So last week, we finished up here in Sonoma County - with an in-depth look at each of its 13 AVA's (American Viticultural Areas), or regions. Climates, soils, and varietals were covered. What I found most interesting was learning about the history of the most famous wineries and who started them - family dynasties and dynamics, etc. It's fun to now know something about the names I've been familiar with for years - Cline Cellars, Ferrari-Carano, Pedroncelli, Clos du Bois, Rodney Strong, Coppola and Beringer (which was Italian Swiss Colony back in the 50's-60's, remember them?!). I also never knew about Raymond Burr (old Ironside himself) Vineyards, which apparently produces great Cabs. Amazing how many vineyards and wineries have been handed down through generations, with enough wealth to go to multiple children and grandchildren, no matter how many there were! The Kendall-Jackson empire is one that comes to mind - I never knew members of the KJ family also own La Crema and Murphy-Goode. Benziger Family Wines was started by father Bruno, but when their Chardonnay label was sold for many millions, they were still able to keep their vineyards and sons Mike and Joe and one or two other siblings each got a piece of the pie which they used to start Glen Ellen Winery ("here's two million, go buy yourself a winery")....and there are many stories like this!
Then there are the "pioneers" who made their mark without family ties - one such person was Justin Meyer, who started Silver Oak Cellars. I've had the great pleasure of drinking Silver Oak Cabernet (very high end - obviously I didn't buy it myself!) but I had no idea who was behind the label. Apparently Justin Meyer (who died in 2002 at just 63) was a real "cult" figure on the Napa wine scene. He was a Spanish teacher and member of the Christian Brothers order, where he learned to make wine. Later he got his enology degree from UC Davis and founded Silver Oak Cellars with partner Ray Duncan, a Colorado oilman. He was President for many years of the American Vineyard Foundation, raising tax-deductible contributions for research in viticulture and enology, one of many contributions he made to the wine industry. Back in the 70's you had to get on a waiting list to buy his wine, now it's readily available, costing $80 for the Alexander Valley Cabernet and $100 a bottle for the Napa Silver Oak Cabernet.
Did you know that the author Jack London had a residence in Sonoma? In fact, his cottage, where he wrote his books, still stands in Jack London State Historic Park. Something he wrote in the late 1800's , talking about his ranch in Sonoma County, would easily be true today:
"I ride out over my beautiful ranch. Between my legs is a beautiful horse. The
air is wine. The grapes on a score of rolling hills are red with autumn flame.
Across Sonoma Mountain, wisps of sea fog are stealing. The afternoon sun
smolders in the drowsy sky. I have everything to make me glad I'm alive."
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