The Schmidt Family

The Tzabaco story began in October of 1856 when Duvall Drake Phillips successfully and legally purchased 137¼ acres of the historic Piña’s Tzabaco Rancho. He and his wife planted a variety of field crops, including fruit trees and 45 acres of Zinfandel. In 1901, his son, Oscar Phillips, acquired additional local property and moved into a house on the land. This house still stands today and is home to Brian and Janice Schmit. Each subsequent generation of the family has focused on farming crops and nurturing the soil, building a life around wine grapes, fruit orchards, vegetable gardens, and livestock. Today, the ranch is sustainably farmed by the sixth generation, Tom and Audrey Schmidt, who hope to pass on their legacy to the seventh generation. The family now farms 70 acres of winegrapes, continuing a tradition of stewardship and sustainable agriculture that spans over a century.