to explore much closer to the stadium?
Here are five Santa Clara-adjacent wineries I recommend, all within about a half hour’s drive of Levi’s Stadium. (If you’re set on heading to Wine Country, we’ve also got recommendations for where to go in both Sonoma County and Napa Valley.)
Mount Eden Vineyards
The road to reach Mount Eden is steep and winding, but the trek is worth it. Tastings, held under a leafy gazebo, afford breathtaking views of Silicon Valley. This historic winery is one of the few that excels equally with Cabernet Sauvignon — a warmth-loving grape — and Pinot Noir, which prefers cooler climates. The fact that Mount Eden can grow both successfully is a testament to the varied microclimates of this mountain. The estate is open for tastings on weekdays only, but its sister brand, Domaine Eden (23000 Congress Springs Road, Saratoga), offers weekend tastings nearby.
22020 Mount Eden Road, Saratoga. Tastings $35. 408-867-5832 or mounteden.com
Saison Winery
You won’t find any vineyard views at this compact tasting room in downtown Los Gatos, but the quality of the wines makes up for it. Saison Winery is the brainchild of Mark Bright, a partner in San Francisco’s Michelin-starred Saison restaurant who is turning his hospitality group into something of a wine empire. Most of the winery’s fruit is sourced from the highly regarded Regan Vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains, focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay…