Then There Was a Mountaintop: Toms Search for a Vineyard

20 Years of Cinnabar: 1983-2003

Had Tom Mudd not been an identical twin, Cinnabar might be located in the Napa Valley rather than the Santa Cruz Mountains. His desire to not “follow the crowd,” coupled with the resolve of finding stellar vineyard property near his home in Woodside, led him on a yearlong quest that ended when he spotted an undeveloped ridgetop from a helicopter.

When Tom walked the grounds the very first time, he sensed the discovery of land known to few humans – perhaps a hermit escaping the realities of urban life or the local teens enjoying a spectacular view on a moonlit night.

Tom cites three reasons for searching the Santa Cruz Mountains. First, his inherent nature to be different drove him to look beyond Napa and Sonoma. “Twins don’t like to copy; they like to be unique,” says Tom. “Most new vintners were planting on the North Coast so I looked elsewhere.” Second, he liked living in Woodside and didn’t want to move. Lastly, he knew that the Santa Cruz Mountains could produce outstanding wines. “Two of my favorite wines – Mt. Eden Chardonnay and Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon – were grown there,” says Tom.

Tom obtained 30 pages of data on the weather patterns of the Santa Cruz Mountains from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Using Mt. Eden and Ridge as benchmarks, he compared and contrasted their climates with that of six sites under consideration. He was convinced that one parcel had strikingly similar conditions as both renowned vineyards, particularly Mt. Eden.

Tom did not stop there. He used a backhoe to dig six-foot-deep trenches, had soil samples analyzed and the site inspected by viticultural consultants and knowledgeable friends from the industry. All agreed that the land had great promise, the right elevation and excellent climate.

Lastly, Tom signed escrow contingent on finding an adequate water supply. A 300-foot well produced 35 gallons per minute with water chemistry suitable for agriculture. The 40-acre site was purchased in 1982 (15 acres were added in 1991), and a home was found for Cinnabar’s estate wines.

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