The Right Place
The Origin Story of Wentworth Vineyards
by Mark Wentworth
Mark Wentworth at the wine press making Chardonnay
Wentworth Vineyard in Elk is a ruggedly steep and beautiful site. Just 3.5 miles from the Pacific Ocean, coastal winds sift through vine rows and towering redwoods that grow at the vineyard’s edge. Due to its 1200+ ft. elevation and proximity to the ocean, the location receives significant rainfall over the course of a year, and it’s often foggy even during the growing season. The fog, precipitation, and the extreme topography make it a challenging spot to farm.
Although Wentworth Vineyard seldom produces a bountiful crop, it more than makes up for that in quality. With attentive and patient farming, it yields grapes with great character and concentration. That quality was recognized by Wine Enthusiast’s Tonya Pitts when she awarded our 2023 Wentworth Vineyard Pinot Noir with exceptionally rare accolades—a perfect 100-point rating and Cellar Selection status—in the August/September issue of the magazine. I was incredibly excited to receive this news—the accolades represent a new high for small family-owned Pinot Noir producers in the Anderson Valley and Mendocino Ridge AVAs (American Viticultural Areas). The acclaim validates our passion for the demanding coastal terroir we farm out here among the redwoods.
Back in early 2014, I was searching for a piece of land. I had a dream of pursuing small-scale agriculture and crafting wines with a clear sense of place. My vision centered around responsible stewardship and intentional farming utilizing biodynamic, organic, and regenerative methods. I looked at many properties across Northern California before finally visiting the site above Elk that is now home to Wentworth Vineyard in the Mendocino Ridge AVA. When I first passed through the gate beneath the giant second-growth coast redwoods, I knew that my search was over. I’d found a wild and beautiful place to make my home, plant a vineyard, and raise grassfed cattle.
The first year was extraordinary. Within twelve months, Wentworth Vineyard became a reality. Along the way there were challenging moments and lessons learned, like when the highland cattle knocked over a fence and proceeded to run amok across the ridge, or when I rolled my brand-new tractor (thankfully with a roll bar and the seat belt secured).
Despite these foibles, there were signs that I was on the right path. I enjoyed helping neighbor Jason Drew in his vineyard and cellar, tasting grapes and young wines. I met and fell in love with Katie, a chef at the Boonville Hotel, who later loved me back enough to become my wife. I fixed a lot of fences, volunteered for the Elk Fire Department, and worked harvests. Eventually, I even got better at driving my tractor.
Today our business has grown to include three distinct coastal sites. Since 2017 and 2023 respectively, we have stewarded Nash Mill and Abel Vineyards in the nearby Anderson Valley AVA, in addition to our high-elevation flagship, Wentworth Vineyard. We grow a wide variety of Pinot Noir genetics at each of our three vineyards, along with diverse plantings of Chardonnay at two sites and smaller plantings of Aligoté, Blaufränkisch, and Grüner Veltliner.
Over the last several years, we have refined our approach in the vineyards and at the winery. We are uncompromising as we sort grapes both in the field and at the sorting table to ensure that only the very best goes into our fermenters. Thankfully, we’ve been rewarded for those efforts with excellent coverage from wine-centered publications including Decanter, Jeb Dunnuck, James Suckling, Wine Enthusiast, and Wine Spectator. As a small producer, each great review has been meaningful, helping to boost awareness of our winery and increase visits to our Anderson Valley tasting room and sales. In turn, this growth has helped us support conservation efforts beyond our vineyards. From the very start, we have donated a portion of our sales to support parks and wildlife through the 1% for the Planet program.
I’m deeply grateful to have found the right site to plant vines and my own roots, as well. Our success is thanks to the phenomenal people whose talents and commitment stimulate and reinforce my own. At the top of that list is my wife Katie. Close behind are my friends and colleagues Travis Foote, Emma Kudritzki Hall, Adrian Reyes, and Moreo Rivera. Each of their efforts, input, and counsel have been indispensable. The hard-working vineyard crew and winery team are invaluable as well.
We just completed our 2025 harvest and I’m excited about the new vintage in barrels and fermenters, and also for the next growing season. The great thing about my work is the seasonal rhythm it follows, each phase requiring distinct responsibilities ranging from farming, making and aging wines, to bottling, sales, and marketing. The work is varied and demanding, but it is also deeply fulfilling. I love my work, and I look forward to vintages of the years ahead as this journey continues.
Wentworth Vineyards Tasting Room at the Madrones
9000 Hwy 128, Philo
(707) 813-1339 | wentworthvineyard.com
Open Mon – Fri, 11am – 5pm
Mark X. Wentworth is the Founder and Winemaker of Wentworth Vineyards. With his wife, Katie he owns Abel and Nash Mill Vineyards in the Anderson Valley and Wentworth Vineyard, which he planted in the Mendocino Ridge AVA.
Photos courtesy of Wentworth Vineyards
