California wineries still family owned since 1977?

[Jenise]

That's the topic for a tasting I'm going to in November, cabernet and chard only. The hosts shared this list of qualifying wineries:

A Rafanelli
Beaulieu
Cakebread
Chappallet
Clos du Val
Corley/Monticello
Cuvaison
Dehlinger
Diamond Creek
Dry Creek
Flora Springs
Grgich Hills
Groth
Heitz Cellars
Jordan
Joseph Phelps
Pedroncelli
Pellegrini
Preston
Silver Oak
Silverado
Spottswoode
Trefethen
Trentadue
V Sattui
Volker Eisele

I've already pointed out that Beaulieu is long gone, and that Caymus and Wente should be on the list (obviously, the hosts focussed on Napa and Sonoma but any California wine is in fact eligible). Any other glaring mistakes or omissions? Gallo?

[Robin Garr]

Beaulieu is long gone

That caught my eye immediately. Beaulieu went on the block to Heublein in the early '70s, I think, around the first time I ever went to this cool place named Napa, where you can drive around and get free wine. There must have been a dozen wineries up there! (I know there were more, but you could pretty much hit all the tasting rooms on the main drag in a day.)

[David M. Bueker]

A Barrett has been part of the ownership of Montelena since 1968. Their sale to Cos d'Estournel fell through.

I believe 1977 was Kalin's first vintage, though maybe you only want wineries that own vineyards

Field Stone (Alexander Valley) -- estate vineyards dating back to 1894, website says winery "founded 1977," not sure if they produced a '77 vintage though. Owned by the Statens.

Field Stone (Alexander Valley) -- estate vineyards dating back to 1894, website says winery "founded 1977," not sure if they produced a '77 vintage though. Owned by the Statens.

Fieldstone is a Jackson Family product line now, I think.

But that does remind me: Alexander Valley Vineyards remains under the same family ownership. I need to get up there soon...I have wine waiting for me.

And what about Bonny Doon?

[Jenise]

I believe 1977 was Kalin's first vintage, though maybe you only want wineries that own vineyards

That wasn't stipulated, so it should be on the list. Thanks!

Joseph Swan, since 1973. Rod Berglund is Joe's son-in-law.

Joseph Swan, since 1973. Rod Berglund is Joe's son-in-law.
And David Coffaro sold his first wines in '77.

[Jenise]

Joseph Swan, since 1973. Rod Berglund is Joe's son-in-law.
And David Coffaro sold his first wines in '77.

Why didn't I think of Swan? Yes, thank you. I'll add both.

[Jenise]

Marietta should probably be on the list too--if they make a cab or chardonnay that is. I've only seen zins but that's probably a narrow view.

Navarro might qualify. Maybe Neyers also.

Fieldstone is a Jackson Family product line now, I think.

Huh, that's weird. Upon Googling, I see a "developing" media story from late last year that says it was sold to Jackson Family. But their website still says they're owned by the Statens, and it has a 2017 copyright date on the page. Plus, it's not listed on the Jackson Family Wines website. So I don't know what to think. I trust your local knowledge implicitly, but for sentimental reasons I hope you're wrong.

Marietta should probably be on the list too--if they make a cab or chardonnay that is. I've only seen zins but that's probably a narrow view.

Marietta has a Cab called Arme. A real steal. No Chard, though. Scot Bilbao runs it now, but Dad has no qualms about offering up his opinions.
Tom

[Jenise]

Regusci and Pride have now been added to the above list.

[David M. Bueker]

Pride? Have they been around long enough?

What does the 1977 have to do with this?

Fieldstone is a Jackson Family product line now, I think.

Huh, that's weird. Upon Googling, I see a "developing" media story from late last year that says it was sold to Jackson Family. But their website still says they're owned by the Statens, and it has a 2017 copyright date on the page. Plus, it's not listed on the Jackson Family Wines website. So I don't know what to think. I trust your local knowledge implicitly, but for sentimental reasons I hope you're wrong.

I may be wrong, Patchen. I think I got them confused with Stonestreet, which is literally a mile or so away.

Still, the developing story is odd.

edit: The local paper (Press Democrat) does report the sale, as does the blog at the SF Chronicle.

http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/20 ... ne-winery/

I was wrong about Coffaro. Got my tongue twisted around my eye teeth. Coffaro started selling wine commercially in '97. He started selling informally, futures only, in '93.

Edmunds St John has been family-owned since 1985, but in 1977, it was up for grabs; guess we were a little too slow to pull the trigger.

[Jenise]

Slow poke! Actually, I'm rather disappointed in the topic--nothing to learn from this. Listing the names is interesting (especially since there are so few), but the wines will be no more spectacular or informed based merely on ownership. (Look what's happened to Caymus, for instance.) Inspired by the Bedrock story, I had suggested a tasting featuring old vineyards. Somehow, that turned into this.

[David M. Bueker]

I still want to know what 1977 has to do with it.

Elvis died, and I turned 30

[Jenise]

I still want to know what 1977 has to do with it.

I'm pretty sure just because it makes an even 40 years.

[Robin Garr]

For what it's worth, based on my own experience as a guy just about as old as Steve ... 1977 was also just about the point at which the Baby Boom suddenly started discovering good wine and made the market boom. Within the next few years Les Amis du Vin got under way, the Wine Spectator launched as a San Diego-based newspaper, some lawyer named Parker geared up a newsletter, and the food editor at my newspaper asked this kid reporter if he'd consider trying to learn enough about wine to write a column on it. When I saw "1977," I thought about that stuff before I noticed that it was 40 years.