Kunde

Founded:

1904

Owners:

Kunde Family

Location:

Sonoma, CA

http://www.kunde.com/video.asp

1879: John Drummond plants first vines with imported cuttings of Cabernet Sauvignon from Chateau Margaux and Lafite Rothschild to create Drummond Vineyard
1879: James Shaw plants Wildwood Vineyard to Zinfandel
1904: Louis Kunde buys the 1,000-acre Wildwood Vineyards and crushes first Estate harvest
1915: Louis Kunde wins two gold medals for his Wildwood Vineyards’ red wines at the Panama Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco
1920: Prohibition begins. Winery continues to make wine under Reg. #30 by manufacturing, purchasing and selling “non-beverage wine” or sacramental wines
1922: Upon Louis’ death, the winery and vineyards are taken over by son, Arthur “Big Boy” Kunde
1933: Prohibition ends. Big Boy Kunde continues to make wine until the start of World of War II, when his sons leave the ranch to fight in World War II
1955: Big Boy Kunde turns ranch management over to sons Bob and Fred
1960’s: Bob and Fred Kunde begin expanding the vineyards, focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
1977: Bob and Fred Kunde buy the neighboring 850-acre Kinneybrook Ranch
1989: Kunde family announces plans to build the Kunde Family Estate Winery and aging caves
1990: First crush at the new Kunde Family Estate Winery
2004: The Kunde family celebrates their 100th harvest