The place for all things wine, focused on serious wine discussions.

California wineries still family owned since 1977?

Moderators: Jenise, Robin Garr, David M. Bueker

no avatar
User

Jenise

Rank

FLDG Dishwasher

Posts

42547

Joined

Tue Mar 21, 2006 2:45 pm

Location

The Pacific Northest Westest

California wineries still family owned since 1977?

by Jenise » Mon Sep 25, 2017 10:06 am

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? :)
My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov
no avatar
User

Robin Garr

Rank

Forum Janitor

Posts

21612

Joined

Fri Feb 17, 2006 1:44 pm

Location

Louisville, KY

Re: California wineries still family owned since 1977?

by Robin Garr » Mon Sep 25, 2017 10:09 am

Jenise wrote: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! :D (I know there were more, but you could pretty much hit all the tasting rooms on the main drag in a day.)
no avatar
User

David M. Bueker

Rank

Riesling Guru

Posts

34251

Joined

Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:52 am

Location

Connecticut

Re: California wineries still family owned since 1977?

by David M. Bueker » Mon Sep 25, 2017 10:22 am

A Barrett has been part of the ownership of Montelena since 1968. Their sale to Cos d'Estournel fell through.
Decisions are made by those who show up
no avatar
User

Dale Williams

Rank

Compassionate Connoisseur

Posts

11125

Joined

Tue Mar 21, 2006 4:32 pm

Location

Dobbs Ferry, NY (NYC metro)

Re: California wineries still family owned since 1977?

by Dale Williams » Mon Sep 25, 2017 10:31 am

I believe 1977 was Kalin's first vintage, though maybe you only want wineries that own vineyards
no avatar
User

Patchen Markell

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

947

Joined

Sat Jan 16, 2016 11:18 am

Location

Ithaca, New York

Re: California wineries still family owned since 1977?

by Patchen Markell » Mon Sep 25, 2017 10:38 am

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.
cheers, Patchen
no avatar
User

Brian K Miller

Rank

Passionate Arboisphile

Posts

9340

Joined

Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:05 am

Location

Northern California

Re: California wineries still family owned since 1977?

by Brian K Miller » Mon Sep 25, 2017 11:46 am

Patchen Markell wrote: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. :mrgreen:

And what about Bonny Doon?
...(Humans) are unique in our capacity to construct realities at utter odds with reality. Dogs dream and dolphins imagine, but only humans are deluded. –Jacob Bacharach
no avatar
User

Jenise

Rank

FLDG Dishwasher

Posts

42547

Joined

Tue Mar 21, 2006 2:45 pm

Location

The Pacific Northest Westest

Re: California wineries still family owned since 1977?

by Jenise » Mon Sep 25, 2017 12:46 pm

Dale Williams wrote: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!
My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov
no avatar
User

John Treder

Rank

Zinaholic

Posts

1925

Joined

Thu Jun 29, 2006 10:03 pm

Location

Santa Rosa, CA

Re: California wineries still family owned since 1977?

by John Treder » Mon Sep 25, 2017 1:08 pm

Joseph Swan, since 1973. Rod Berglund is Joe's son-in-law.
John in the wine county
no avatar
User

John Treder

Rank

Zinaholic

Posts

1925

Joined

Thu Jun 29, 2006 10:03 pm

Location

Santa Rosa, CA

Re: California wineries still family owned since 1977?

by John Treder » Mon Sep 25, 2017 1:09 pm

Joseph Swan, since 1973. Rod Berglund is Joe's son-in-law.
And David Coffaro sold his first wines in '77.
John in the wine county
no avatar
User

Jenise

Rank

FLDG Dishwasher

Posts

42547

Joined

Tue Mar 21, 2006 2:45 pm

Location

The Pacific Northest Westest

Re: California wineries still family owned since 1977?

by Jenise » Mon Sep 25, 2017 1:41 pm

John Treder wrote: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.
My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov
no avatar
User

Jenise

Rank

FLDG Dishwasher

Posts

42547

Joined

Tue Mar 21, 2006 2:45 pm

Location

The Pacific Northest Westest

Re: California wineries still family owned since 1977?

by Jenise » Mon Sep 25, 2017 1:46 pm

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.
My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov
no avatar
User

Jim Grow

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

1249

Joined

Sun Mar 26, 2006 11:31 am

Location

Rockbridge Ohio

Re: California wineries still family owned since 1977?

