Santa Cruz Mountains region loses two winemaking legends

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Local Wine Community Mourns Loss of Two Iconic Figures

The Santa Cruz Mountains wine region has lost two legends in Robert (Bob) Mullen and Dr. Thomas Fogarty, who passed away late last year at the ages of 99 and 91 respectively.

Robert Mullen, founder of Woodside Vineyards, left an indelible mark on the region's wine scene when he established the winery in 1963. With only two other wineries existing in the Santa Cruz Mountains at the time, Mullen's pioneering spirit paved the way for future generations of winemakers. His commitment to quality and innovation was evident in his decision to bottle wines in pint and quart bottles, a departure from the traditional jug sizes used by others.

Mullen's own wine journey began after he discovered Charles Krug Grey Riesling at a work dinner while working as a sales representative for Armstrong World Industries in San Francisco. His subsequent partnership with the Groetzinger family to make wine from the La Questa Vineyard, planted above Cañada Road in 1884, yielded world-class results.

The region was filled with over 1,000 acres of vines during Prohibition, but only one original vineyard - La Questa - survived. Mullen's vision and determination enabled him to build a winery that not only produced exceptional wines but also became an integral part of the community.

When Woodside Vineyards sold its first wine in 1968, it marked the beginning of a long history with Roberts Market in Woodside. The winery continues to thrive today under new ownership.

Meanwhile, Dr. Thomas Fogarty, renowned inventor and founder of Thomas Fogarty Winery, left an indelible mark on both the medical world and the Santa Cruz Mountains wine community. His contributions to medicine include inventing the balloon catheter embolectomy device, Hancock tissue heart valve, and AneuRx endovascular aortic stent graft.

Fogarty's story is one of boundless energy, intellect, and generosity. As stated by his eldest son Tommy Fogarty Jr., his father believed in pushing boundaries and never backing down from a challenge. His legacy continues to inspire those around him through the work at Thomas Fogarty Winery.

The loss of Mullen and Fogarty serves as a reminder of the impact individuals can have on their communities. Their stories, achievements, and legacies will be cherished by those who knew them and continue to shape the wine industry in Santa Cruz Mountains for years to come.
 
Just read about Bob Mullen and Doc Fogarty... what an amazing legacy they left behind 🍷💚 99 & 91 yrs old is crazy! Woodside Vineyards will keep making great wines, I'm sure. And Doc's inventions changed so many lives 💊. They might be gone but their impact on the community won't fade away 💕.
 
awww man these two legends are gone 🤕 99 yrs old is crazy for anyone let alone someone as amazing as Bob Mullen he was like a pioneer for wineries out here and created his own style of bottling sizes which I think sounds super cool 😎 plus he had an epic wine journey that started with him discovering Grey Riesling at work 🍷

and then there's Dr Fogarty who was basically a superhero 🦸‍♂️ inventing all these life changing devices like balloon catheters and stent grafts his story is so inspiring I love how his son Tommy said he never backed down from a challenge which is literally the most motivating thing ever 💪

anyway, it's crazy to think that we won't get to see or taste their amazing wines anymore but at least their legacy lives on through their wineries and the community they touched ❤️
 
These two legends leaving us is like, really sad 😔...I mean think about it, Bob Mullen was basically a pioneer for winemaking in that region and Dr. Thomas Fogarty's inventions saved so many lives! It's crazy to think they both left such an enormous mark on their respective fields. Their legacy will definitely keep inspiring new generations of winemakers and medical professionals 🙌. And it just goes to show how much impact one person can have on a community...it's really humbling 🙏. We should totally raise a glass (of wine, obvs) to honor their memory 💫
 
😔 just heard about Bob Mullen and Dr Tom Fogarty passing away... 🍷💔 they were legends in their own right, innovators in the wine world and pioneers in medicine. I mean, can you believe Dr Fogarty was a genius inventor too?! 🤯 his inventions changed lives and had such a lasting impact. And Bob Mullen's vision for Woodside Vineyards helped pave the way for others to follow. 💡 it's crazy to think they're no longer with us but their legacy will live on through their wines, families, and communities 🍷💕
 
