A Family Wine Country Weekend in the Santa Cruz Mountains
Looking for an exceptional winery experience near Silicon Valley? In June 2025, three generations of my family visited Byington Vineyard & Winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and what started as a professional evaluation turned into a genuinely epic family day that showed us exactly why Byington stands as one of Northern California’s premier wine destinations.
Location | Wines & Club | Amenities | History | Our Review | Photos & Videos | FAQs | Reviews | Add Review | Nearby Wineries
Location
Byington Vineyard & Winery
21850 Bear Creek Road, Los Gatos, CA 95033 (Santa Cruz County)
(408) 354-1111
Directions from the Bay Area: Take Highway 17 toward Santa Cruz. Exit at Bear Creek Road. Turn left at the stop sign and travel 5.5 miles. Byington will be on your left.
Directions from Santa Cruz: Take Highway 17 toward San Jose. Exit at Summit Road, turn left, and continue 5.7 miles. Turn left on Bear Creek Road and travel 3 miles. Byington will be on your left.
Wines & Club
Best Known For:
- Award-winning estate Pinot Noir from the 8-acre Byington Estate vineyard (Santa Cruz Mountains AVA)
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot from the 36-acre Tin Cross Vineyards (Alexander Valley)
- Additional selectively-sourced wines from exclusive partner vineyards
Wine Club Membership: Unlike a lot of the smaller wineries we visit, Byington runs a legit, full-on shipping wine club with three tiers:
- Explorers Club — 4 shipments/year, 4 mixed bottles per shipment, 20% member discount. Best for anyone who wants variety across the whole portfolio.
- Collectors Club Red — 4 shipments/year, 4 red wines per shipment, 20% member discount, exclusive event access. Built for red wine lovers.
- Diamond Club — 6 shipments/year, 6 bottles per shipment including collectible library wines, 30% member discount (the top tier), first access to new releases. This one’s for serious collectors.
All tiers include complimentary tastings for the member plus 3 guests on every visit, invitations to member-only events, a new-member certificate for a tour and tasting for member plus 5 guests, winemaker notes with each shipment, and access to the Foyer Bottle Sales room — an elegant space with hardwood floors and a window into the wine cellar, where members can enjoy purchases onsite for the “fee” of half a bottle of wine per person.
Curious how Byington’s club stacks up against other options out there? Check out our Best Wine Clubs guide for a full breakdown.
Amenities
- Wine cave tours (Saturdays by reservation, $35/person, ~45 minutes, 21+)
- Bocce ball court (by reservation, one hour per group)
- 2.2-mile hiking trail with a 365-foot elevation change and the Block 4 Outlook viewpoint
- Patio concert area
- Mountain picnic deck
- Cave patio
- Event center for private and corporate events
- Solar-powered facility
- Pet-friendly — leashed dogs welcome outdoors, in the tasting room, and on the hiking trail (not on tours, inside the villa, or on the crush pad, due to FDA restrictions)
- Gourmet cheese and charcuterie boards available for purchase
History
Byington was founded in 1987 on 95 spectacular acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and from the start, the winery leaned into sustainable, organic, biodynamic growing practices — a philosophy that’s stuck around ever since. In 2013, Los Altos Vineyards acquired Byington and poured real investment into the vineyard, production, and facilities, adding solar power and upgraded amenities without losing the winery’s original commitment to sustainability. A year later, in 2014, Byington acquired Tin Cross Vineyards in Alexander Valley — 36 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot — to round out the portfolio beyond their 8-acre estate Pinot Noir.
At the helm today is winemaker Daniel Negueruela, who grew up in the village of Lardero in Rioja, Spain, learning the craft in his grandfather’s basement among aged Tempranillo vines. He became the youngest member ever inducted into the prestigious Denominación de Origen Calificada Rioja board before relocating to the U.S. in 2020, joining Byington, and quickly rising to head winemaker — bringing serious Old World tradition into a California operation built on sustainability and innovation.
Byington also takes community involvement seriously: the winery issues more than 350 charity auction gift certificates annually (a $350 value each) for wine tours and tastings, and has supported more than 2,500 charity events since 2012 under current ownership.
Our Review
Nestled on 95 spectacular acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Byington offers visitors a breathtaking escape just minutes from Silicon Valley. The moment you arrive at 21850 Bear Creek Road in Los Gatos, you’re greeted with expansive views of the mountains, Monterey Bay, and Pinot Noir vineyards rolling across the hillsides. The winery’s 18,000-square-foot villa makes a serious architectural statement against the mountain backdrop, and with redwood forests wrapping the property, the whole setting is stellar before you’ve even tasted a drop.
