Cooper-Garrod Vineyards in Saratoga, California – A Different Wine “Flight” – California Travel

Our first encounter with Cooper-Garrod Vineyards happened during the COVID pandemic, when open-air spaces and local discoveries became a lifeline. What began as a search for a safe, outdoor tasting turned into something lasting: a membership in the winery’s Wine Club and a genuine affection for this hillside vineyard where aviation history meets family farming. I have written about Cooper Garrod elsewhere, but it seemed a good time to do a thorough review.

Getting There: The Road Less Connected

Driving up from downtown Saratoga, the road narrows and winds through the oak-covered foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Long before you get to the winery, you will likely lose your cell signal. It’s best to have your directions ready before you leave Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road. Cooper-Garrod has free Wi-Fi once you arrive.

Cooper-Garrod sits above Saratoga at the end of Garrod Road, part of a working ranch that’s been in the same family since 1893. 

As the tasting patio and barnyard come into view, you will often see riders passing on horseback, reminders that this is not a purpose-built winery estate but a living farm that still honors its equestrian roots. Long before we first visited the winery, we knew people who boarded their horses here. How many wine clubs do you know that include these benefits?

• 20% discount on trail rides for the member and one guest (member must be present).
• 20% discount on private riding lessons for the member and immediate family.

From Orchards to Vines: A Family Story Since 1893

The Garrod family has been farming these hills for more than 130 years. Originally fruit growers, they began with apricots, prunes, and walnuts, crops that once defined the Valley of Heart’s Delight long before it became Silicon Valley. By the 1970s, falling fruit prices led the family to reimagine the land’s future. The transition to vineyards began in earnest in the 1970s and 1980s, guided by family members who saw the potential of the cool Santa Cruz Mountain slopes for premium wine grapes.

Inside the tasting room, framed photos and family charts tell the story: six generations of Garrods have tended this property. Vince and Jane Garrod, whose vision helped shape today’s estate, also became advocates for land preservation. Much of their acreage now borders open-space preserves, ensuring these vineyards will remain part of a protected greenbelt rather than future housing tracts. 

George Cooper: The Test Pilot Who Turned Winemaker

The other half of the Cooper-Garrod name comes from George Cooper, a test pilot whose second act in life was winemaking. Before vines covered these hills, Cooper was an aeronautical engineer and pilot at what was then NACA (the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics), later NASA Ames Research Center. His work helped establish flight stability systems still used in modern aviation. Walking through the tasting room, visitors find framed exhibits explaining Cooper’s research on “variable stability” and “steep descent testing.”

Each display combines technical diagrams with photos of George beside his aircraft, bridging the worlds of flight and farming. His passion for precision found a new outlet in viticulture, where variables like soil, sun, and slope replaced lift and drag. Cooper’s legacy lives on in the Test Pilot Series, a collection of blends named after aircraft he flew: the F6F Hellcat, F7U Cutlass, F104 Starfighter, and P47 Thunderbolt.

These wines give a whole new meaning to a “flight” of wine.

The Tasting Experience: Four Flights to Choose From

Visitors to Cooper-Garrod can choose from three or more distinct tasting flights, all listed on the Garrod Farms Visit page. The lineup reflects both the variety of estate-grown grapes and the dual themes of heritage and experimentation:

1. Red and White Flight $22: showcases the core red and white single varietal wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA.
2. Test Pilot Flight $22: focuses on the red blends inspired by George Cooper’s aircraft.
3. Wine Club Flight – rotating selections available exclusively to club members.

During the holidays, there was a special holiday flight that pairs with traditional holiday foods.

During our most recent visit, we sampled both the Wine Club and Test Pilot flights. The setup was relaxed and unhurried, the glasses arranged on labeled sheets outlining each pour.  The tasting area spills out onto a broad patio shaded by umbrellas and surrounded by vines.

It’s a casual, social atmosphere, more farmyard than formal estate. On weekends, live music often fills the air, blending with the laughter of groups at neighboring tables. 

Wines with Altitude: Notes from the Glass

Cooper-Garrod’s vineyards sit between 800 and 1,200 feet above sea level, benefiting from cool marine breezes funneled through the Santa Cruz Mountains. The soils are lean and rocky, producing small, concentrated grapes. Most wines are estate-grown and produced on-site, reflecting the character of these hills. The tasting flights reveal both range and focus.

The Estate Varietals highlight single-grape expressions like Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah, while the Test Pilot Series explores how those components can merge in inventive blends. Each label carries the name of an aircraft, accompanied by a short story, turning each glass into a mini history lesson.

