Goldeneye

In the early 1990’s, after 15 years of making world-class Bordeaux varietal wines, Dan and Margaret Duckhorn opted to embrace their love of Pinot Noir. Their vision for Goldeneye was simple, but not easy: produce terroir-expressing California Pinot of equal stature to the acclaimed Merlots they pioneered at Duckhorn Vineyards in Napa Valley. They weighed the options available in the Russian River Valley, Sonoma Valley, and Carneros, then jumped in feet-first. The result is Goldeneye.

Goldeneye is a standalone winery in the Anderson Valley, north of Napa Valley, on the cool-climate edge of modern California viticulture. The soil is clay-rich, and the marine-influenced climate is characterized by mild days, fog, and cooling winds. Pinot Noir is happiest on the margins, and here, the grape expresses intense varietal purity and an intimate sense of place. Today, Goldeneye features the appellation’s preeminent Pinot Noir programs, including four estate vineyards and more than 200 acres planted to vines.