Winemaker
Heidi von der Mehden
- Discipline
- Winemaker
- Based in
- Sebastopol, California, United States
i. Biography
Heidi von der Mehden has been the winemaker at Merry Edwards Winery in Sebastopol since 2018, but her path to that post was built over years of disciplined work in the cellar, where precision and patience matter as much as instinct. Her route into winemaking began with Santa Clara University in 1997, then moved through Kenwood Vineyards, Mauritson Winery, and Arrowood Winery before she took charge of the wines in Sebastopol.
Coming Up
Heidi von der Mehden trained at Santa Clara University before beginning a career shaped by steady ascent and exacting craft. The early years of that ascent were rooted in the careful, often unseen work that forms a winemaker’s foundation: she served as laboratory technician at Kenwood Vineyards (2000–2004), then as enologist at Kenwood Vineyards (until 2004), where the pace of the cellar and the discipline of analysis would have sharpened her sense of how many small decisions ultimately shape a wine’s character. From there, she moved to Mauritson Winery as assistant winemaker (2004–2007), taking on a broader role in the rhythms of production and the daily demands of harvest and élevage. Her next chapter brought her to Arrowood Winery, first as associate winemaker (2007–2010) and then as winemaker (2010–2015), a progression that reflects not only advancement in title but a deepening command of the craft. Across these years, her career unfolded with the quiet consistency of someone building expertise one vintage at a time. In 2015, von der Mehden joined Merry Edwards Winery as associate winemaker (2015–2018), entering an estate with its own distinctive identity and standards. That period laid the groundwork for her current leadership, and today Heidi is winemaker of Merry Edwards Winery (since 2018), overseeing the wines with the accumulated perspective of a career spent learning each layer of the process.
Where They Are Now
Since 2018, von der Mehden has led winemaking at Merry Edwards Winery in Sebastopol. Her own description of the work is exacting: "the Merry Edwards style is unique and complex. It takes meticulous attention to detail, from the vineyard to the cellar, to achieve this." That emphasis on detail suggests a role that is as much about restraint and vigilance as it is about creativity. At Merry Edwards Winery, the work is framed not as a single intervention but as a continuum, beginning in the vineyard and continuing through the cellar, where each step must answer to the next. For von der Mehden, the mandate is clearly one of continuity as well as care. She also frames the job as stewardship: "We have an important legacy to uphold, and we expect more from ourselves because of it."
Signature
Heidi's signature wines include Sauvignon Blanc.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Heidi
What is Heidi von der Mehden's current role?
As of 2026, Heidi von der Mehden is Winemaker.
Where did Heidi von der Mehden train or study?
Heidi von der Mehden trained at Santa Clara University.
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