Multi-Generational Sonoma Wineries Still Family Owned and Run
With all due respect to amateur winemakers — and there are some legitimately good hobby wines in the world — commercial winemaking is not something people decide to do on a whim. It’s a lifelong pursuit marked by tons of hard work and incremental, sometimes painstaking improvement.
It’s not for the faint of heart.
This is probably why so many wineries are multi-generational. They’ve honed their craft over not just one but several lifetimes, and against all odds, they’ve managed to keep their business in the family.
Next time you’re in Sonoma wine country, be sure to stop in at these fine family-owned and -operated wineries. You won’t be disappointed.
Roche Winery
Drs. Joseph and Genevieve Roche moved their young family to the southern Sonoma Valley in the late 1970s, escaping the hustle and bustle of San Francisco. They didn’t plan on starting a winery, but as they say, life is what happens when you’re making other plans.
Fast forward to 1983 and the Roches found themselves among a select group: the founding vintners of the new Carneros AVA. Roche Winery opened its doors in 1986 with a production capacity of just 2,000 cases. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir were the stars of the show — actually, the only varietals we produced back then. We’ve since added Merlot, Cabernet, Syrah, Gewürztraminer, and more.
Today, we’re led by a second generation of Roches, and thanks to our recently opened Sonoma production facility, we sell nearly 20,000 cases per year directly to our loyal customers. We have a second tasting room open in downtown Sonoma. Our locations don’t require reservations and have spacious, all-weather outdoor areas for our guests to relax and enjoy.
We’d be honored to welcome you and your party for a tasting or a la carte glass next time you’re in the area. While you’re here, we invite you to visit these other multi-generational Sonoma wineries:
Cline Family Cellars: One of our favorite neighbors in the southern Sonoma Valley is Cline Family Cellars. Stop by their Cline Ranch property, a Carneros AVA institution that founders Fred and Nancy Cline purchased in 1989. Today, three of the Clines’ adult children — Megan, Henry, and Hilary — support winemaking and viticulture operations.
Kunde Family Winery: Founded by Louis Kunde in 1904 on vineyards first planted in 1879, Kunde Family Winery is a true Sonoma treasure and a reminder of the region’s long winemaking legacy. With a focus on sustainability and innovation, the fourth and fifth generations proudly carry on Louis’ legacy.
Robledo Family Winery: Our next-door neighbors have one of Sonoma’s most inspiring winemaking stories. After years working vineyards owned by others, founders Reynaldo Robledo, Sr. and María de La Luz Robledo saved enough to purchase their own property in 1984. Six members of the next Robledo generation carry on their legacy today.
Gundlach Bundschu Winery: Gundlach Bundschu is the oldest continually operating winery in Sonoma. Founder Jacob Gundlach planted the first vines in 1859 at what would become the intersection of the Carneros, Sonoma Valley, and Napa Valley AVAs, using French and German rootstock. His family’s sixth generation remains deeply involved in winery and viticulture operations today.
Larson Family Winery: Once a dairy farm, then the site of northern California’s largest rodeo, Larson Family Winery planted its first vines in 1978 and began commercial wine production about 10 years later. The second generation is quickly learning the ropes and stands ready to take over from the first.
Sangiacomo Family Wines: The Sangiacomo family has been farming Sonoma land since the late 1920s and planted its first grapes in the late 1960s, establishing itself as one of the forerunners of modern viticulture in the region. Today, the family’s third grape-growing generation manages 1,600 vineyard acres and supplies 60 regional wineries.
Ledson Winery & Vineyards: The Ledson family’s Sonoma farming (and grape-growing) legacy stretches back to the early 20th century. The latest chapter began in 1997, when Ledson Winery & Vineyards released its inaugural vintage (a 1994 Merlot, for those keeping track). The operation expanded dramatically in the following years, and Ledson now produces more than 70 individual wines sourced from thousands of northern California vineyard acres.