The Kunde Family

Louis Kunde emigrated from a small village just outside of Dresden, Germany, in 1904 and acquired the 650-acre Wildwood Ranch with its renowned iron-rich, ancient red volcanic soils from James Shaw. The vineyards on this land were initially planted in 1879 by Captain John Drummond, using imported cuttings from Chateaux Margaux and Lafite Rothschild. Following Louis’ death in 1922, his son, Arthur “Big Boy” Kunde, took over the winery and vineyards. Big Boy kept the winery operating during the challenging years of Prohibition but was ultimately forced to close the winery when his sons were drafted into service during World War II. During the 1960s and ‘70s, two of Big Boy’s sons, Bob and Fred, significantly expanded the operation, adding the esteemed 1,200-acre Kinneybrook Ranch in 1977. Today, the ranch is managed by fourth and fifth generation Kunde family members. With over 20 varieties, a 1,000-foot elevation change, seven unique microclimates, and two AVAs, the Wildwood and Kinneybrook Ranches are truly one of a kind, with the Kunde family proudly serving as stewards of the land.