MOUNT EDEN - scmwine/Wineries GitHub Wiki

Mount Eden Vineyards

Infobox

  • Type: Winery
  • Status: Active
  • Founded: 1945 (as Martin Ray estate); 1972 (as Mount Eden Vineyards)
  • Region / AVA: Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
  • Location: 22020 Mt. Eden Road, Saratoga, CA 95070
  • Founders: Martin Ray (1945); Investor group (1972)
  • Current Owners: Jeffrey Patterson
  • Winemakers: Martin Ray (1945-1972), Richard Graff, Peter Graff, Merry Edwards, Bill Anderson, Fred Peterson, Jeffrey Patterson (1981-present)
  • Associated vineyards: Mount Eden Estate Vineyard, Peter Martin Ray Vineyard
  • Predecessor entities: Martin Ray estate (1945-1972), Paul Masson Mountain Winery (lineage connection)
  • Historical significance: Canonical quality benchmark; preserved Paul Masson/Martin Ray Pinot Noir and Chardonnay selections foundational to California viticulture

Summary

Mount Eden Vineyards is a canonical quality benchmark winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains, founded by Martin Ray in 1945 as a continuation of the Paul Masson mountain wine legacy. After Ray lost the property in a partnership dispute in the late 1960s, investors renamed it Mount Eden Vineyards in 1972 and continued the quality-first, estate-bottled philosophy. Under Jeffrey Patterson since 1981, Mount Eden produces age-worthy Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon that rival Old World benchmarks. The estate preserved old clonal selections that became foundational genetic material for California viticulture.

Chronology

  • 1901 β€” Paul Masson establishes Mountain Winery on nearby property
  • 1936 β€” Martin Ray purchases Paul Masson Mountain Winery
  • 1942 β€” Ray sells Paul Masson winery to Seagrams
  • 1945 β€” Martin Ray purchases adjoining Mount Eden property with sale proceeds
  • 1945-1950s β€” Ray plants Pinot Noir and Chardonnay using selections from Paul Masson vineyards; adds Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Post-WWII β€” Ray begins producing 100% varietal wines
  • 1960s β€” Ray attempts expansion; sued by creditors
  • Late 1960s β€” Investors take over estate in partnership dispute; Ray retains 5 acres as Peter Martin Ray Vineyard
  • 1972 β€” Property renamed Mount Eden Vineyards; debut vintage from Ray's 30-year-old vines
  • 1981 β€” Jeffrey Patterson joins as winemaker
  • 1984 β€” Patterson begins replanting old vines due to age and viral infection
  • 2003 β€” 20-kilowatt solar array installed
  • Present β€” Jeffrey Patterson as owner/winemaker continues estate-bottled quality philosophy

History

Founding (1945)

After selling the Paul Masson Mountain Winery to Seagrams in 1942, Martin Ray used the proceeds to purchase property on Mount Eden in 1945.

Ray planted:

  • Pinot Noir β€” Using selections from the historic Paul Masson vineyards
  • Chardonnay β€” Using selections from Paul Masson vineyards
  • Cabernet Sauvignon β€” Added later

Ray built a winery at the top of the mountain, accessible only via a long, winding road behind locked gatesβ€”a deliberate choice reflecting his reclusive, quality-obsessed approach.

Martin Ray Era (1945-1972)

During the post-WWII era, Ray produced 100% varietal wines which he believed could rival the best of the Old World.

Ray's philosophy:

  • Estate-bottled only
  • No blending
  • Single-vineyard expression
  • Quality over commercial appeal
  • Built for decades of cellaring

Ray's old selections of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay became among the most important genetic lineages in California viticultureβ€”the clones were later propagated widely and became known as "Mount Eden" or "Martin Ray" selections.

Partnership Dispute (Late 1960s)

In the 1960s, Ray attempted to expand the operation but was sued by his creditors. The investors eventually took over the entire estate. (This story is documented in Ray's biography, Vineyards in the Sky.)

Ray retained only 5 acres, which he named Peter Martin Ray Vineyard after his son.

Mount Eden Vineyards (1972-Present)

In 1972, the new owners renamed the property Mount Eden Vineyards and produced their debut vintage from Ray's 30-year-old vines.

The vines were:

  • Dry farmed
  • Widely spaced
  • Hand-worked due to steepness of mountain slopes

Jeffrey Patterson era (1981-present):

In 1984, Patterson began replanting the old vines due to age and viral infection. He has continued Ray's quality-first philosophy while modernizing vineyard management.

Wines / Viticulture

Varietals

Three Estate Wines:

  1. Pinot Noir β€” Austere, Burgundian style with higher acidity and tannins; intended for cellaring
  2. Chardonnay β€” One of California's longest-lived white wines; aged in bottle for at least two years from release
  3. Cabernet Sauvignon β€” Estate Cabernet built for aging

Non-Estate Wines:

  • Edna Valley Chardonnays β€” Two offerings from southern SLO County fruit; intended for immediate consumption
  • Saratoga Cuvee Cabernet β€” Drinking on release; good value (~$25)

Vineyard Sources

Production Style

  • Naturally low yields β€” 1/2 to 2 tons per acre
  • Natural yeast fermentation
  • French oak β€” New or 1-year-old barrels
  • Dry farmed (estate)
  • Hand-worked due to steep slopes
  • Individually serial numbered bottles (tribute to Martin Ray)

Aging potential:

  • Pinot Noir: Cellar for years before opening; ages like Burgundy
  • Chardonnay: Age for at least 2 years from release; continues improving for many more
  • Cabernet: Built for long aging

The wines are reputed to be hard to pick out when tasted blind against their French counterparts.

