Nestled in the northern end of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the Thomas Fogarty Estate Vineyard offers a rich history intertwined with a deep respect for the land. In 1976, Dr. Thomas Fogarty, a heart surgeon and medical device inventor, decided to preserve approximately 350 acres as open space. To qualify under the Williamson Act, which requires an active agricultural purpose, Dr. Fogarty considered various crops. Initially leaning towards kiwi fruit, he was ultimately inspired by the wines of Burgundy and local vintners like David Bruce, Mount Eden, and Ridge, which led him to focus on cool-weather grape varieties.
In 1977, Dr. Fogarty partnered with Michael Martella, a fourth-generation grape grower, to establish the vineyard. Together, they cleared the land and planted the first two vineyards on the estate. Over the next four years, with insights from local wine pioneers, the estate’s core vineyards took shape, focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The almost 30 acres of vines are now organically farmed with minimal irrigation, embodying the estate’s commitment to sustainable practices and the preservation of the surrounding heritage oak and fir forests.
Today, the Fogarty Estate remains a testament to the founders’ vision, producing small lots of meticulously crafted wines. The estate continues to honor its origins, hand-farming the vineyards and creating wines that reflect the unique terroir of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Visitors to the estate can experience this passion firsthand, enjoying wines that are as rich in history as they are in flavor.
