With views like this, you could be a little forgiving if the wine wasn't so good. Good news is, you don't need to worry about that as there are some great wines at Ridge Vineyards. The drive up the mountain offers some sneak peaks of the breathtaking views that await you at the winery.

I was a bit surprised to learn that there are even wineries in Cupertino. I guess this is one of South Bay's little hidden gems. Gems are meant to be seen and admired, so taking a stroll around some of the grounds was in order. The mass urbanization down below might not have been out of sight, but it was definitely out of mind in this mini-escape.

Walking around at Ridge Vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains.