“With a heritage dating back to the California Gold Rush, Sobon Estate (Amador County) has now been recognized as the oldest continuously operating winery in the state. This historic estate dates back to 1856 when the Uhlinger family planted the first vines in Amador County to maintain ownership of the land and prevent gold prospectors from staking a claim.”

“The Sobon family first staked their claim to this historic site in 1989 when Shenandoah Vineyards founders, Leon and Shirley Sobon, acquired the D’Agostini Vineyards for each other as a 30^th anniversary present. After having reestablished Shenandoah Vineyards in 1977, the Sobon Family set their sights on reestablishing and renovating this once proud property. After nearly five arduous years of replanting and rehabilitating the over 200 acres of prime hillside vineyards, the family’s dream of producing small batch, estate grown Zinfandel was set to become a reality. Sobon Wine Company is now one of only a handful of independent regional wineries that is completely family owned, operated and managed, with a portfolio of fine, hand-crafted artisanal wines.”

“Sobon Estate wines (since the 2008 vintage) are all produced by 2^nd generation winemaker Paul Sobon. He has been making wines, as well as tending to the families estate vineyards alongside his father and family patriarch, Leon Sobon, for over three decades before fully assuming the reigns of production. UC Davis trained with apprenticeships in both South Australia and Bordeaux, Paul has an innate feeling for the land, vineyard and wines in this region unlike any others.”

“Natural winemaking is their goal, with special care given to every barrel and every bottle. Sobon Estate strives to produce the highest quality wine possible and to fully express the true flavors and aromas of each grape variety and the soil from which they are grown.”

A representative selection of Sobon Estate wines are available locally at Total Wine.

Winemaker and Winegrower Paul Sobon (2^nd generation) joins us to pull the cork on all that is Sobon Wine Company.