28 years ago, we started the Kanzler Vineyards journey. To paraphrase John and Paul, it’s been quite “the long and winding road”. When Lynda and I purchased the land that would become Kanzler Vineyards in 1993 we didn’t have a goal of becoming a world class winery. We didn’t even have a goal of being grape growers. We were just looking for a place to build our dream. We fell in love with a lightly sloped, old apple orchard located in the cool and breezy hills west of the quaint little town of Sebastopol in Sonoma County, CA. In 1994 we completed our home and turned our attention to figuring out what to do with 20 acres of ancient apple trees long past their productive years. Long story short (see Spring 2022 newsletter) in 1996 we planted wine grapes.
I think of those early days as Kanzler Vineyards 1.0. It was a new venture for us, but this city boy from back East discovered he had a farming gene, and we learned how to be good farmers. We developed strong relationships with local wineries and earned a reputation for growing great fruit. Good wine starts with great fruit. We had the fruit, so the next logical step was seeing if we could make good wine. In 2004, we bottled the first 250 cases of Kanzler Vineyards Pinot Noir. The wine was an instant success garnering great reviews and selling out every year. But Kanzler 1.0 was more hobby than business. It was just Lynda, me and winemaker Greg Stach. We kept production low. Nobody took a salary. Customers faxed (yes, faxed!!!) in their orders. We delivered much of the wine ourselves. At the end of the year, if we had any money left in the bank, we divided it up and wrote ourselves a check. It was fun.
Avocation turned to vocation in 2014. After graduating from college in 2008, our son Alex started in the industry. Cellar work led to tasting room work and night classes at our local community college and Alex discovered he had a passion for the wine business and a talent for making wine. He honed his craft working in wineries in California, New Zealand, and Oregon. As fate would have it Greg wanted to move on, and Alex was ready, willing and able to step in. Alex became our winemaker and first salaried employee. We hired talented and skilled entrepreneur Danny Fay to be our GM. Alex’s wife Breauna gave up a lucrative job at Apple and brought her formidable sales and hospitality talents to the mix and Kanzler 2.0, the next generation, was born. Alex’s cousin Morgan Morris and her partner Zach Sitchler came on-board, and Alex, Bre, Morgan and Zach are now the “core 4” of Kanzler Vineyards, the new generation.
Under Alex, Bre and Danny’s leadership Kanzler grew. The wines were well regarded and highly sought after for their consistently high quality. Kanzler Vineyards developed an enviable reputation as one of the most desirable boutique producers of premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the Russian River Valley.
When I look back on the past 28 years, it’s really been an amazing journey. Most people dream of building and leaving a legacy. Lynda and I have been more than fortunate in that regard. The next generation have embraced what we started and made it more than we ever dreamed of with their hard work, passion, commitment and the exciting plans they have for the future.
This spring will mark a momentous new stage in the evolution of Kanzler Vineyards. Over the years we have had hundreds of customers request a tasting or ask for directions to our tasting room and it was disappointing to have to say, “we don’t have one … but someday.” With the completion and grand opening of Kanzler Vineyards’ tasting room this spring, we can finally welcome everyone to Kanzler Estate. The tasting room has long been a dream of ours. One of the true joys of the wine business is being able to meet people and share a glass of wine with them.
When we started this process formally, we had no idea it would take 7 years. But new construction in CA is an arduous process and our tasting room couldn’t be a downtown storefront, or a shop in a retail development. So much of who we are is the land where the grapes are grown, the house where we raised our children, the “place” or terroir as the French call it. We want to share not only our wine, but the experience of growing it. It all starts in the vineyard, so our tasting room had to be there, where you can see and touch the vines, feel the warm mid-day sun and watch the fog creep over the hills in the afternoon. It needed to convey the feel of Kanzler Vineyards.
We’re so excited by the result! Floor-to-ceiling glass doors open onto the deck which overlooks the vines only a few feet away with views of the hills to our north. We can configure the building into one big space for an event, or divide it for a smaller setting. We believe it will be an amazing space for a personal tasting experience or a larger gathering of our extended wine family.
Kanzler Vineyards, the new generation is taking off. Kanzler Vineyards, the older generation couldn’t be prouder. It really has been a long and winding road… a culmination of years of effort on both our parts. But in the end the new tasting room is for you, so we can share what we love with people who love what we do.
Stay tuned as we are planning a number of events to celebrate the opening. Hope to see you there!
STEPHEN KANZLER
Co-founder
