Congress Springs Returns

“Reaching the crest of the rutted, winding road that labored up the steep mountainside on this foggy, autumn morning we paused to catch our breath. As the fog began to clear the most amazing sight greeted our eyes: the visage of a square, white building looking as out of place in this sylvan, redwood-forested mountain setting as a Hollywood movie set. We looked at each other and read the same expression instantly: we had to go over there and find out what this was all about.”

Thus reads my diary for May 23, 1974. It was an auspicious day at that for from this time forward my wife Robin and I were impelled as by some invisible hand to involve our hearts, minds and souls in this place that we had unexpectedly found. It became Congress Springs Vineyards.

Our first vintage was two years later, in 1976. In the course of the intervening time between our felicitous day of discovery and the sound of the first grapes hitting the crusher we met our future partner, Vic Erickson; a San Jose industrialist and philanthropist, learned to plant, prune, manage and harvest a vineyard, found out what it is like to work through the bureaucratic tangle of county, state and federal permitting and licensing, read voraciously every book and article I could put my hands on about the subject of winemaking, worked in a winery to absorb the culture and made small lots of experimental wine from nearby mountain grapes planted at the turn of the twentieth century. We moved onto the property early in the year and looked forward eagerly to our first real vintage. We were young and bursting with energy.

Congress Springs gradually became a respected and sought-after brand, achieving limited national distribution as the ‘70’s gave way to the ‘80’s. Our knowledge of wine and grape growing grew and our zeal to make and market fine wines was unquenchable. Our Chardonnay of 1985 became the most awarded wine in the United States with five Gold Medals and numerous Silver and other awards to its credit. Our limited production of old vine Zinfandel grown on the property was hailed as one of the great Zinfandels of California during this period as well. We successfully revived an old Cabernet Franc vineyard and made a Pinot Blanc which, at its best, rivaled the finest Chardonnay. Our first Pinot Noir, a 1978, was a Wine Spectator “Spectator Selection” at the close of the decade.

Throughout most of these years, Congress Springs was distributed in the Golden State by Classic Wines of California. Robin, Vic and I formed a strong and lasting bond with Joe, Fred and John Franzia, owners of JFJ Bronco Winery and Classic Wines which, fortuitously, has brought us back together once again to revive this important and well remembered brand for the twenty-first century.

Our goals and standards today are the same ones that we lived by and for three decades ago. Our enthusiasm and commitment are undiminished by the passing of time. Indeed, the best is yet to come.

~ DANIEL GEHRS
Founder/Winemaker