Making the climb up Loma Prieta Way to the near nosebleed altitude of 2600 feet, takes less than 10 minutes from the 1600 ft elevation of Burrell School Vineyards. That one thousand feet of verticality buys you the most amazing views to be enjoyed in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Here, in the shadow of towering and intimidating Loma Prieta Mountain, origin of the 1989 earthquake, you will enter a world apart. You will be as high as you're going to get at a winery tasting room in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Happily, you will experience altitude without attitude, in both the wines and the wine tasting experience.

This is a place well-suited to attitude adjustment: smile at the seasonally decorated "Deerly Departed" head above the mantel, or as you peruse the many fun plaques on the walls that remind you not to take yourself too seriously. Humor abounds in the well-equipped restrooms also: "Had she punished him enough? She could not be sure," says a caption beneath a bemused woman with an air of mischief in her eyes.

Jim Morrison would have loved the brooding European feel of the wispy cloud fingers on a foggy day, winding around the courtyard fountain, snaking through the vineyards, and then beating back toward the ocean. I imagine he would garner inspiration from a glass of Loma Prieta's stout Cabernet as he stared into the glow of the double-sided fireplace on a winter's afternoon. Or perhaps he would slink silently into a silky Saveria Pinot Noir, soaking in the serenity of a late summer's afternoon, when the sun turns the hills to gold and the Monterey Bay peninsula lights come on, windows going electric red with the setting sun. It's a magical, mystical place to relax and dream, muscular Merlot in hand, while pondering the thunder echoes of an impending storm.

Speaking of The Doors, standing at the end of the marble bar, looking out as the door swings open to reveal a peak of Monterey Bay enveloped in cloud, you appreciate the ambience of the tasting room - it is warm, friendly and most welcoming. Say hello to Mo, the friendly shorthaired pointer who inevitably leaves his somewhat over-enjoyed toys along the pathway, hoping someone, maybe you, will engage him in a tug of war. Hint: you won't win. You're better off heaving his tennis ball into the vineyard and watching as he races off to secure its location like no GPS could ever hope to do. And speaking of GPS, do not rely on yours for navigational guidance. Just follow the directions on the website and observe the signs. This is no time for heroics, and no place to get lost.

When the weather is brilliant, picnic at one of the umbrella-shaded tables, drinking in the priceless vistas. You can actually see the froth of the waves gleaming on the beach in Capitola below. They are not exaggerating when they claim "Views to Mesmerize, Wines to Inspire." Go be inspired to light a fire of your own.

You can visit Loma Prieta Winery at 26985 Loma Prieta Way, Los Gatos; open Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Call (408) 353-2950 for more information.