Schweiger Family Vineyard

Sustainability was an integral part of the Schweiger family’s farming philosophy long before “sustainability” was embraced by the masses. During our visit we got to see Fred Schweiger casually disperse cleanly picked shredded grapevines right back into the vineyards as mulch. Dandy’s was so excited - sustainability is her passion!

Tasting rooms are usually so elegant, so clean and classy looking. It’s fun to get dressed up, hire a driver, and play fancy wine taster for the day! It’s easy to forget that wine comes from farming. Farming is dirty, backbreaking, and sometimes heartbreaking labor.

Schweiger Family Vineyard has a unique way of showcasing both the elegance and the ruggedness that winemaking entails. From their beautiful new tasting room you can see the tractors pulling their weight across the vineyards-the wine in your glass went through an intense transformation from vine to wine, and it wasn’t easy.

Fred started clearing his land in 1979 during the recession. It was all forest and you couldn’t see more than 10 feet ahead of you. He convinced his wife Sally that planting grapes might be a good idea, and in 1984 they sold parts of their first harvest to Staggs Leap. Upon the realization that the grapes were that good, establishing a winery became the new goal.

After graduating from UC Davis, Freds son Andrew received a pat on the back and the suggestion that he go “screw up someone else’s wine” for a while before joining the family business. His hard work paid off, and Andrew’s been the family winemaker since 1999.

This is a true “family winery”, there’s even a couple of dogs running around the property! The wines we tasted were fantastic and went down all that much easier with views that seem right out of a postcard. Make an appointment and visit the Schweiger family if you can-you’ll make memories and maybe some new friends (feline or otherwise) that you’ll never forget. – Lea Gourley