History

Patz & Hall was founded in 1988 by four talented individuals: Donald Patz, James Hall, Anne Moses and Heather Patz.

Two people stand next to a large metal container as a machine pours black grapes into it. The man on the right rests his arm on the edge, while the woman stands to his left. Both are smiling and dressed casually. The backdrop includes a corrugated metal building and machinery.
Four people are standing indoors, holding champagne glasses and smiling at the camera. They are in a well-lit space with a decorative plate on the wall in the background. The individuals are casually dressed. Two are wearing red tops and two are wearing white tops with one person also in blue.
Founders James Hall, Anne Moses, Heather Patz, Donald Patz.

Seeds of a Great Partnership

The seeds for Patz & Hall were planted in the 1980s when assistant winemaker James Hall and national sales manager Donald Patz struck up a close friendship while working together at Flora Springs Winery and Vineyards. The two discovered a mutual enthusiasm for a rich and compelling style of wine made by applying traditional winemaking techniques to fruit from elite, small vineyards. Inspired to combine their winemaking and sales talents, James and Donald joined with partners Anne Moses and Heather Patz, to establish Patz & Hall.

An Integrated Approach

Together, they turned Patz & Hall into one of California’s most highly regarded wineries with a celebrated portfolio of single-vineyard wines. To achieve their goal of making exceptional limited-production wines from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the four founders each focused their specialized knowledge and expertise on different areas of the winery’s operations. This integrated approach, along with a commitment to developing close personal relationships with many of California’s finest growers—people like Larry Hyde, Lee Hudson and the Martinelli and Pisoni families—became the cornerstones of the winery’s success.

Two men are standing side by side in an outdoor vineyard with rolling hills in the background. The man on the left is wearing a beige polo shirt, blue jeans, and a cap, while the man on the right is wearing a denim jacket, white cowboy hat, and glasses. Both are smiling at the camera.
Founder Donald Patz and Stuart Bewley of Alder Springs Vineyard

James and I first visited France and Burgundy in 1986, and we were impressed by the talented and dedicated vignerons and winemakers who crafted rich and powerful Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. That made us look to cooler growing sites with distinct terroir in Napa Valley for Chardonnay and Sonoma Coast for Pinot Noir—to create a collection of Chardonnays and Pinot Noir that reflected the great wine regions of California.

Anne Moses, Founder