Gundlach Bundschu Winery - Sonoma, CA - Wineries on Waymarking.com

The winery's 320-acre (1.3 km2) estate vineyard, named Rhinefarm by Bavarian-born Jacob Gundlach in 1858, is located within the Sonoma Valley AVA of Sonoma County, at the crossroads of the Sonoma Valley, Los Carneros AVA and Napa Valley AVA, along the Mayacamas Mountains.

By the time of the great earthquake of 1906 the company was a major international wine producer, distributing over 250,000 cases of mostly fortified wine per year.

The earthquake destroyed the winery's production facilities and the company regrouped and moved operations to its vineyards in Sonoma County. The company suffered another setback during Prohibition, when alcohol was made illegal in the United States. Unable to sell wine, the company sold grapes to other wineries for sacramental wine use and raised cattle instead under Towle Bundschu, the grandson of the founder. Walter, of the fourth generation of Bundschus, planted more grapes after the repeal of Prohibition, but the company did not begin producing wine again until the early 1970s.

Fifth-generation Jim Bundschu developed a plan to restore the family winery in 1969, with the first modern vintage in 1973. Unable to obtain premium prices for Sonoma County grapes at the time despite their high quality (and correspondingly lower yield), he decided that the only way to capitalize on the vineyards' value was to produce his own premium-level wine. Production was initially 70,000 bottles per year but dropped in the late 1990s, as the company focused on the quality of estate-grown Rhinefarm wines.

Winery Size: Large 10,000 to 99,999 Cases Attached vineyard?: yes Tasting Room Available?: yes Days and hours of operation: . Charge for tasting?: 20.00 (listed in local currency) Tours Available: yes Cost of Tour: 40.00 (listed in local currency) Phone #: 707.938.5277 Address: 2000 Denmark Street Sonoma, CA 95476 Winery, Wine Cooperative, or Tasting Center's Website: [Web Link] Types of wines: Cabernet Sauvignon Gewurtztraminer Pinot Noir Merlot Chardonnay Best Wine Tasted: Cabernet Sauvignon Rate the Best Wine Tasted: Price per Bottle: 50.00 (listed in local currency) Winery Club: Yes 2nd Best Wine Tasted: Not listed Rate the 2nd Best Wine Tasted: Not listed Price per Bottle #2: Not Listed Wine Club Description:: Not listed Overall Comments:: Not listed

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