Web Winery
Since 1995

River Run Vintners

Watsonville, Santa Cruz Mountains. J.P. Pawloski's family winery near Aromas, founded in 1978.

Not confirmedChecked Nov 15, 2026, source1,4

Not confirmed

We couldn't confirm that River Run Vintners is still making wine4. The latest report, a Good Times column of February 19, 2020, said J.P. Pawloski opened for tastings only a couple of times a year1; in 2019 the San Francisco Chronicle described a cellar near Aromas, shared by four younger winemakers, as formerly River Run Winery3.

About the winery

River Run Vintners is a family winery founded in 1978 at the southern end of the Santa Cruz Mountains, near Aromas, according to its page on Web Winery in December 1998. Winemaker J.P. Pawloski did every stage of the work himself, making 1,000 to 3,000 cases a year of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Zinfandel from vineyards around central California. Visits were by appointment, apart from two open houses and four Passport Saturdays a year6.

Later reports show Pawloski still making wine. In 2018 Good Times wrote that he held an open house twice a year for his mailing list, made Syrah, Zinfandel, Viognier, Carignane and Riesling among others, and sold his wines in local supermarkets and liquor stores2. The 2020 column added that he didn't keep up a website1.

From the archives

Pages River Run Vintners published on the original Web Winery, from December 1998.

  1. River Run Vintners: J.P. Pawloski's winery near Aromas. River Run's page, on Web Winery by December 1998, described a family winery founded in 1978 near Aromas, where winemaker J.P. Pawloski did all the work himself, making 1,000 to 3,000 cases a year from vineyards around central California. It was open by appointment, for two open houses and on Passport Saturdays. Wayback copy

Nearby in Santa Cruz Mountains