Paul Masson Mountain Winery
historic place
The Paul Masson Mountain Winery, in Saratoga, Santa Clara County, California, is a historic place. Paul Masson, a California wine industry pioneer, arrived from Burgundy, France, in 1878. He became known as the "Champagne King of California" after his sparkling wine won the Paris Award at the 1900 Paris Exposition. Masson established his Mountain Winery in Saratoga by 1905. After the 1906 Great Earthquake destroyed the original structure, Masson rebuilt it, notably incorporating a 12th-century Spanish Romanesque portal. During Prohibition, Masson continued wine production under a special government license. Winemaking ceased in 1952, and the site began hosting a concert series in 1958. The Paul Masson Mountain Winery was designated a California Historical Landmark in 1960 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This site illustrates the enduring legacy of winemaking in California.