I'm really gonna miss these two legends 🍷😢 I mean, who wouldn't want a piece of history like Robert Mullen's pioneering spirit? But at the same time, I think it's kinda weird that he bottled his wines in pint and quart bottles back in the day... I mean, what was he thinking? 🤔 Maybe he just wanted to shake things up. On the other hand, I'm totally stoked about Dr. Thomas Fogarty's inventions - the guy was a genius! But, like, what's up with him founding a winery and being all wine-y while also inventing life-saving medical devices? It's like, is he trying to be some kind of superhero? 🤷‍♂️
 
man what's up 🤷‍♂️ these two dudes left me shook 99 and 91 years young? that's like me still being a kid in middle school lol anyway, bob mullen was a real pioneer in the wine game bottling those pint and quart bottles was genius, but you know what they say "you can't put a price on legacy" 😂 and fogarty dude was like a superhero inventor creating all these medical miracles meanwhile his winery is still crushing it 🍷💥 two legends gone too soon but their impact will live on through the wine community 💕
 
man, it's crazy to think about how much talent we lost 🤯 two legends like Bob Mullen and Dr. Thomas Fogarty left an indelible mark on their respective fields... I mean, can you imagine the impact they could've made if they were still with us? 🙏 Woodside Vineyards was more than just a winery, it was a community hub. And now that it's under new ownership, I'm curious to see how things will evolve. As for Dr. Fogarty, I mean, have you heard of the balloon catheter embolectomy device? Mind-blowing stuff 🤯 his story is truly inspiring. But at the same time, it's sad that we won't be able to witness more of their innovative work and generosity. They might not have been perfect, but they definitely left a lasting legacy 💔
 
🍷😢 just reading about Bob Mullen's journey from selling pint bottles 🤯, it's crazy how he changed the game, and then I thought about Dr. Fogarty's medical breakthroughs 💡... what struck me is that they were both true pioneers in their respective fields - wine and medicine! It's amazing to see how one person can make a lasting impact on multiple areas of life 🤝
 
I gotta say, it's crazy how these two legends, Bob Mullen and Dr. Thomas Fogarty, left such a massive impact on their community... 🤯🍷 They're like the ultimate example of how one person can make a real difference! I mean, think about it, the wine industry in Santa Cruz Mountains was basically non-existent before they stepped into the scene. Mullen's innovation and commitment to quality paved the way for future generations, while Fogarty's contributions to medicine are still helping people today 🏥💊

It makes me wonder, though... why did we need these two pioneers? Was it just coincidence that they happened to be in the right place at the right time? Or was there something more systemic going on? Like, were there other factors at play that enabled their success? And what can we learn from their examples? Can we replicate this kind of impact and make a difference in our own communities? 🤔💡
 
🍷💔 so sad about these two legends leaving us... did u know that Robert Mullen's Woodside Vineyards is still producing wines today under new ownership? 🤯 they've been around since 1963! 📆 and on a more interesting note, have u heard of the La Questa Vineyard planted in 1884? 🌳 it's amazing how that vineyard survived Prohibition with over 1k acres of vines... mind blown! 😲 stats show that wine production in Santa Cruz Mountains has increased by 300% since Mullen's pioneering days 📈 60s-70s were the best time for wine industry growth 🎉
 
awww man, just heard about these 2 legends passin away 🤕... Robert Mullen & Dr Thomas Fogarty were total game changers in the wine scene! I mean, can you even imagine a world without Woodside Vineyards or Thomas Fogarty Winery? 🍷💥 The fact that Mullen was willin to take risks with pint & quart bottles back in the day is so cool! And Dr Fogarty's inventions are insane 🤯... his story is like somethin outta a movie! 💡 Anyway, we gotta give it up for these two amazing people who left such a lasting impact on the community 🙏. their legacies will definitely live on in the wine world 🍷💕
 
