A Legacy Cultivated Through Craft
Goldeneye Winery was founded in 1996, years before the Pinot Noir boom that has reshaped the landscape of California winemaking. But the genesis for Goldeneye goes back even further. In 1990, after fifteen years of making world-class Bordeaux-varietal wines, Dan and Margaret Duckhorn embraced their growing love of Pinot Noir. Their vision for Goldeneye was simple, though not easy. They wanted to found a winery that could make a terroir-inspired expression of California Pinot Noir of equal stature to the acclaimed Merlots they had pioneered at Duckhorn Vineyards in Napa Valley.
Crafting True Greatness
For Pinot Noir, the Duckhorns looked to the cool‑climate edges of California, where they found what they were seeking in the remote beauty of Anderson Valley.
FOR THE
LOVE OF PINOT
Crafting wines that embody true rustic beauty
In the story of great winegrowing appellations, there are always a few wineries that help to raise the bar and chart the course for a region. As a Pinot Noir specialist, and the winemaker for Goldeneye, Kristen McMahan is building on the valley’s reputation as one of the world’s preeminent locations for growing Pinot Noir. At the same time, her belief in a vineyard-inspired, small-lot approach to winemaking is cementing Goldeneye’s status as one of North America’s great Pinot Noir wineries.
MORE THAN
188 VINE ACRES,
Across 29+
Distinct Clones
With ideal clay soils and a marine-influenced climate offering long, mild days and cooling fog and winds, the Anderson Valley appellation had all the ingredients for producing world-class Pinot Noir. In 1996, Goldeneye was founded and the first estate vineyard was selected.