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Robert Mullen, the pioneer of Peninsula winemaker who bottled his first wines from his Woodside garage seven decades ago, has died, according to an email from the Woodside Vineyards he founded. Mullen was 99.
“We are writing with deep sadness to share that our founder, Robert Mullen, has passed away,” the winery’s email, sent on Nov. 26, said. “We are forever grateful for his vision and dedication, and we raise a glass to Bob and the legacy he left behind.”
The email doesn’t specify cause of death. The winery indicated it would share information on services at a later date.
Mullen’s first wines were made in the 1950s, from grapes he picked from a property on Kings Mountain Road. The owner of the property wasn’t interested in the harvest and suggested Mullen could take all he wanted.
Later, Mullen partnered with the Groetzinger family who made wine at the century-old La Questa Vineyards. In 1970, when the Groetzingers moved to Europe, Mullen bought their share of the business, starting what is now Woodside Vineyards.
Earlier this year, Mullen announced he was turning over his business to Silver Mountain Vineyards, another Santa Cruz Mountains label with a long history.
Mullen was also active in civic affairs in Woodside. He was an early member of the Woodside Village Church committee that built a new sanctuary, and he was a founding member of the Woodside History Committee.
Almanac staff writer Jennifer Yoshikoshi contributed to this story.