One of the pleasures here is how informative the staff is without being pretentious. They talk easily about tannins and terroir, but also about the people behind the wines. Many of them have worked at the winery for years, and their familiarity shows. It feels more like being welcomed into a community than attending a tasting.

Atmosphere and Community: Music Among the Vines

When the weather is fair, Cooper-Garrod hosts live music on the patio. On one of our recent visits, a local group called The Goat Hill Girls performed a lively bluegrass set. Guests clinked glasses, kids danced between tables, and even a few dogs lounged under chairs. It’s that kind of place, family-friendly, easygoing, and inclusive. Check the website for events.

While the winery doesn’t operate a restaurant, a small bite menu is available. Outside food is not allowed. There’s water available for guests and pets, and shaded seating throughout the afternoon.

Special events are available to members of the wine club. One of the events that I quite enjoyed was where the wine club members mixed the wine for one of the test pilot blends. We were all given last year’s wine, this year’s two-component wines, and some graduated cylinders. After we all said what mix we thought they should use, the winemaker told us what they had decided. The first thing you learn is that no blend will be the same from one year to the next.

Beyond the Wine: Horses, History, and Open Space

Cooper-Garrod is unique among Bay Area wineries because it remains a fully functioning ranch. Garrod Farms offers horseback riding lessons, guided trail rides, and equestrian programs for all ages. Visitors often hear hooves on gravel or see riders heading toward the nearby Fremont Older Open Space Preserve.

These trails, open to the public, wind through chaparral hills and offer sweeping views of Silicon Valley below. 120 acres of Fremont Older were donated by the Garrod Family in 1980.

Right by the patio, a restored 1931 Model A Ford sits as a tribute to the family’s farming past. Nearby, an exhibit of vintage tools and orchard equipment recalls the early days when this was a prune and apricot orchard. These displays make clear that Cooper-Garrod isn’t a veneer of rustic charm; it’s genuine continuity between eras.

For those who want to combine wine tasting with outdoor activity, a popular option is to hike the Fremont Older Preserve in the morning, then reward yourself with a tasting flight afterward. The winery’s proximity to these trails makes it an easy half-day excursion from anywhere in the South Bay.

Practical Tips for Visitors

• Getting there: From Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road, take Pierce Road to Mount Eden Road to Garrod Road. Follow the signs to the Saratoga Wine Route. Once you leave Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road, expect limited signage and no reliable GPS. Directions and a downloaded map are your friends. The drive is about ten minutes from downtown Saratoga, but feels much farther.
• Hours and reservations: Cooper-Garrod is open Monday and Wednesday through Friday from 12:30 to 5:00 p.m., and weekends from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Reservations are recommended on weekends and required for larger groups. The schedule occasionally shifts for events, so it’s worth checking their website before visiting.
• Parking: Free and available close to the tasting patio.
• Connectivity: No cell service en route or onsite, but free Wi-Fi is available at the winery.
• Accessibility: The main patio and tasting room are wheelchair-accessible. Restrooms are across the parking lot and easy to reach.
• What to bring: Layers for changing weather.
• Dogs: Well-behaved dogs are welcome on leash in outdoor areas. Remember, there are horses next door, so your dog has to be cool with that.

Why It Stands Out: Authenticity Over Flash

What makes Cooper-Garrod memorable is its authenticity. This is not a designer winery or a place built for Instagram moments. The staff are down-to-earth, the setting is informal, and the story is real. The blend of aviation heritage, family continuity, and open-space preservation gives it depth. There’s also a humility here, an understanding that the wines speak for themselves.

Even the Test Pilot branding, which could easily have veered into gimmick, feels sincere. The names and aircraft references come directly from George Cooper’s own flight logbooks. Each bottle connects to an era of aviation history and to a man who spent his life balancing experimentation and control.

As a local, I’ve come to think of Cooper-Garrod as both a destination and a refuge. It’s where I bring out-of-town friends when I want to show them a quieter side of Silicon Valley, and where I go when I need a few hours surrounded by vineyards, not screens.

Where the Vines Meet the Sky

Whether you come for the Test Pilot blends, the equestrian trails, or simply the view, you’ll find yourself leaving with a sense of calm and connection. The Wi-Fi may work fine once you’re there, but most visitors put their phones down anyway. Between the rows of vines and the open blue sky, Cooper-Garrod invites you to disconnect from everything but the moment, and maybe take flight in your own way.