Previous: The Mission and The Guv

Family and Vineyard Replanted

When the Weibel Family arrived in 1946 all that was left of the Leland Stanford Winery was a dilapidated brick building leaning against the hills that overlooked the gnarly grapevine stumps. After they purchased the winery, they rejuvenated the production area, replanted the vines and put Oscar Habluetzel in charge of winemaking (a job that lasted 37 years). All three families lived in the front section of the old winery until three homes were built on the property: first for Rudolph, then Oscar and his family, and finally Fred Emile and Hulda who had a new baby: Fred, Jr., the future President and CEO of Weibel Vineyards.

In the following decades Weibel Vineyards also produced sweet and fortified wines, which were very much popular in the 1940's and 1950's. Then, in the early 1960's as the American palate began to shift toward drier table wines, they began planting and making Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Also, in 1959 Weibel Vineyards introduced a zippy little white wine called Green Hungarian. The grape's origin is obscure, but there seems to be a connection to Hungarian-born Agoston Haraszthy - the godfather of California viticulture. Other wineries produced Green Hungarian, but Weibel Vineyards' version caught the fancy of new wine drinkers and, at its peak, they were making 80,000 cases a year of it. "It just clicked," said Fred, Jr., "Some people look down at wines that aren't totally dry. But there's always a need for something slightly sweet and with a zing. Hey, it's refreshing - and great with spicy food."

Along with fellow pioneers Paul Masson, Wente, and Almaden, Weibel Vineyards helped revitalize the American wine industry after years of prohibition, depression, and war. In retrospect, the State Fair blue ribbons that they were awarded in the 1950s' and 1960's were the early flags that signaled California's return to being one of the great wine regions of the world.

After fifty productive years in Mission San Jose Fred, Jr., relocated Weibel Vineyards along with family and longtime employees to another formidable wine-growing region in Woodbridge, California, just outside of Lodi. Here the family tradition continues with Oscar's son, Gary Habluetzel, Vice President in charge of operations. Fred's son, Justin, graduated from the University of California at Davis with a degree in fermentation science and pursues winemaking for other wineries in California.

Carboys of Wine

Next: Into the Present with Panache