CA’s Oldest Family Run Winery, Gundlach Bundschu, files for bankruptcy

WINE TALK
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Article here: Gundlach Bundschu Winery files for bankruptcy, as industry trends hit California's oldest family-run winery

Fallout of the current market and ill timed transactions in the past continue..

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This article may be accessible without a paywall

Sending lots of love to friends in the extended Gun Bun family.

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Thanks, I usually just pop the article into reader mode to avoid the paywall. Should have included that to help.

Gun Bun has always been friendly, is a great stop for a bike ride on the backroads from Sonoma square, and has had some interesting bands and fun Christmas gatherings. Best wishes to the employees and everyone involved.

Edited: fewer words

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From the winery:

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Sorry to hear GunBun is closing down. It’s an iconic old-timey winery.
They used to have their National Marketing Guy by the name of Jim ?? (Help me out here) who had this beautiful baritone voice I used to love to talk to him just to hear his voice. I believe he sung in a choir or professionally.
Tom

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It was Jim MacCullough. Loved his voice.

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Per the presser / statement it is (hopefully) a reorg BK not a liquidation. So hopefully they are able to stay in business.

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Yep, the articles are very confusing - the IG post from the family better explains it.

I do hope they can get their creditors to agree to the reorg - sounds like they already tried and the line of credit they were offered was at a crazy high interest rate . . .

Cheers

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Really tough, sounds like they just got over extended with a combo of bad timing.

While I’ve certainly familiar with the name I don’t think I’ve ever had a sip of their wine. Who are their typical customers? Onsite sales to locals?

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They are a popular destination for people visiting Sonoma.

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Sorry to hear this news. GunBun has always been a family favorite. My aunt was a member throughout the ’90s, and whenever I visit, we still pull bottles from her stash. We opened a 1996 Reserve last year, and it was absolutely incredible, seriously, OMG level gd.

If they offer a library fire sale, I’ll be backing up the truck!

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Jim died in April 2018.
Interesting story on Jim at:

Tom

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I met Jim in the late 1970s when I was the cellar rat at Hacienda. He was a good guy and good fun.