EDEN RIFT
Eden Rift is American wine history, rediscovered...
When my friend Christian Pillsbury called to tell me he had purchased a vineyard in Hollister, California, needless to say I was intrigued. I'd met Christian through business when he was living in exotic, cosmopolitan, Hong Kong.. so to learn he was packing up and moving from Asia to the rural Cienega Valley was more than a little shocking. When I first arrived at his remote and rugged property, now known as Eden Rift, I understood instantly why someone would move halfway across the world to live there.. Eden Rift is more than a little bit like paradise found..
No matter who you are, if you are reading this, the land that is now Eden Rift Vineyards has been planted to grapevines for longer than you've been alive. A LOT longer.. Since 1849, to be exact, it has been a grape source for some of old California's most notable and visible wines. Mr. Pillsbury isn't just the owner, but the resident historian as well - he's amassed a collection of artifacts and documents outlining the property's rich history, which has helped to guide his choices for the future. After extensive research on soil and climate, he has focused the estate's production on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Christian is doing what many before him have done, but striving to do it far better than ever.
On my first trip to Eden Rift in the summer of 2017, the property was in the early stages of a vineyard redevelopment. Christian's goal with photography was a simple one - explore as much of the property as possible, and capture what makes it so special. He lent me a dusty turquoise Jeep Wrangler, which I drove to all corners of the huge estate in search of adventure and beautiful vistas. Neither were hard to find - Eden Rift is easily one of the most beautiful wine properties I have visited - remote, unspoiled and quintessentially California.
