2024 marks my 15th vintage as Winemaker for Kanzler Vineyards, and my, a lot has changed in these years.
KANZLER is truly a family business and oftentimes, the lines between personal and professional are blurred. We embrace this aspect of our venture, business and personal victories are intertwined, offering us the privilege of raising a celebratory glass regularly. It’s an all-encompassing lifestyle.
The “long and winding road” as mentioned by my Dad Stephen in the Spring led us to the completion of the Kanzler Estate Tasting Room, the very first time we’ve had a space to welcome guests outside of our family home.
The design of the new space is connected by a shared intention, for our extended Kanzler Family to feel at home in an environment focused on personalized hospitality and handcrafted Pinot Noir. Hosted by my wife, Breauna Kanzler, guests become family the moment the first sips of KANZLER are poured in our Tasting Lounge.
What could be more KANZLER than this? The proximity of the residence and the new Kanzler Estate Tasting Room to the estate vineyard creates a truly immersive wine country experience.
This foundation, created 8 years ago by my parents, grows stronger with each visitor who steps onto the Kanzler Estate and leaves as a new member of our family.
I feel as if all the hard work at Kanzler Vineyards is coming to fruition. Nothing happens fast in agriculture, especially in viticulture, and yet, we’ve accomplished so much in the 15 years in which I have worked as Winemaker.
I believe our wines are the best they’ve ever been (please excuse my bias). We are, and will continue to be, hyper-focused on Pinot Noir from our little corner of Russian River Valley, the neighborhoods of Sebastopol Hills and Green Valley. This focus, coupled with our extensive experience in winegrowing from our specific, consistent sites, gives us the tools to craft wines of distinction. It’s my dream to elevate Sebastopol Hills to a place of highest regard for crafting world-class Pinot Noir, and what better vessel to house these experiences than our new Tasting Room.
Looking ahead to the coming years and exciting milestones, I expect we’ll grow intentionally and wisely, while never losing track of our core values: quality over quantity, pride in work, fun, humility and commitment. We’ll also never lose track of our community, the customers, club members, and peers who have built this business with us over the decades. At the end of the day, wine is about community and bringing people together. It marks our memories.
It’s my dream to one day pass KANZLER to the next generation and the future community with many happy memories to be made between us all.
So, as I’ve been known to say,
If you keep drinking it, I’ll keep making it.
ALEX KANZLER
Winemaker
