FETZER VINEYARDS TIMELINE

1955

Barney & Kathleen Fetzer move to Ukiah from Oregon seeking a rural setting for raising their growing family.

The Fetzers purchase a 720-acre rundown ranch in nearby Redwood Valley. Barney and oldest sons John and Jim begin to revitalize property and 80-acre vineyard.Son John Fetzer begins to convert former sheep barn into a winery.

Fetzers produce first commercial vintage of Fetzer Vineyards wine: 2,500 cases of red table wine.

Sales have increased to around 50,000 cases per year, enabling Barney Fetzer to retire from the lumber industry and focus on the winery.

Paul Dolan is hired as winemaker. Dolan, with generations of family winemaking heritage, has recently completed studies at Fresno State.

Fetzer produces first collection of vineyard designated Zinfandels, from Ricetti, Sharfenberger, and Lolonis Vineyards.

Fetzers purchase 1,130 acre Sundial Ranch, located 25 miles south of Redwood Valley bordering Highway 101. Barney Fetzer dies unexpectedly, leaving wife Kathleen and eleven children to run winery. Fetzer family makes commitment to bring winery to new heights in Barney's name. Production is currently at 200,000 cases.

Fetzer Vineyards launches Sundial Chardonnay in the popular premium category.Fetzer introduces Bel Arbors label, entering the fighting varietal category

Fetzer Vineyards launches Barrel Select brand

Commitment to increase production and quality brings winery tremendous growth. Production is now 540,000 cases.Fetzer family purchases Valley Oaks Ranch, located one mile east of Hopland. Along with new vineyards, the former barns, houses and outbuildings are to become a food and wine center, for entertaining and educating the wine trade.

Fetzer family evaluates plans and resources at Valley Oaks property. Hayfields east of gardens at Valley Oaks are planted to Chardonnay.

Dennis Martin is hired to assist Paul Dolan as Assistant Winemaker.

21 acres of pear orchards at Valley Oaks are removed to create the Dooley Chardonnay vineyards.Organic gardening guru Michael Maltas is retained to design a five-acre organic garden, to include over 1000 varieties of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers, both edible and decorative. Work on the garden begins in summer 1986.Construction of the Food & Wine Pavilion, a state of the art culinary classroom overlooking Lake Fume, a man-made one-acre lake, also commences.

18 additional acres of Chardonnay are planted at Dooley vineyards. 29 acres of Chardonnay are planted at the Blue Heron vineyard, along the Russian River.Case sales break the one million mark.

Tasting room and visitor center opens on Highway 101 at Highway 175 in Hopland. Building is former Hopland High School. Facility includes tasting bar, reserve wine library, garden shop, gourmet food shop, museum, picnic area, and play area. Construction begins on Hopland winemaking facility.

Five acres designated to be Fetzer Experimental Vineyards. Experiments begin in clonal performance, canopy management, trellising, and organic pest control.

Fetzer Vineyards named "Winery of the Year" by Wine & Spirits Magazine. (Winery wins this designation for next nine out of twelve years.)

Fetzer officially launches Valley Oaks Food & Wine Center to worldwide media acclaim. Success and quality of organic gardens at Valley Oaks prompt Fetzer family to begin farming vineyards organically. Fetzer Bed & Breakfast, with four guest room and two deluxe suites, opens for business at Valley Oaks facility.

Fetzer Vineyards named "Winery of the Year" by Wine & Spirits Magazine.

Famed wine country chef John Ash named Culinary Director for Fetzer Vineyards Fetzer hosts "Celebration of American Regional Cuisine", featuring Julia Child and other prominent American chefs.

Fetzer Cooking School begins, featuring America's foremost chefs.

Fetzer Vineyards named "Winery of the Year" by Wine & Spirits Magazine.

Fetzer Vineyards launches Bonterra wines, produced from 100% organically grown grapes. Initial introduction includes Red Table wine and Chardonnay.

Paul Dolan named "Winemaker of the Year" by Dan Berger, Los Angeles Times.

Fetzer wins first of several WRAP awards for outstanding efforts in energy and resource conservation.

Fetzer holds "Celebration of the Organic Harvest" event with John Ash, Alice Waters, and other culinary luminaries as fund-raiser for the Organic Farming Research Foundation.

Fetzer Vineyards named "Winery of the Year" by Wine & Spirits Magazine.

Brown-Forman Corporation purchases Fetzer Vineyards. Case production is currently 2.2 million cases.

Transition from separate wineries in Redwood Valley and Hopland to one winemaking facility in Hopland begin. Full transition estimated to be completed by 1999.

Paul Dolan named President of Fetzer Vineyards; Dennis Martin named Winemaker.

Fetzer Vineyards named "Winery of the Year" by Wine & Spirits Magazine.

Groundbreaking for Mendocino Cooperage, making Fetzer Vineyards the only winery in America with on-site barrel making capabilities.

Fetzer revamps labels and packaging of entire line. Fetzer holds first "Great Salad Toss" recipe contest with entries from the entire country. CNN-TVcovered the event at Valley Oaks.

Fetzer Vineyards named "Winery of the Year" by Wine & Spirits Magazine.

Fetzer Vineyards named "Winery of the Year" by Wine & Spirits Magazine.

Groundbreaking for Hopland Administration, Production & Warehouse facilities. Fetzer evolves Bonterra organically grown wines into a separate brand.

Hopland Tasting Room is relocated to Valley Oaks Ranch property. Property is renamed Fetzer Tasting Room & Visitor Center.

Second tasting room opens in the coastal village of Mendocino.

"From the Earth to the Table: John Ash's Wine Country Cuisine" by John Ash with Sid Goldstein named Julia Child "Cookbook of the Year" and "Best American Cookbook" by the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP).

Fetzer named one of ten best waste reducing companies in the state by the California Department of Conservation.

First Mendocino Winegrowers Alliance Benefit Auction and Barbecue takes place at Fetzer Vineyards Valley Oaks Center.

Fetzer wins Golden Bear Award from the California State Fair Wine Competition. The award goes to the winery winning the most medals at the competition.

Fetzer introduces new Reserve Collection.

Fetzer Vineyards named "Winery of the Year" by Wine & Spirits Magazine.

Fetzer winemaking operations are completely transferred from Redwood Valley to Hopland. Seven year plan is completed.

Fetzer Vineyards named "Winery of the Year" by Wine & Spirits Magazine, for the ninth year (out of 13).