John Pedroncelli, Jr. -
Winemaker
John Pedroncelli, Jr. is Dry Creek Valley's most experienced winemaker.
More than 40 vintages at Pedroncelli Winery have given him an unsurpassed
understanding of the region and its grapes, and an uncanny ability
to bring out the best of both in his wines.
John was two years old when the Pedroncelli family purchased the
winery and moved to Geyserville in 1927. Vineyard chores were simply
part of growing up. "There was always work a kid could do
to help out, like suckering vines," he recalls. When wine
production resumed after Prohibition, his chores expanded to include
cleaning redwood tanks and assisting his father in the cellar.
After two years of military service, he entered Santa Rosa Junior
College, where he studied chemistry and botany. He began assuming
winemaking responsibilities from his father in 1948, but returned
to college in the early 1950s to take enology courses at the University
of California at Davis.
After the retirement of John Pedroncelli, Sr. in 1963, he also
became manager of the firm's 135 acres of vineyards. During his
tenure, John has guided Pedroncelli through the tough transition
from bulk wine producer to premium winery. He created California's
first Zinfandel Rosé in 1958, began producing premium varietal
wines in 1965, and updated the winemaking facility with modern
equipment and small oak barrels in the 1960s and 1970s.
Today, he continues to innovate, creating vineyard-select wines
and replanting the estate vineyards on advanced trellises to grape
varieties carefully selected for each site. "I've always wanted
Pedroncelli wines to be among the best made in Dry Creek Valley," he
explains. That's why we continue to fine-tune our grape growing
and winemaking; using our experience to achieve a balance of ripe
fruit, oak complexity and approachable character that is both distinctive
and a pleasure to drink."
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