About Patz & Hall Wine Co.
Patz and Hall began as a side hustle between friends. James Hall, an assistant winemaker at Napa's Flora Springs, and Donald Patz, its national sales manager, dreamed of making wine their own way; with partners Anne Moses and Heather Patz they scraped together $20,000, convinced a grower to hand over Chardonnay grapes on credit, and released their first wine from the 1988 vintage. It sold out before the next harvest. Staking everything on single-vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from elite family growers, Larry Hyde, the Duttons, Lee Hudson, Charlie Chenoweth, Gary Pisoni, the four built one of California's most consistently acclaimed wineries, with bottlings that reliably earn 90-plus scores from sites like Hyde Vineyard and Gap's Crown.
Washington's Ste. Michelle Wine Estates bought the winery in 2016 in its first Sonoma acquisition, with Hall staying on as winemaker. Then came the twist: after private equity firm Sycamore Partners acquired Ste. Michelle and began shedding its California brands, Hall and a small group of investors bought Patz and Hall back in 2024, with the co-founder becoming the largest shareholder of the winery he had started 36 years earlier. Production runs about 40,000 cases across roughly two dozen Chardonnay and Pinot Noir bottlings plus a trio of sparkling wines, now guided by senior winemaker James McCeney in consultation with Hall. Seated, by-appointment tastings at the ranch-style Sonoma House on Eighth Street East look out to vineyards along the Mayacamas.
The 1988 side hustle that became California's single-vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot benchmark, sold to Ste. Michelle in 2016 and bought back by its founder in 2024.
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A $20,000 side hustle,the four founders launched with borrowed grapes and 300 cases of 1988 Chardonnay that sold out before the next vintage.
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Grower royalty,decades-long handshake relationships with Hyde, Dutton, Hudson, Chenoweth and Pisoni anchor the single-vineyard portfolio.
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The founder bought it back,James Hall repurchased the winery from Ste. Michelle's owners in 2024, becoming its largest shareholder again.
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A Master of Wine in waiting,senior winemaker James McCeney has passed the MW tasting exam and now leads winemaking alongside Hall.
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The Sonoma House,seated tastings at the ranch-style hospitality house pour single-vineyard flights against Mayacamas views.
"The 1988 side hustle that became California's single-vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot benchmark, sold to Ste. Michelle in 2016 and bought back by its founder in 2024."
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Current Releases
Wines change with each vintage
For an accurate list of current-release wines and library bottlings from Patz & Hall Wine Co. please check the winery's official website or contact the tasting room directly. Sonoma Coast producers typically rotate vintages and offerings seasonally.
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Patz & Hall Single Vineyard Appointment
Taste the wines at Patz & Hall Wine Co. in the Sonoma Coast. By appointment only, reservations required.
From $60
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