Mark Lyon
Owner
In 1980, Lyon bought a 122-acre vineyard founded in the 1970’s in the northern end of Alexander Valley near the town of Cloverdale with his father, Rusty Lyon. Under his management, 92 acres of the vineyard has been planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Chardonnay. Eco Terreno Vineyards has clients such as Sebastiani Vineyards, Château St. Jean, and Ferrari-Carano, some who make single-vineyard designated releases showcasing the quality of the vineyards. Today the Lyon and Cisne Vineyards at Eco Terreno are under the guidance of Daphne Amory, an expert in biodynamic viticulture. Eco Terreno Vineyards are in the process of converting to biodynamic farming, and are expecting certification by Demeter USA next year. When certified, Eco Terreno will be one of the largest biodynamic vineyards in Alexander Valley.
Lyon received a B.S. of Fermentation Science from the University of California at Davis in 1978. The very next year he was hired by Sebastiani Vineyards to assist with production. In 1985 he was put in charge of harvest at the winery and has been part of the winemaking team since, focusing on producing the finest wines for Sebastiani from vineyards throughout Sonoma County, including his own. He retired from the head winemaking position at Sebastiani this year to focus on Eco Terreno’s vineyards and wines.
Eco Terreno Wines was launched in 2013 to illustrate the quality of Eco Terreno Vineyards.