| 1927 |
John Pedroncelli Sr. purchases
90 acres of hillside land west of Geyerserville
of which 25 acres are planted mostly to Zinfandel. During
Prohibition, a former winery building is in use
as a barn. |
| 1927 - 1933 |
Pedroncelli harvests and sells grapes
to local home winemakers. One small, historic
block of 100-year-old Zinfandel still remains the Mother
Clone, providing budwood for replanted estate
Zinfandel into the 21st century. |
| 1933 |
Prohibition is repealed at the end
of the year. John Pedroncelli Sr. applies
for licensing in 1934 to begin wine production for
the upcoming harvest. The federal government
allows him to use the original Bonded Winery #113. |
| 1934-1947 |
The Pedroncelli family makes wine,
selling and delivering in barrels to grocery stores,
local families and ranchers. A gallon of
the red and white field blend sells for 45 cents
to consumers driving to the winery to fill up their
jugs.
A few more redwood storage tanks are added and a
small vineyard is acquired, now known as Pedroni-Bushnell
Vineyard owned and farmed by Jim and John's niece
and her husband. |
| 1948 |
John Pedroncelli Jr. becomes winemaker
in 1948. Beginning in 1949, he makes a Zinfandel
for release bottled under the Pedroncelli label. |
| 1954 |
On Jim Pedroncelli's recommendation,
the winery is among the first to use the Sonoma County
appellation on its label. |
| 1955 |
Pedroncelli's first major winery expansion
is built. An automatic bottling line is installed
and more storage tanks for growing production. (Before
this, bottling was done by hand.) John Sr operates
a tiny tasting room in a corner of the cellar, welcoming
friends and family to taste his wines. |
| 1956-1960 |
Jim Pedroncelli assumes marketing
and sales responsibilities in 1957. Wines produced
now include Pinot Noir, Zinfandel Rose and Riesling. |
| 1960 |
Thirty acres of adjacent vineyard
land is purchased from a grower and adds to the home
ranch. |
| 1963 |
Sons John and Jim Pedroncelli purchase
the winery and vineyards from their father and begin
their own legacy. |
| 1964 |
Pedroncelli begins to vintage date
its wines. The first Pedroncelli vintage dated
Cabernet Sauvignon is 1966. |
| 1966 |
A six-acre parcel of prunes on West
Dry Creek Road is purchased and planted to Cabernet
Sauvignon. These majestic vines were pulled
out due to age in 2003 and have been replanted to
Cabernet Sauvignon once again. |
| 1968 |
Pedroncelli purchases its first French
oak barrels and begins converting the wood tanks
to stainless steel. The winery focuses more
on varietal wines, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay,
Chenin Blanc, Gewurztraminer and Johannisberg Riesling. |
| 1970 |
Two parcels of prunes totaling 56
acres located about a mile from the winery on the
valley floor are purchased. This is now known
as the Pedroncelli East Side Vineyards, as vines
are planted along Dry Creek on the eastern side of
Dry Creek Valley. |
| 1971-1980 |
A renaissance begins in Dry Creek
Valley with many wineries being established and
prune orchards planted to grapes. During
this period, Pedroncelli establishes relationships
with growers Nivan Buchignani, Frank Johnson and
Morris Fay that will last into the 21st century.
Pedroncelli transitions out of jugs and half gallons
and focuses on production of 750 ml bottles of varietal
wines. The list of wines is expanded. The
marketing changes from local sales to statewide and
national distribution through wholesalers. |
| 1980-1982 |
Pedroncelli begins a 20-year project
of replanting most of its 47-acre hillside estate
Home Ranch Vineyards surrounding the winery that
are primarily planted to Zinfandel. A new fermentation
room is built in 1981 with temperature controlled
stainless steel tanks. |
| 1983 |
Dry Creek Valley becomes an American Viticultural
Appellation (AVA).
Pedroncelli adds Dry Creek Valley to its label. |
| 1987 |
A new barrel room and tasting room
are built. About 90 percent of the barrels
at Pedroncelli are American oak. French oak
barrels are used to age Pinot Noir and special lots. |
| 1988 |
Pedroncelli begins replanting the
52-acre East Side Vineyards to Cabernet Sauvignon,
Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and a small block of Cabernet
Franc, using Smart Dysen and Scott Henry split canopy
trellising systems and closer vine spacing (6'x9'). |
| 1990s |
Single and Special Vineyard Selection
wines are introduced. These wines represent Pedroncelli's finest achievement in eight decades
of winegrowing.
A third generation of Pedroncellis is firmly
established in all aspects of winery and vineyard
operations, carrying forward the family tradition
into the 21st century. |
| 2002 |
After more than 20 years of replanting,
the 47-acre hillside estate Home Ranch Vineyards
surrounding the winery is predominantly head-trained
Zinfandel, ranging in age from 95 to four years
old. Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Petite
Sirah, Syrah and four different Port varieties
are also planted in this vineyard. |
| 2004 |
Pedroncelli experienced their earliest
harvest ever with the first grapes picked on August
11 (Sauvignon Blanc). Harvest was over by the
end of September and the wines are showing wonderfully
even for such a hurried time. |
| 2006 |
Erin Blakeley, Lisa and Lance’s
daughter, joins the tasting room staff and becomes
the first of the fourth generation to work at the
winery. |
| 2007 |
The Pedroncelli family celebrates
80 years of winegrowing. |
