Big Basin Vineyards, one of the Santa Cruz Mountains’ most prominent wineries, closed its Saratoga tasting room in 2020, and now it’s officially found a new home at the Five55 Pacific luxury apartment complex, a new development by Swensen Santa Cruz. The space is located at 525 Pacific Avenue on the ground floor of the building, and will share the floor with Cafe Iveta and a few other retailers.
“The project is helping to fulfill the city’s dream of connecting Pacific Avenue to the Santa Cruz boardwalk and wharf,” says Colliers commercial real estate broker Tom Nelson of Five55 Pacific, which used to be a car dealership. “It’s really great to see this area revitalized.”
Big Basin Vineyards Wine Bar & Tasting Room is a key part of that revitalization. According to a press release, the corner space will boast a curly redwood bar, indoor and patio seating, and a private area for small group tastings. Nelson says the patio will be shared with neighboring Cafe Iveta, which will open around the same time as the Big Basin tasting room.
No opening date has been announced yet, but Big Basin hopes to have their tasting room open by late summer.
