Events
Tasting Room Hours
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Thursdays from 5 - 9 pm
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Fridays from 3 - 9 pm
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Saturdays from 12 - 9 pm
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Sundays from 12 - 6 pm
Well-behaved dogs and children are welcome! You may also bring outside food or non-alcoholic drinks. Outside alcoholic drinks are not allowed. Whenever the tasting room is open food will be available from local vendors or pizza delivery.
A note about events:
Tasting by the pour will stop an hour before music begins; however, you may still enjoy wine by the glass, by the bottle, or tastings via 4 oz. taster bottles throughout the performance.
Please know that all tastings and music performances are outdoors on our patio and will be cancelled or rescheduled if it rains. We have umbrellas and propane heaters to handle sunny and cool weather conditions. Please check this page and/or Facebook or Instagram for notices of rain events.
Do you want to perform at El Vaquero's Tasting Room? Fill out this form to apply.
Friday, October 22
6-9 pm
Michael Gaither and The Woodrunners
Americana and Rock
Don’t miss The Woodrunners as they make their worldwide debut, performing with El Vaquero regular, Michael Gaither! For the first time ever, a trio of familiar faces from Watsonville’s beloved Apple City Slough Band come together to throw a mellow spin on their time-honored roots rock sound. Playing original music with the occasional cover… The Woodrunners dial it back to a simpler time - friends making music, music making friends – the kind of thing you just might drink some wine to 😉.
Food by:
My Mom's Molé
Saturday, October 23
5-8 pm
Beach Cowboys
Blues and Rock and Roll
Sammy Roye and Jack Hanson formed the Santa Cruz Beach Cowboys in 1998. They are a great bluesy Rock & Roll band. Super vocals, fabulous horns, and musicianship. Bass player's first lesson was with Jerry Garcia. Not your ordinary cover band but will keep you dancing all night long. Sammy Roye and Jack Hanson formed the Santa Cruz Beach Cowboys in 1998. They are a great bluesy Rock & Roll band. Super vocals, fabulous horns, and musicianship. Bass player's first lesson was with Jerry Garcia. Not your ordinary cover band but will keep you dancing all night long.
Rock on.
Food by:
SNB Food Truck
Saturday, October 30
5-9 pm
Halloween Party
Family Friendly Holiday Party
This is going to be quite the party! We'll have live music from the excellent Michael Gaither and his Scary New Best Friends. We're going to have a costume contest, a pumpkin carving contest, and most importantly delicious wines for all to enjoy.
Food by:
My Mom's Molé
Friday, November 12
6-9 pm
Preacher Boy
Americana and Blues
Preacher Boy mines the dark edges of Contemporary Blues and Americana with his signature raspy voice, virtuoso National slide guitar playing, and darkly poetic lyrics. From his genre-bending debut on Blind Pig Records to his latest album on Coast Road Records—his 13th overall—this relentlessly pioneering artist continues to both honor and extend the country blues traditions that inspire him, while infusing his sound with influences ranging from punk rock to political folk. Of hIs boot-pounding live performances, Santa Cruz’s Good Times had this to say: “As he beats his long leather boot, four to the floor, his National steel guitar slides and spits a devious storm of gothic Americana and gritty country blues.” Melody Maker described his sound as: “Country blues that marry Nick Cave, Robert Johnson, Woody Guthrie and Tom Waits,” and legendary music publication MOJO declared that, “Preacher Boy is a songwriter of startling originality.”
Food by:
TBA
Friday, November 19
6-9 pm
Michael Gaither and Nomad
Americana
Michael mixes his own original tunes with covers of artists who’ve influenced him (Tom Petty, Warren Zevon, John Prine, Bob Dylan) along with songs that are just a heck of lot of fun to play with a band (including The Cars, Little Feat, Neil Young, The Band).
Singer-songwriter Dave "Nomad" Miller performs original heart-on-sleeve, travel-worn songs with troubadour wisdom as well as an eclectic variety of covers.
Food by:
TBA
