Over two days, March 25 and 26, local wine lovers will get the opportunity to savor the "unique quality and intensity" of Santa Cruz Mountains pinot noir while learning about the delicate processes of winemaking in this area, says Laura Ness, a member of the event committee.

"Last year was great; it was a big party, a beautiful day," says Ness, describing the inaugural festival held at the Old Novitiate Winery at Testarossa Vineyards. Ness says last year around 700 people attended, and this year they expect around 1,000. "This year will be a much larger event. There will be more room for everyone to spread out and have a good time."

Saturday's theme is "Pathway to Pinot Paradise." Attendees will make their way along a self-guided tour of select Santa Cruz Mountains wineries that will be pouring barrel and samples of their latest pinots, as well as a few that will be pouring limited library wines.

On Sunday will be the "Grand Cruz Tasting and Technical Sessions" at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, where the historic Paul Masson Winery once stood and remnants can still be seen. The Paul Masson Winery is said to be the site of the first planting of the "noble grape," or pinot noir, on this continent.

"Paul Masson, who was French, is said to have brought cuttings from the Burgundy area of France, from his friend Louis Latour's vineyard in Burgundy, to the United States, establishing the first pinot noir in the U.S.," Ness explains.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the technical sessions program will offer in-depth seminars on the growing and making of pinot noir in this distinctive appelation.

The Santa Cruz Mountains appelation, established in 1981, was among the first viticultural areas in North America to be defined by geophysical and climatic factors. The appelation encompasses the Santa Cruz Mountain range, from Half Moon Bay in the north to Mt. Madonna in the south. The east and west boundaries are defined by elevation, extending down to 800 feet in the east and 400 feet in the west.

The elevation, marine influence, mountain terrain and distinctive soils all help make the Santa Cruz Mountains "paradise for producing elegant, classic pinot noir in the Burgundian style," says literature provided by the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association. "Vineyards planted here tend to be low-producing, yielding intensely concentrated fruit that makes wine of great complexity. Santa Cruz Mountains pinots characteristically feature many layers of fruit, earth, minerals and spice, all gracefully supported by an elegant core of persistent, food-friendly acidity."

Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon Winery will be a featured guest speaker and will address the topic, "Why is pinot noir called the 'fickle grape?' " This will be followed by a panel discussion on "The Impact of Terroir--Pinot Noir in the Santa Cruz Mountains." Panelists will include Michael Martella of Michael Martella Wines, Thomas Fogarty, Jeff Emery of Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard, Prudy Foxx of the Viticulture Association of the Santa Cruz Mountains and Jim Schultze of Windy Oaks Estate. Following will be a session titled, "The parallels--or not--between Burgundy and the Santa Cruz Mountains," featuring tastings from both regions.

Weather permitting, the afternoon will include a vineyard tour conducted by Jeffrey Patterson and a box lunch.

The Grand Cruz Pinot Noir Tasting is open to the public from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

Tickets to 'Pathway to Pinot Paradise' on March 25, featuring the self-guided tour of select Santa Cruz Mountains wineries, are $20 each. Tickets for the technical sessions from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 26 at the Mountain Winery, 14831 Pierce Road in Saratoga, are $50 each and include a guided vineyard tour and box lunch. Tickets to the Grand Cruz Pinot Noir Tasting afterwards are $50 each until March 20 and $65 each thereafter. A 'Paradise Pass' to all three events is $120. For reservations, call 831.685.8463 or visit www.scmwa.com.

Participating wineries: Ahlgren Vineyard, Alfaro Vineyards, Bargetto Winery, Beauregard Vineyards, Burrell School Vineyards and Winery, Byington Winery, Cinnabar Vineyards and Winery, Clos la Chance Wines, Clos Tita, Domenico Winery, Generosa, Hallcrest Vineyards, Heart O' Mountain, Loma Prieta Winery, McHenry Vineyard, Mount Eden Vineyards, Muccigrosso Vineyards, Pelican Ranch Winery, Pichetti Winery, Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard, Silver Mountain Vineyards, Sonnet Wine Cellars, Soquel Vineyards, Storrs Winery, Testarossa Vineyards, Thomas Fogarty Winery and Vineyards, Trout Gulch Vineyards, Windy Oaks Estate Vineyards and Winery and Woodside Vineyards.

Participating restaurants and food purveyors: Café Marcella, Carl Hall's Hot Pepper Jelly Co., Casa Blanca Restaurant, CB Hannegan's, Cocoa Bon, Cocoa Designs, Crimson Restaurant, Decadent Tastes, Grapevine Wine and Cheese Shop, Il Fornaio, La Bella Olives, Le Pappilon, Ma Maison, Michaels on Main, Stella Cadente Olive Oil, The Mountain Winery catering and Viva!