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Peter Martin Ray

Field Details
Father Martin "Rusty" Ray
Vineyard Peter Martin Ray Vineyard
Location Mt. Eden, Santa Cruz Mountains
Elevation 1,400 feet
Role Vineyard owner and grower

Background

Peter Martin Ray is the son of legendary California vintner Martin "Rusty" Ray. He currently owns and oversees the historic Peter Martin Ray Vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Peter Martin Ray Vineyard

Located on Mt. Eden in the Northeastern Santa Cruz Mountains, above the town of Saratoga. This site dates to the late 1800s and was one of the first to be planted to Pinot Noir in California in the early 1940s.

1943: Mount Eden site first developed by Martin Ray.

1979: Vineyard replanted. The old, stake-trained, dry-farmed vines cling precipitously to the extremely rocky and depleted Franciscan Shale soils at 1,400-foot elevation.

The property is now divided between Peter Martin Ray and Jeffrey Patterson of Mt. Eden Vineyards.

Historical Significance

The vineyard is of historical significance as many of today's modern Pinot Noir plantings have been made with genetic material taken from it. Grows Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that are organically farmed and dry-farmed.

Grower Model

Peter Martin Ray operates as a grower, selling fruit to select wineries including:

  • Arnot-Roberts
  • Birichino

Important Distinction

Peter Martin Ray Vineyards should not be confused with Martin Ray Winery, which is a separate conventional winery purchased by Courtney Benham in 1990 and now based in the Russian River Valley.

Related Entries

Sources