Spotted this article on the Wine Business website:
Concannon’s wines have not generally been very exciting but they’re certainly one of California’s more historic wineries. Some of their older Petite Sirahs age really well. I think there’s the potential for significantly better wine from Livermore Valley than most of what’s produced there these days - maybe new owners can take Concannon to the next level.
Back in the 80s, they made some of the best petite sirahs around. But the last time I tried one, 10 or 15 years ago, it was just insipid, industrial wine. I think the change can be traced to takeover by The Wine Group, the people who bring you Franzia.
Great Petite Sirah memories too.
fun visit when I still lived nearby, but uninspiring wines (which goes for most Livermore valley wines, unfortunately)
Anyone want to guess what the over/under will be? 240 Acres… hmm I will take a stab and start it off at around $110 Million but with the history could be more.
It’s a great area for Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon as well - would love to see someone turn this into a small production value winery ala ‘Husch’ in Mendocino -
Interesting idea, Thomas. As you probably know, those were the two grape varieties that put Livermore Valley wine on the map in the 1880s, after Charles Wetmore planted cuttings from Chateau d’Yquem at his Cresta Blanca Vineyard. In the nineteenth-century version of the “Judgement of Paris”, an 1884 Cresta Blanca wine made from Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon was awarded the “Grand Prix” at the Paris Exposition in 1889, the first ever awarded to an American winery.
Yes, I remember selling Cresta Blanca wines when the label was owned by a large liquor company back in the 60s (Schenley?). That story was always on the back of those ‘American Sauternes’ bottles -
Terry Leighton from Kalin Cellars really put Livermore Valley Semillon on the map over the last 30 or so years (still my favorite wine he makes). And Wente used to produce a ‘Dry Semillon’ that was really nice as well back in the 70s/early 80s. So much potential there -