MOUNT EDEN VINEYARDS, in the Santa Cruz Mountains, south of San Francisco Bay, has and incredible history. And new stories in history are being made...
In the early 1900's Paul Masson (who grew up in Burgundy) shifted part of his successful California production to the region, and then 35 years later sold his Saratoga winery to a neighbor named Martin Ray, a newcomer to the business who predicted California wines would one day rival those of the old world. Hmmm, he certainly had a good prediction. All I can think of is, "we will sell no wine before it's time." But this is much better than just clever marketing.
By 1976 Martin Ray had become a winemaking legend and the famous 'Judgment of Paris' blind-taste-testing wine competition ended with the French judges declaring several California wines to be as good or better than their renowned French counterparts. TWO of the world-beaters were Santa Cruz Mountains wines! And the quality coming out of the region has only gotten better since.
If you had to pick just one winery to demonstrate the originality of California wine, Mount Eden Vineyards might be the winner. This iconic estate is recognized as California's first 'boutique' winery, focusing on small lots of three grape varieties normally found in far-flung locations: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Mount Eden Estate sits just 15 miles from the Pacific Ocean at the top of Table Mountain, 2,000 feet above the Silicon Valley town of Saratoga, at the end of a winding 2-mile dirt road. In 2007 the estate acquired an additional 55 acres nearby (the former Cinnabar Winery property), which they named Domaine Eden. Pre-Covid, over the past decade, we've had them out to Charlotte three times... Can you tell we love them?
There are few that have the history of Mount Eden... David Bruce certainly holds a torch, but unquestionably Kathryn Kennedy takes a seat at the table. Born in 1927, Kathryn moved from Santa Cruz to Santa Clara Valley at the age of 15. She earned a degree from Stanford University at the age of 19. Married, and with the first of her four children, Kathryn moved to her Saratoga property in 1949. Her inspiration to plant a vineyard came from experiencing a fine bottle of Martin Ray Cabernet from the 1950s as well as from observing the workmen tend an old Cabernet vineyard across the road from her home.
Kathryn established her vineyard during “The Wine Boom of the early 1970s”. New fashions and lifestyles were being introduced by the likes of Sunset Magazine and Julia Child. Bright colors, fresh California produce, outdoor dining and a taste for the finest foods in the European tradition were all the rage. This included a taste for the classic French Wines and the high art they represented. Kathryn was a pioneering female in the CA wine industry. Her brand was one of the first to bear a woman’s name. Her location was unusual too. Although Saratoga had a stellar wine history in the 1880s, by the 1970s it was far from Napa and off the map to all but the most astute. After 35 years, working alongside Kathryn Kennedy, her son Marty Mathis continues their commitment to growing and making world class sustainable wines.
Bradley Brown and Samantha Shakti-Brown founded Big Basin Vineyards in 1998 on a historic vineyard site in the Santa Cruz Mountains next to Big Basin Redwoods State Park. The couple renovated this property where French immigrants farmed grapes nearly 100 years ago and planted their first vineyard (Rattlesnake Rock) ten years ago. They built the winery in 2003 using local redwood lumbar harvested from the estate. It stands where the original house, circa 1890, burned down in the 1970s. Over 90% of the estate has been preserved in its natural state. Relative to Mount Eden or Kathryn Kennedy, Big Basin is part of the new guard in the Santa Cruz mountains. And Apriori Cellars, an even newer guard...
Apriori winery is a collaboration of Patrice Breton and Georges Sabongui, two friends since high school. Both are from Canada. And both had successful careers in the technology industry before dedicating themselves to crafting wine. They also co-founded and operate the Champlain Group, a private equity firm specializing in, none other than, the wine industry. Patrice directs all production operations of Apriori and also owns and operates Vice Versa Wines, a boutique winery based in St. Helena in the Napa Valley. The winemaker is Shawn Johnson, a rising star in the Napa Valley who is assisted by consulting winemaker Philippe Melka. Their small suite of wines include the Pinot Noir bottling we're showing from the Hicks Family Vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
It's an awesome lineup this week and it's all about four brilliant producers from the Santa Cruz Mountains!
Mount Eden Estate Chardonnay 2016 - $69
Kathryn Kennedy 'Small Lot' Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 - $52
Big Basin Vineyards "Rattlesnake Rock" Syrah 2015 - $55
Apriori Cellars "Hicks Family Vineyard" Pinot Noir 2015 - $42
4pack - $218
5% off THIS WEEK - $207.10