by Jim Grow » Mon Sep 25, 2017 2:08 pm

Navarro might qualify. Maybe Neyers also.
no avatar
User

Patchen Markell

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

947

Joined

Sat Jan 16, 2016 11:18 am

Location

Ithaca, New York

Re: California wineries still family owned since 1977?

by Patchen Markell » Mon Sep 25, 2017 6:12 pm

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. :-)
cheers, Patchen
no avatar
User

TomHill

Rank

Here From the Very Start

Posts

7853

Joined

Wed Mar 29, 2006 12:01 pm

Marietta...

by TomHill » Mon Sep 25, 2017 7:24 pm

Jenise wrote: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
no avatar
User

Jenise

Rank

FLDG Dishwasher

Posts

42547

Joined

Tue Mar 21, 2006 2:45 pm

Location

The Pacific Northest Westest

Re: California wineries still family owned since 1977?

by Jenise » Mon Sep 25, 2017 8:18 pm

Regusci and Pride have now been added to the above list.
My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov
no avatar
User

David M. Bueker

Rank

Riesling Guru

Posts

34251

Joined

Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:52 am

Location

Connecticut

Re: California wineries still family owned since 1977?

by David M. Bueker » Mon Sep 25, 2017 8:20 pm

Pride? Have they been around long enough?

What does the 1977 have to do with this?
Decisions are made by those who show up
no avatar
User

Brian K Miller

Rank

Passionate Arboisphile

Posts

9340

Joined

Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:05 am

Location

Northern California

Re: California wineries still family owned since 1977?

by Brian K Miller » Mon Sep 25, 2017 8:31 pm

Patchen Markell wrote:
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/

:(
...(Humans) are unique in our capacity to construct realities at utter odds with reality. Dogs dream and dolphins imagine, but only humans are deluded. –Jacob Bacharach
no avatar
User

John Treder

Rank

Zinaholic

Posts

1925

Joined

Thu Jun 29, 2006 10:03 pm

Location

Santa Rosa, CA

Re: California wineries still family owned since 1977?

by John Treder » Tue Sep 26, 2017 12:18 pm

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.
John in the wine county
no avatar
User

SteveEdmunds

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

985

Joined

Thu Mar 23, 2006 3:05 am

Location

Berkeley, CA

Re: California wineries still family owned since 1977?

by SteveEdmunds » Tue Sep 26, 2017 7:12 pm

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. :roll:
I don't know just how I'm supposed to play this scene, but I ain't afraid to learn...
no avatar
User

Jenise

Rank

FLDG Dishwasher

Posts

42547

Joined

Tue Mar 21, 2006 2:45 pm

Location

The Pacific Northest Westest

Re: California wineries still family owned since 1977?

by Jenise » Tue Sep 26, 2017 7:26 pm

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.
My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov
no avatar
User

David M. Bueker

Rank

Riesling Guru

Posts

34251

Joined

Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:52 am

Location

Connecticut

Re: California wineries still family owned since 1977?

by David M. Bueker » Tue Sep 26, 2017 7:36 pm

I still want to know what 1977 has to do with it.
Decisions are made by those who show up
no avatar
User

SteveEdmunds

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

985

Joined

Thu Mar 23, 2006 3:05 am

Location

Berkeley, CA

Re: California wineries still family owned since 1977?

by SteveEdmunds » Wed Sep 27, 2017 12:23 am

Elvis died, and I turned 30 :lol:
I don't know just how I'm supposed to play this scene, but I ain't afraid to learn...
no avatar
User

Jenise

Rank

FLDG Dishwasher

Posts

42547

Joined

Tue Mar 21, 2006 2:45 pm

Location

The Pacific Northest Westest

Re: California wineries still family owned since 1977?

by Jenise » Wed Sep 27, 2017 2:03 am

David M. Bueker wrote:I still want to know what 1977 has to do with it.


I'm pretty sure just because it makes an even 40 years.
My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov
no avatar
User

Robin Garr

Rank

Forum Janitor

Posts

21612

Joined

Fri Feb 17, 2006 1:44 pm

Location

Louisville, KY

Re: California wineries still family owned since 1977?

by Robin Garr » Wed Sep 27, 2017 7:53 am

For what it's worth, based on my own experience as a guy just about as old as Steve :oops: ... 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.
Next

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: AhrefsBot and 3 guests

Powered by phpBB ® | phpBB3 Style by KomiDesign