Santa Cruz Mountains AVA is is an American Viticultural Area centred on the Santa Cruz Mountains and located south of San Francisco and west of Silicon Valley in California. The Santa Cruz Mountains AVA is adjacent to but not part of the Central Coast AVA or San Francisco Bay AVA. Recognized as an AVA in 1981, the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA was among the first to be defined by its mountain topography, following the fog line along the coast to encompass its highest vineyards on the 2,600-foot-high ridge tops. This broad region is marked by diverse microclimates: warm on the eastern inland side where Zinfandel, Cabernet, and Merlot predominate; and on the coastal side and ridge tops, cooled by ocean breezes and fog, where cooler climate varieties such as Pinot Noir are grown. The Santa Cruz Mountains AVA is home to more than 60 wineries.

Counties: Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and San Mateo.

Wineries: Bonny Doon.