🍷😢 its really sad when legends like Bob Mullen & Dr Thomas Fogarty pass away 🕊️ their contributions to the wine scene & medical world are still remembered today ... Mullen's innovative spirit & commitment to quality helped pave the way for future winemakers in the Santa Cruz Mountains 🚀 and Fogarty's inventions revolutionized medicine 🧬 it's heartbreaking to think that these two icons won't be able to share their passion with us anymore 💔
 
🍷😢 just heard about Bob Mullen and Dr Fogarty passing away... what a loss for the wine community! 🤯 Their contributions to the region go way beyond just wine, it's like they left an entire legacy behind them. Mullen's pioneering spirit in the industry is still inspiring new winemakers today & Fogarty's medical inventions are changing lives too 🙌🏼💉. It's crazy how one person can make such a huge impact on their community & beyond 💥. Can't help but think of Tony Stark and his ' genius, billionaire, playboy philanthropist' vibes 💁‍♂️😎... Fogarty was the real-life superhero of the wine world 🕸️🍷!
 
It's really sad to hear about Bob Mullen and Dr Tom Fogarty passing away 🙏💔. They left such a huge impact on their community, especially the wine world here in Santa Cruz Mountains. It's amazing to think about how one person can make such a difference in people's lives, like Bob did with his winery and innovative ideas 💡. And Dr Tom Fogarty was a true innovator, not just in medicine but also in business 🤖. His legacy will live on through the Thomas Fogarty Winery and it's wonderful that his family is keeping his memory alive ❤️. It's also lovely to see how their stories are being shared with the community, so we can all learn from their experiences and be inspired by their achievements 💫.
 
Wow 😊 interesting how two people from different fields made an impact on a small region like the Santa Cruz Mountains. Mullen's pioneering spirit and commitment to quality changed the way wineries operate, while Fogarty's inventions transformed medicine 🧬💡. It's amazing how their legacies will continue to inspire others in both wine and medical communities 💕👨‍🔬.
 
OMG I'm literally sobbing over here 🤣!!! These two legends were like the OGs of the wine world! Bob Mullen's pioneering spirit is still giving me life 💥, and can we talk about his decision to bottle wines in pint bottles?! Genius move 👀. And Dr. Fogarty's inventions are on a whole other level 💫! Like, who needs a normal heart valve when you can have an AneuRx endovascular aortic stent graft?! Mind blown 🤯. The wine community is literally losing its cool with these two legends gone too soon 😔. RIP Bob and Dr. Fogarty 👑
 
I don’t usually comment but I feel really sad about these two legends passing away 😔. They were such huge inspirations to people in their communities and it’s crazy to think that they won’t be around anymore 🤯. Robert Mullen was a total pioneer in the wine industry and his commitment to quality is still inspiring winemakers today 💼. And Dr Fogarty, wow, what an inventor! He must have been so smart to come up with all those medical inventions 💡. It’s crazy how they both left such a lasting impact on their communities ❤️. I hope their families are doing okay and that people will keep celebrating their legacies for years to come 🙏. Woodside Vineyards is still going strong, but it’s not the same without Bob Mullen at the helm 😔.
 
man I'm so saddened to hear about the loss of these two legends 🤕 they left an incredible mark on the Santa Cruz Mountains wine scene and beyond 💫 Robert Mullen's pioneering spirit was literally the key to opening doors for future winemakers, and Dr. Thomas Fogarty's inventions changed lives in both medicine and beyond 🧬💡 it's crazy to think about how much impact these two individuals had on their community and the world 🌎 I'm loving the stories of Mullen's journey from discovering Charles Krug Grey Riesling at a work dinner to building Woodside Vineyards, and Fogarty's journey from inventing medical devices to making wine – talk about a full circle life 😮
 
It's crazy how two people can leave such a huge void in our lives, but also remind us that we're all making footprints on this earth 🌎💚. I mean, think about it, Bob Mullen was just trying to do what he loved and make great wine, but his passion ended up changing the game for so many others. And Dr. Fogarty's inventions changed lives in a whole different way 💡. It's not about how much time we have left, it's about the impact we can make while we're here 🕰️. We should all strive to leave our mark like Mullen and Fogarty did, whether it's through art, science, or just being there for the people around us ❤️.
 
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