The Kunde Family

For over a century, five generations of the Kunde Family have farmed the 1,850-acre estate in the Sonoma Valley—a truly remarkable legacy in the modern age of California winemaking. A fervent, forward-thinking vision of land stewardship and sustainability began over 100 years ago and has been shaped with each successive generation.

Our founder, Louis Kunde, who emigrated from Germany, acquired the Wildwood Vineyards ranch with its acclaimed iron-rich, ancient red volcanic soils in 1904. The vineyards on this land were first planted in 1879 by pioneer John Drummond with imported cuttings from Chateaux Margaux and Lafite Rothschild. Upon Louis' death in 1922, the winery and vineyards were taken over by his son, Arthur "Big Boy" Kunde. Big Boy kept the winery open during the difficult times of Prohibition, but was forced to finally close the winery doors when his sons were drafted into service in World War II. Throughout the 1960’s and 70's, two of Big Boy’s sons, Bob and Fred, greatly expanded the Kunde Estate, adding the esteemed Kinneybrook Ranch in 1976, which is where the winery now stands.

Today, under the stewardship of Adair Family Wines, 4th and 5th generation Kunde family members continue to farm and operate the estate, upholding a legacy of sustainable practices, innovative winemaking, and a commitment to preserving the land for future generations.