Woodside Vineyards’ founder, Bob Mullen, began producing wine from little more than one acre of grapes at the original Winery on Kings Mountain Road, in 1960. Three years later the winery became bonded, or licensed, to sell Bob’s creations. They grew to manage, harvest and produce wines from over 35 acres in Woodside and the surrounding areas.
Woodside’s premium Cabernet wines come from the legendary La Questa vines first planted by E.H. Rixford in 1884. Rixford cultivated his La Questa vines from vines that were hand-carried from France to produce wine in the tradition of the famed Château Margaux winery. In 1915, his wine won a Gold Medal at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. You can still purchase La Questa Cabernet Sauvignon today.
In 1854, Count Agostin Haraszthy brought grape rootings from his native Hungary and planted 30 acres near the Crystal Springs lakes – mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and other red varieties. Unfortunately he planted ten miles too far north and the wind and fog coming through the San Mateo swale in the Santa Cruz Mountains did not allow his grapes to fully ripen. In the early 1860s, he sold his lands and moved to Sonoma where he founded Buena Vista Winery, reportedly the oldest winery in Sonoma County.
A few years later, a number of farmers discovered a much more favorable climate just ten miles south in rural Woodside. The soil was amenable to grapes and olives and the climate was much warmer due the the 2,000 foot-high Kings Mountain blocking most of the fog and wind. By the early 1900s there were over 1,000 acres of grapes planted in the Woodside/Portola Valley area.
There was only one significant winery in Woodside. Most of the other vineyards were farmed in Woodside, but the grapes were delivered to one of the wineries in Redwood City and San Carlos. All of these wineries are now gone – most closed during Prohibition.
In 1884, Emmet Rixford planted about 37 acres of Cabernet type grapes on the hill above Cañada Road Lane and Woodside Road overlooking Redwood City. Its name, La Questa, was probably intended to mean “Crest of the Hill”. Mr. Rixford built a stone winery which still exists today as a charming residence. The wine won its first medal at the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in 1905 and a gold medal at the Panama Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco in 1915.
The establishment of Woodside Vineyards as a bonded winery in 1963 marked the start of a vineyard and winery revival in the Woodside/Portola Valley region. At that time, there were only two other wineries in the Santa Cruz Mountains – Bargetto Winery in Capitola and Ridge Vineyards located on Montebello Ridge above Cupertino. Today there are 80 wineries in the Santa Cruz Mountains American Viticulture Area. By 1960 total acreage of grapes in Woodside was probably less than ten acres.
In the summer of 2025, Bob Mullen approached Jerold O’Brien of Silver Mountain Vineyards to purchase Woodside Vineyards from him. Bob was finally ready to retire at 99. Bob and Jerold have a long history and a long friendship so this was an easy call for Jerold to make. Silver Mountain now owns the remaining inventory of Woodside wines – both in bottle and in barrel – and owns the Woodside label. From 2026 forward, wine will be made and bottled with the Woodside label at the Silver Mountain Vineyards winery, under the tutelage of Anthony Craig. Wine club members from Silver Mountain, Sonnet, and Woodside have access to and can enjoy complimentary tastings for two, along with wine club discounts, at both locations.
From elegant Pinot Noir and estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon to rare small-lot releases, Woodside Vineyards crafts wines that reflect the character of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Each vintage begins with sustainably farmed, hand-harvested grapes grown in Woodside’s distinctive microclimate, then is carefully guided from vine to bottle to preserve the unique expression of the vineyard. Among the collection is the highly sought-after La Questa Cabernet Sauvignon, produced only in select vintages from the remaining acre of the historic La Questa Vineyard first planted in 1884, alongside Estate Zinfandel, Kings Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, Port, sparkling wine, and other handcrafted releases.
Enjoy four seasonal releases each year featuring a selection of our handcrafted Woodside Vineyards wines. Select a membership with 2, 4, 6, or 12 bottles per quarter, available for pickup in San Carlos or shipped directly to you.
Get the latest updates from Silver Mountain Vineyards, including special offers, information about new product releases, and joining Jerold on his adventures to taste wine around the world.