One of the highlights of our visit was the wine cave tour — thousands of bottles aging in perfect temperature and humidity, walked through with a genuinely knowledgeable guide who covered everything from grape selection to fermentation, plus the winery’s history back to 1987 and what makes the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA distinct. My daughter was locked in the whole time, asking question after question — it was clutch as a hands-on wine education, honestly.
The tasting itself, seated overlooking the lawns, vineyard, and Monterey Bay, was five carefully poured 1-ounce tastes walking through the range of what Byington does well. The Pinot Noir from the 8-acre estate vineyard was a standout — real Santa Cruz Mountains character — and the Cabernet Sauvignon from Tin Cross showed off why that Alexander Valley fruit was worth acquiring in the first place.
What made the day genuinely special, though, was watching three generations of my family connect. My dad, Ken, and my son, Mason, got into a full-on bocce ball battle on the winery’s court — legit competitive, dude — while my daughter soaked up everything from the cave tour to the tasting itself with real curiosity. That’s the kind of thing that makes a winery visit more than just a winery visit.
After tasting, we bought several bottles — the quality-to-price ratio was choice, and the wine club discounts made it even better. Staff walked us through which bottles were ready to drink now versus which would age well, which took the guesswork out of it completely.
Who this winery is for: Multi-generational family outings, wine club members and collectors chasing Diamond Club library wines, corporate groups looking for a team-building venue, and anyone within striking distance of Silicon Valley who wants a legit wine country day without a long drive.
If you visit, come back and leave us a review below — and if you’re curious how Byington’s own club compares to other options, check out our Best Wine Clubs guide.
Cheers,
Brendan
Photos & Videos
Wine Tasting & Family Photos
Tasting Room
Exterior
Wine Cave
FAQs
Is Byington Winery good for families?
Absolutely. Bocce ball, a 2.2-mile hiking trail with spectacular views, and educational wine cave tours make it work for all ages — our three-generation visit had something for grandparents and grandkids alike. Kids are welcome on the grounds, but this is still an adult wine experience, so children must be seated with and supervised by a parent at all times.
Do you need reservations for Byington Winery?
Not strictly, but reservations are strongly recommended. A limited number of walk-ins are available, but tours and bocce ball court slots fill fast. Book online at their website or call (408) 354-1111.
What wines is Byington Winery known for?
Their award-winning estate Pinot Noir from the 8-acre Santa Cruz Mountains vineyard is the headliner, alongside Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot from the 36-acre Tin Cross Vineyards in Alexander Valley.
How far is Byington Winery from Silicon Valley?
About 30 minutes via Highway 17. The drive through the Santa Cruz Mountains is genuinely part of the experience.
Does Byington Winery have a wine club?
Yes — three tiers: Explorers Club (4 mixed shipments/year, 20% discount), Collectors Club Red (4 red shipments/year, 20% discount), and Diamond Club (6 shipments/year including library wines, 30% discount). All tiers include complimentary tastings for member plus 3 guests and member-only event access.
What are the hours for Byington Winery?
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 12pm–5pm (Fall/Winter hours start November 8). Last tastings begin one hour before close. Hours can shift seasonally, so it’s worth checking their website or calling ahead.
Can you bring food to Byington Winery?
Outside food isn’t allowed in the tasting room or on the patio during tasting hours, but gourmet cheese and charcuterie boards are available for purchase onsite.
Can you bring a picnic to Byington Winery?
Call (408) 354-1111 to check their current picnic policy for outdoor areas.
Are dogs allowed at Byington Winery?
Yes — leashed dogs are welcome outdoors, in the tasting room, and on the hiking trail. They’re not permitted on wine tours, inside the villa, or on the crush pad due to FDA restrictions.
Does Byington host private events?
Yes, both corporate events and private family gatherings, with bespoke event planning, an authentic wine cave, and team-building activities in the mix.
Customer Reviews
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New Customer Here - We Are Already Hooked
We’re fairly new to Firstleaf Wine, but after just four shipments, we’re completely hooked. Out of 24 bottles, only one didn’t quite hit the mark for our taste. We make a point to rate each wine consistently to help others in our palate profile get better recommendations.
Long Time Wine Club Member
I’ve been a member for more than a year now, and as someone living in North Carolina, this is hands down the best and most affordable way to get high-quality, delicious wines. The value easily beats any liquor store, even here in NC where prices are already lower thanks to favorable taxes. Back when I lived in California, I used to snag great deals at Grocery Outlet, but I’ve never found anything like that in North Carolina—until now.
My only gripe? Occasionally, the wine selections in your order get swapped out automatically, and you have to call customer service to manually add your original picks back into the cart just to confirm your order. That process could definitely be smoother.
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Nearby Wineries
See more wineries in the region: Santa Cruz Mountains Wineries Guide