Cinnabar Tasting Room

About Cinnabar Winery
Cinnabar is a boutique, family-owned winery that revers winemaking as a form of modern-day alchemy–the blending of science with a touch of nature’s magic. Rooted in the Santa Cruz Mountains at our lively Saratoga Tasting Room, we partner with local growers to coax the transfomation of the finest California grapes into distinct and delightfully approachable wines.

The Magic
When a rich patch of soil is blessed with a splash of sunlight and just the right douse of rain, a small miracle occurs: vines break through the earth and grapes come bursting forth. At Cinnabar, we celebrate the variations in land and climate that characterize different regions of California, and cherish the resulting diversity of fruit. Thus, Cinnabar has developed long-standing partnerships with artisan growers in prime viticulture areas including the Santa Cruz Mountains, Paso Robles, Santa Lucia Highlands, the Red Hills of Lake County, and Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley.

The Science
Winemaker George Troquato and Cellar Master Alejandro Aldama, who have been with Cinnabar for over twenty-five years, oversee every aspect of Cinnabar’s winemaking. With unwavering dedication and seasoned expertise, they select vineyards after a thorough screening of soils, climate, and cultural practices, as well as a formal tasting of their library wines. The vines are carefully cultivated and fruit is harvested by hand in the morning cool and then swiftly moved to nearby cellars where it is gently handled with state-of-the-art equipment. Fermented in small oak barrels or stainless steel tanks, the wines embody off-the-vine aromas and flavors reminiscent of the regions in which they were grown. With mastery, patience, and a pinch of ingenuity, we work to ensure that each bottle of Cinnabar is memorable for its elegant nature and enchanting taste.

Our History
Cinnabar was established in 1981 by Tom Mudd (1942-2007). A scientist by trade, Tom received his masters and doctorate degrees from Stanford University, where he was a research engineer at Stanford Research Institute from 1977 to 1982. Inspired by the nuances, challenges, and thrills of the winemaking process, Tom made wine in his backyard under a home label until he founded Cinnabar. Ready for a career change, he planted twenty-two acres of estate vineyards and built a majestic winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Tom’s two children, Jack and Karina, grew up exploring the cellars, scaling the catwalks, and eagerly awaiting annual harvests.

Cinnabar’s estate was sold in 2007 with Tom’s passing. Cinnabar then settled into its new home at the thriving Tasting Room in downtown Saratoga, which features an after-hours wine bar with live music on weekends. Today, Jack and Karina are proud to carry on their father’s vision for Cinnabar, guided by his philosophy: have fun with serious wine. Together they continue to build on the character and integrity of Cinnabar’s past and aspire to lead the family business toward an increasingly vibrant future.

Our Wines

Cinnabar Tasting Room
The Cinnabar Tasting Room is located in the historic Saratoga village beneath a majestic stretch of the Santa Cruz Mountains near the heart of Silicon Valley and popular tourist destinations such as Santa Cruz and Monterey.

We offer wine tastings seven days a week and an after-hours wine bar with live music, the Mudd Room, on Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Sample our handcrafted wines with family and friends inside at the wine bar or outside on the patio or deck. We always offer wine by the glass or the bottle.

Many of our limited production wines are only available in the Tasting Room, and our gracious staff will gladly provide additional wine information, offer suggestions for your winery tour in the Santa Cruz Mountains, or help you make reservations at one of the local restaurants or inns.