Our History and Philosophy
The Goldeneye winery is dedicated to the production of world class Pinot Noir wines. It is located in
the heart of Anderson Valley along the migratory pathway of the common Goldeneye duck.
In 1990, after nearly fifteen years of making world-class Bordeaux style wines,
Dan and Margaret Duckhorn of Duckhorn Wine Company embraced their growing
passion for Pinot Noir. Their vision for Goldeneye was simple: to craft a distinctively California Pinot Noir of equal stature
to their acclaimed Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot.
Dan and Margaret approached this goal with the same care and attention to detail for which they had become respected in
the Napa Valley. Over the next six years, the Duckhorns experimented with fruit from the Russian River, Sonoma, Carneros and
Anderson Valley appellations. The Duckhorns were aware that Pinot Noir, an elusive and challenging grape, has the remarkable
ability to reflect its terroir, more than many varietals.
This awareness led them to narrow their exploration to Mendocino's Anderson Valley. With cool ocean fog, clay soil, and
long, mild days, the Anderson Valley appellation had all the ingredients for producing world-class Pinot Noir. In 1996, the
first 80-acre estate vineyard was selected, and the winery was officially christened after the Goldeneye duck whose migratory
path crosses the region.
In 1997, the Goldeneye vineyard harvested its first grapes, a modest seven tons of estate fruit, yielding 375 cases of
wine. After a decade of research, planning and experimentation, Goldeneye's inaugural vintage was released in March of 2000.
By focusing on the careful cultivation of its estate vineyards, Goldeneye has been able to grow, while still remaining
true to its philosophy of being a small, quality-driven winery. To maintain the integrity of each vineyard block and to
allow for flexibility in the final blend, Goldeneye harvests, barrel ages and vinifies each lot separately. In addition,
Goldeneye practices crop sensitivity with vertical shoot positioning and a dedication to low yields.
Under the guidance of winemaker Zach Rasmuson, vineyard practices have been
further refined to benefit the estate program. A Pinot Noir veteran, Zach brings his love of farming and his obsession
with the varietal to Goldeneye. A strong advocate of the Anderson Valley and its potential to produce some of the
finest Pinot Noirs in the world, Zach underscores his belief that quality is determined in the vineyard with a gentle,
minimalist approach to winemaking.
Zach has worked hard to define the evolving style of Goldeneye. With yields as low as two tons per acre, Goldeneye
cultivates extracted, elegant fruit. The goal is to fashion a wine that expresses the depth and character of the Anderson
Valley.
In winemaking, Zach focuses on achieving a balance between fruit, extraction and oak. Working closely with the
finest coopers to identify wood sources and blends that suit Goldeneye's style, Zach generally uses between 70 to 100
percent new oak from the world's finest coopers. Wood is sourced primarily from Allier, although Zach works with Vosges,
Nevers and Bertanges as well. The toasting program is primarily medium, with some toasted heads.
Founded on a commitment to quality, Goldeneye brings the tradition of viticultural excellence established by Duckhorn
Vineyards in the Napa Valley to the Pinot Noirs of the Anderson
Valley. With each new vintage, Goldeneye continues its evolution toward becoming one of the world's premier producers of
Pinot Noir.
In The Community
Goldeneye winery is committed to supporting organizations that foster a sense of understanding and increase the
overall awareness of educational, environmental and health related issues. The diverse population and landscape of
the Mendocino coast of California provides the winery with a remarkable amount of opportunity to make a difference
our local community.
We invite you to share in two of our most recent commitments In the Community. These include our recent Fish
Friendly Farming certification as well as newly LEED certified Gowan Creek Winery. Goldeneye winery is known to host
numerous benefits and fundraisers at the winery estate.