Facilities

  • Address: 22020 Mt. Eden Road, Saratoga, CA 95070
  • Phone: (888) 865-9463
  • Website: http://www.mounteden.com
  • Tasting: By appointment only, Monday-Friday (groups of 6 or fewer, 21+)
  • Sustainability: 20-kilowatt solar array (installed 2003) feeds power back into PG&E grid; reduced annual electricity bill by ~$7,000

Relationships

People

  • Martin Ray β€” Founder (1945); operated 1945-1972
  • Eleanor Ray β€” Business partner to Martin Ray
  • Peter Martin Ray β€” Martin Ray's son; associated vineyard
  • Paul Masson β€” Lineage connection (Masson β†’ Ray β†’ Mount Eden)
  • Jeffrey Patterson β€” Winemaker/owner 1981-present
  • Richard Graff β€” Winemaker (early Mount Eden Vineyards era)
  • Peter Graff β€” Winemaker
  • Merry Edwards β€” Winemaker
  • Bill Anderson β€” Winemaker
  • Fred Peterson β€” Winemaker

Vineyards

Related Wineries

  • Paul Masson Mountain Winery β€” Lineage predecessor (Masson β†’ Ray β†’ Mount Eden)
  • Martin Ray estate β€” Direct predecessor (1945-1972)
  • David Bruce Winery β€” Contemporary pioneer influenced by Martin Ray's philosophy

Institutions / Associations

  • Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association

Historical Significance

1. Canonical Quality Benchmark

Mount Eden is widely recognized as a canonical quality benchmark in Santa Cruz Mountains and California wine history:

  • Demonstrated that California wines can rival Old World standards
  • Proved mountain sites superior for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
  • Established age-worthiness as hallmark of quality
  • Showed estate-bottled, single-vineyard model viability

2. Clonal Material Foundation

The estate preserved old selections of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Paul Masson/Martin Ray lineage that became foundational clonal material for California viticulture:

  • "Mount Eden" Pinot Noir clone propagated widely
  • "Martin Ray" Chardonnay selections influential statewide
  • Genetic diversity preserved from early California plantings
  • Connection to 19th-century Paul Masson material

3. Continuity of Quality Philosophy

Mount Eden represents multi-generational quality philosophy:

  1. Paul Masson (1901-1936) β€” French quality standards
  2. Martin Ray (1936-1972) β€” Estate-bottled, 100% varietal purity
  3. Mount Eden Vineyards (1972-present) β€” Continuation under new ownership

This unbroken quality lineage spans over 120 years.

4. Burgundian Model in California

Mount Eden demonstrated that the Burgundian modelβ€”estate-bottled, terroir-driven, age-worthy Pinot Noir and Chardonnayβ€”could succeed in California when most producers focused on volume and immediate drinkability.

Current Status

  • Operations: Active winery; estate-bottled production
  • Tasting Room: By appointment only, Monday-Friday (groups of 6 or fewer, 21+)
  • Production: Low-volume, quality-focused estate wines
  • Ownership: Jeffrey Patterson (since 1981)
  • Philosophy: Continuation of Martin Ray's quality-first, estate-bottled approach

Open Questions / Research Leads

  • Exact details of the late 1960s partnership dispute and investor takeover
  • Full production volumes by year
  • Complete list of winemakers and tenures between 1972-1981
  • Specific genetic analysis of Mount Eden clonal material vs. original Paul Masson selections
  • Early reception of Mount Eden wines (1972-1980s)
  • Relationship between Jeffrey Patterson and previous winemakers/owners
  • Detailed replanting timeline (1984-present)
  • Current estate acreage and breakdown by varietal

Sources

Primary / Near-Primary

  • Martin and Eleanor Ray Papers (UC Davis) β€” Business records, correspondence
  • Property deeds and records
  • Wine labels and vintage records

Oral History

  • Conversations with Jeffrey Patterson
  • Interviews with winemakers

Secondary

  • Vineyards in the Sky β€” Biography of Martin Ray
  • Sullivan, Charles L. β€” California wine history works
  • Regional wine history publications

Web / Reference

Confidence Notes

High Confidence

  • 1945 founding by Martin Ray
  • 1972 renaming to Mount Eden Vineyards
  • Jeffrey Patterson winemaker since 1981
  • 1984 replanting of old vines
  • Quality philosophy and wine styles
  • Clonal material importance
  • Solar array installation 2003

Medium Confidence

  • Exact details of partnership dispute
  • Complete winemaker succession 1972-1981
  • Production volumes
  • Specific financial details

Low Confidence / Needs Verification

  • Full story of investor takeover (multiple versions exist)
  • Exact vineyard acreage over time
  • Complete vintage records

See Also: