Six Generations Of A Northern California Family Have Owned And Operated The Legendary Gundlach Bundschu Winery
It’s certainly no secret that some of the best wine in the country can be found in Northern California. We’re as well known for our vino as we are for our great weather, beautiful beaches, and impressive redwood trees. Though you are probably familiar with many of our wineries, what you may not know is the length of time that some of these places have been around. A few of our wineries are hundreds of years old. Gundlach Bundschu Winery in Sonoma is renowned for being the third-oldest winery in the state. Amazingly, it’s been owned by the same family since 1858!
The vineyard is 320 acres of lush Sonoma County greenery. Their specialty is sustainably-farmed, cool climate varieties of wine.
Their production volume has decreased over the last few decades as they focus more on quality than quantity. They now produce about 40,000 cases of wine per year.
Jacob Gundlach immigrated to the U.S. in 1850. His family had already been growing wine for several generations in Germany, and in 1858, he opened his own winery.
The winery grew in stature for many years, but suffered immensely during the major 1906 earthquake. Over a million gallons of wine were destroyed, along with the production facilities.
The company moved to the Sonoma County location after the earthquake, but Prohibition occurred shortly after. The winery switched to selling grapes and cows.
Stop by for a tour at any time of year. You can learn about the fascinating history of this historic winery in northern California, and take sips of their delicious products!
Lisa loves animals and has dogs, rats, cats, guinea pigs, and snakes. She is passionate about animal rescue, particularly fixing stray cats. She also likes reading, playing Pokemon Go, and going to concerts. Her dog Cece is the best dog in the whole world. You can reach Lisa at lsammons@onlyinyourstate.com
