Mount Eden Vineyards

The mountaintop above Saratoga has a viticultural history reaching back to Paul Masson, who planted vines in the area in the late 19th century after marrying Louise Lefranc, daughter of Charles Lefranc. Martin Ray purchased Paul Masson's winery in 1936 and sold it to Seagram's in 1942, then turned to his own estate. Ray purchased the first parcel of the mountaintop at approximately 2,000 feet in 1942 and 1943, building a winery and home there. In 1945 he planted the first vines, eventually establishing roughly seven acres each of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay using budwood from the nearby Paul Masson Mountain Vineyard. Ray was an iconoclastic and pugnacious advocate for Burgundian-style California wines decades before that conversation entered the mainstream. In the 1960s he took on investor-partners to fund expansion, the partnership collapsed in litigation, and his partners won and forced him out in 1972. The estate was renamed Mount Eden Vineyards, with Richard Graff of Chalone retained as consulting winemaker and later Merry Edwards among the early winemakers. Jeffrey Patterson arrived as assistant winemaker in 1981 and was promoted to head winemaker and general manager in 1983.

• Paul Masson and Étienne Thée planted vines on the mountainside in the late 19th century
• Martin Ray purchased the mountaintop in 1942 and 1943; first vines planted 1945 with Paul Masson budwood at 2,000 feet elevation
• Ray was forced out by his investor-partners after losing litigation in 1972; estate renamed Mount Eden Vineyards
• Richard Graff (Chalone) consulting; Merry Edwards among the early Mount Eden winemakers in the 1970s
• Jeffrey Patterson assistant winemaker 1981; promoted to head winemaker and general manager 1983

Mount Eden holds one of the longest continuous records of estate-bottled California Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with vines tracing to Martin Ray's mid-1940s plantings and continuous estate production through Jeffrey Patterson's tenure since the early 1980s. The Mount Eden Chardonnay selection is a recognized California heritage clone, propagated to numerous subsequent estates. The estate's Cabernet Sauvignon plantings, sourced from Emmett Rixford's La Questa Vineyard in Woodside (itself from Château Margaux cuttings obtained in the 1890s), give Mount Eden one of the most historically grounded Cabernet lineages in California. Across four decades of Patterson stewardship, Mount Eden has consistently earned high critical scores (typically 92 to 96 points) across major publications, with library releases of older vintages repeatedly demonstrating exceptional cellaring trajectory. Mount Eden was central to the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA petition and recognition process, and the 2007 acquisition of the neighboring Cinnabar property (renamed Domaine Eden) gave the Pattersons a second estate within the appellation.

• One of the longest continuous records of estate-bottled California Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (continuous from the 1940s)
• Mount Eden Chardonnay selection (the Mount Eden clone) is a recognized California heritage clone, propagated to many subsequent estates
• Estate Cabernet Sauvignon traces to Emmett Rixford's La Questa Vineyard (1890s Château Margaux cuttings)
• Four decades of consistent 92-96 point critical scores; library releases demonstrate exceptional cellaring trajectory
• Central role in Santa Cruz Mountains AVA petition; 2007 Cinnabar acquisition created Domaine Eden second estate

Jeffrey Patterson's winemaking philosophy emphasizes restrained, Burgundian-influenced craftsmanship with substantial cellaring intent. Pinot Noir is fermented in small open-top tanks with native yeasts, with variable whole-cluster inclusion (typically 30 to 50 percent), and aged in French oak (roughly 30 to 50 percent new) for 16 to 20 months. Chardonnay is whole-cluster pressed, barrel-fermented in French oak with native yeasts, taken through full malolactic fermentation, and aged on lees for 12 to 15 months. Cabernet Sauvignon is fermented in small open-top tanks and aged 20 to 24 months in French oak (50 to 70 percent new). Mount Eden wines are emphatically built for the cellar: estate Pinot Noir reliably ages 15 to 25 years, estate Chardonnay 10 to 20 years, and estate Cabernet 20 to 30 years from vintage. Alcohols typically run 13 to 14 percent. Jeffrey Patterson made the Mount Eden wines from 1981 and retired in 2025 as Winemaker Emeritus, one of the longest continuous winemaker tenures in California; Austin Chin has been Head Winemaker since 2025.

• Restrained Burgundian-leaning approach; native yeast fermentation across Pinot, Chardonnay, and Cabernet
• Pinot Noir: whole-cluster 30-50 percent, 30-50 percent new French oak, 16-20 months aging
• Chardonnay: whole-cluster press, barrel fermentation, full malolactic, 12-15 months on lees
• Estate Pinot cellaring 15-25 years, Chardonnay 10-20 years, Cabernet 20-30 years; alcohols 13-14 percent
• Jeffrey Patterson made the wines 1981 to 2025 (now Winemaker Emeritus), among the longest continuous tenures in California; Austin Chin Head Winemaker since 2025

Mount Eden Vineyards is owned and operated by Jeffrey and Eleanor (Ellie) Patterson. Jeffrey became assistant winemaker in 1981 and head winemaker and general manager in 1983; the Pattersons became shareholders in 1986 and acquired majority ownership in 2008 with their children Sophie and Reid. Reid Patterson now serves as General Manager and Andrea Kyle as Director of Operations (since 2022). The estate winery sits on the mountaintop above Saratoga, with library tastings by appointment. Annual production runs approximately 5,000 to 7,000 cases across Mount Eden Estate bottlings (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon), Domaine Eden bottlings (Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay from the former Cinnabar estate), and the Edna Valley Wolff Vineyard Chardonnay sourced from Jean-Pierre Wolff's vineyard since the 1985 vintage. Sales include broader trade distribution to top California restaurants and specialty retailers alongside a mailing list.

• Jeffrey and Ellie Patterson: assistant winemaker 1981; head winemaker 1983; shareholders 1986; majority owners 2008 with children Sophie and Reid
• Mountaintop winery above Saratoga; library tastings by appointment
• Annual production 5,000-7,000 cases across Mount Eden Estate, Domaine Eden, and Edna Valley Wolff Vineyard tiers
• Edna Valley Chardonnay sourced from Jean-Pierre Wolff's Wolff Vineyard since the 1985 vintage

The Mount Eden estate occupies approximately 40 acres at roughly 2,000 feet elevation on the mountaintop above Saratoga. Soils are Franciscan shale and decomposed rock; the vineyard sits well above the marine fog layer with substantial diurnal temperature variation. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines descend from Martin Ray's 1945 plantings with Paul Masson budwood, with later replanting maintaining the heritage selection. The Mount Eden Chardonnay clone is a recognized California heritage selection, propagated to other estates. Cabernet Sauvignon was planted in 1980 (12 acres) using cuttings from Martin Ray's earlier Cabernet vines, which Ray had sourced from Emmett Rixford's La Questa Vineyard in Woodside; La Questa's vines came from Château Margaux cuttings obtained by Rixford in the 1890s. Patterson expanded and replanted Cabernet through the mid-1980s. Domaine Eden, the 55-acre former Cinnabar property acquired in 2007, contributes additional estate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet at similar mountain elevations.

• Approximately 40 planted acres at 2,000 feet elevation; Franciscan shale and decomposed rock soils above marine fog layer
• Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines descend from Martin Ray's 1945 plantings (Paul Masson budwood); the Mount Eden Chardonnay clone is a recognized California heritage selection
• Cabernet Sauvignon planted 1980 using La Questa Vineyard lineage (Château Margaux cuttings via Emmett Rixford, 1890s); Patterson expansion 1984-1985
• Domaine Eden: 55-acre former Cinnabar property acquired 2007; contributes Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet at mountain elevation