Pelican Ranch Winery Moves to Capitola

Could Capitola become California's newest wine mecca? Mayor Dennis Norton certainly hopes so. And with the arrival of Pelican Ranch Winery into the city—bringing the number of wine outlets in Capitola to three—he is optimistic tourists will have yet another reason to come to town.

"Pelican Ranch Winery is an excellent winery, and we're happy to have them in town," Norton said Saturday afternoon after a ribbon-cutting ceremony of the city's newest business. "With that, people may look at Capitola as being a wine-tasting destination."

Norton was just one of dozens of people attending the Grand-Reopening of Pelican Ranch Winery on Kennedy Drive. The 13-year-old winery, which is in a brand new building at the end of the frontage road, celebrated its move from the Westside of Santa Cruz with an open house and wine-tasting party. People crowded into the tasting room to sip the winery's chardonnay, syrah, pinot noir, zinfandel and other varieties, and to meet with Phil and Peggy Crews, who own the business and have years of experience making fine wines.

"We started the winery in 1997," Peggy Crews said, adding that the couple's wine-making experiences go back even further. "Before that, it was a hobby that got out of control."

Peggy Crews said she and her husband began looking for a new site, because their lease agreement at the Swift Street Courtyard in Santa Cruz was due to end. The couple looked at various sites throughout the county and discovered exactly what they needed in Capitola.

"We found this beautiful new building that meets our needs for production and a tasting room," she said.

The couple was seeking a site near the bay where the cool coastal influence would allow for controlled, slow-fermentation of their wines.

Pelican Ranch Winery produces 1,000 cases of wine annually from fruit grown in coastal areas between Santa Barbara and the Russian River Valley, Crews said.

Production is limited to 100 cases of wine from each vineyard, and the vineyards are listed on the labels. The wines are served locally in a number of restaurants, including Riva Fish House on the Santa Cruz Wharf. They are also sold in a variety of markets, including Staff of Life, New Leaf and Shopper's Corner. And, of course, they are available for purchase at the new tasting room at Kennedy Drive. The tasting room is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., and by appointment.

While the business venue is new, Pelican Ranch Winery is well known to patrons of Capitola's annual Art and Wine Festival. Mary Beth Cahalen, who serves on the festival committee, said Pelican Ranch Winery has participated in the festival for a number of years and is popular with visitors. She added that the new tasting room may help Norton's dream come true.

"With the Art and Wine Festival, we attract a lot of people into Capitola," Cahalen said. "Now they'll be able to walk right up from the event and taste (more) wine here. There's a lot of great things that can come out of this."