Mountain Winery facts for kids
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Paul Masson Mountain Winery
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| Location | 14831 Pierce Road, Saratoga, California |
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| Built | 1901 |
| NRHP reference No. | 83001239 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 9, 1983 |
The Mountain Winery, once known as the Paul Masson Mountain Winery, is a famous winery in Saratoga, California. It was started by Paul Masson, who was a very important person in the history of California wine. The winery became well-known for a slogan used in old TV commercials: "We will sell no wine before its time."
This historic place is recognized as a California Historical Landmark and is also on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it is an important part of American history.
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The Story of the Winery
Paul Masson was a French immigrant who learned about growing grapes and making wine from his teacher, Charles Lefranc. After Lefranc passed away in 1887, Masson took over the business. In 1892, he introduced his first sparkling wine, which is a bubbly type of wine. He became so good at it that people called him the "Champagne King of California."
A New Home in Saratoga
In 1901, Paul Masson bought the land in Saratoga where the Mountain Winery stands today. He decided to make his special sparkling wines here.
In 1905, Masson built a beautiful house on a hill above the winery. He called it "The Chateau," which is French for castle. He was known for hosting amazing parties and dinners for his friends. During a time in American history when making and selling wine was difficult, Masson found a way to keep his business going by selling grapes and making special wines for religious ceremonies.
Rebuilding After an Earthquake
A huge earthquake hit the San Francisco area in 1906. The winery was damaged, but Masson decided to rebuild it. He used strong sandstone blocks from another building that had also been destroyed. He even added a stone doorway from an old church in San Jose that had fallen in the earthquake. This special entrance is still part of the winery today.
A Place for Music and Events
In 1952, the winery stopped making wine for a while. Six years later, in 1958, it began a new life as a concert venue. Over the years, many famous musicians have performed on its stage, including Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Ringo Starr, Stevie Wonder, and The Beach Boys.
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, the winery also hosted a popular chess tournament every year.
The Winery Today
Around the year 2000, the owners decided to bring winemaking back to the Mountain Winery. They hired a winemaker named Jeffrey Patterson to lead the project. By 2004, new grapevines were planted, and the tradition of making wine at this historic site was reborn.
Today, the Mountain Winery continues to be a popular spot for summer concerts. Since 2012, the concert series has been managed by the company AEG Live, bringing music and entertainment to the beautiful mountainside setting.
