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Woodside Vineyards

Field	Details
Founder	Bob Mullen (1926-2025)
Original Co-founder	Bob Groetzinger (1957-)
Former Owner	Bob Mullen (1970-2025)
Current Owner	Jerold O'Brien / Silver Mountain Vineyards (2025)
Former Address	205 Constitution Drive, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Phone	(650) 851-3144
First Vintage	1960
Bonded	1963
Production	~2,000 cases
Status	Sold to Silver Mountain (August 2025)
AVA	Santa Cruz Mountains

History

1884: San Francisco attorney Emmett Rixford planted 40 acres near Woodside. Original cuttings reportedly sourced from Chateau Margaux in France. The vineyard was named La Questa and became famous for quality Cabernets.

Following Rixford's death, the vineyard fell into disrepair. His two sons lacked the knowledge and vision to maintain the business. The vineyard was managed briefly by Rusty Ray, before being subdivided for housing.

1957: Bob Groetzinger discovered about an acre of vines in gardens of houses on the former La Questa property. With owners' permission, he began tending them and producing home-made wine.

1960: Groetzinger joined by his friend Bob Mullen. First vintage.

1961: Mullen purchased nearby property which became the winery.

1963: Woodside Vineyards bonded.

1970: Bob Mullen became owner.

The winery managed that first acre (believed to be the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines in the USA), plus 20 more vineyards scattered around Woodside. Production limited to 2,000 cases by agreement with the city.

2008: Bob Mullen (aged 82) sold the property including winery building and surrounding vineyard, but not the business.

2009: Winery entered partnership with Auto Vino, a car and wine storage facility in Menlo Park.

2010: Winery moved to Menlo Park premises.

August 2025: After 63 years of continuous operation, Bob Mullen (age 99) sold Woodside Vineyards label, equipment, and inventory (90 barrels of 2024 and 2025 vintages) to Jerold O'Brien of Silver Mountain Vineyards. Operations in San Carlos wound down; inventory and equipment transferred to Silver Mountain's Los Gatos winery.

November 2025: Bob Mullen passed away at age 99.

Wines

All wines produced from locally grown fruit in the Woodside area:

Flagship:

La Questa Cabernet Sauvignon - produced only in exceptional years solely from the oldest La Questa vines

Estate Wines:

Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Kings Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Estate Zinfandel
Estate Pinot Noir
Estate Chardonnay

Other:

Vintage Sparkling Wine
"Mikey's Rooftop" (occasional blend)

The winery also provided sacramental wine for Woodside Village Church.

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