The German Jacob Gundlach (1818-1894) emigrated from his native Bavaria to San Francisco in 1850. In 1858 he bought land in Sonoma County (California) and founded the Rhinefarm winery with his partner Emil Dresel. This was in the neighbourhood of the Buena Vista Winery of the Californian winegrowing pioneer Agoston Haraszthy (1812-1869), with whom Gundlach was a friend. A year later, Gundlach brought back vine material from a trip to his homeland, including Riesling vines. The first wine was pressed from them in 1861. In that year, Charles Bundschu, a German from Mannheim, joined the company. His business acumen brought the winery great growth over the next 30 years, including the construction of a large winery in San Francisco. After the death of Jacob Gundlach in 1894, the company was renamed Gundlach-Bundschu. The great earthquake of 1906 destroyed the cellars and the office in San Francisco. However, work continued and the wines won many prizes. After the death of his father Charles, Walter Bundschu took over the management of the winery in 1910.
In 1919, Prohibition came into effect in the USA and the winery had to cease operations. Walter Bundschu planted pear trees on most of the land, from the rest he produced grape juice and mass wine. After the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, the winery was reactivated under the leadership of Towle Bundschu under the name "Vineburg Wine Company" and the pear trees were replaced by vines again. However, no wine was produced, but the grapes were sold to other wineries. In 1973, the winery was reorganised and re-established under the current name "Gundlach-Bundschu". Jeff (President and CEO) and Jim Bundschu are the fifth generation of the Bundschu family to run the company. The historic vineyards of "Rhinefarm Vineyards" are divided into three large areas: Home Ranch, Huichica and La Paz. With other vineyards, the total vineyard area covers about 150 hectares. They are planted with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Gamay, Gewürztraminer, Kleinberger (Elbling), Merlot, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Tempranillo and Zinfandel. The single-varietal premium wines (Premiere Estate Wines) are made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Around 50,000 cases, or 600,000 bottles of wine, are produced annually.
Photo: Gundlach-Bunschu
