Leon and Shirley Sobon lived in Los Altos, California where Leon worked as a research chemist and Shirley was a homemaker. Leon was a passionate organic gardener and in his spare time, enjoyed home winemaking with his friends. Needless to say, he had quite the talent for winemaking and after careful consideration, he and Shirley began looking into the well researched land in Amador County, Califronia.
1977
In the summer of 1977, Leon, Shirley, and their six children moved up to the old Steiner Ranch in Plymouth, CA to start persuing Leons passion for winemaking.
1978
After moving, the family planted their first vineyards. Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc were their first varietals planted at Shenandoah Vineyards.
When the Sobons moved into the Steiner Ranch, there was only the house and a garage. Leon and Shirley ran their first tastings out of the garage that they transformed into the tasting room.
The family started harvesting their first grapes shortly after and making wine together.
1982
After graduating, Paul Sobon traveled to Europe to study traditional winemaking techniques there. That following year he traveled to Australia where he worked with family friends at their winery. While in Australia, he learned a lot about Syrah which was a grape Leon was already growing. Paul brought home new methods for making Syrah that the winery still uses today.
Paul started working full time for Shenandoah Vineyards in 1983 after he returned home.
1983
Robert Sobon finished his bachelors degree in Computer Science at Chico State University in 1983. After that he decided to come back to the winery and work full time.
1987
The Fiddletown vineyard is one of our most favorable vinayrds planted around 1910. The Zinfadel from Fiddletown is perfectly balanced and needs little attention from the winemaker durring harvest because of its naturally perfect fruit. Athough this vinyard took 4 years of nagotiating to buy, it has been proven again and again to be well worth it. Our Sobon Estate Fiddletown Zinfandel is one of our more popular zins with its full-body, and signature brambly, mountain texture.
1989
With the price of grapes getting higher and higher, Leon & Shirley decided it would be better to buy more vineyards instead of trying to keep up with the price of grapes. So, as a wedding anniversary gift to each other, they bought the D'Agostini winery and named it Sobon Estate. Currently California Historical Landmark No. 762, Sobon Estate has hand hewn beams and walls made of some of the original oak casks. There are still some of the original vineyards planted in the late 1850's that are still in production today.
1990
Nathan Vineyard, Camille Vineyard, and Baxter Vineyard are all parts of the vineyard that had already been established for around 60 years before their namesakes were born. However, the Andrew Vineyard, Carson Vineyard, and Clarice Vineyard were all planted between 1990 and 1994. These vineyards are often picked through during harvest and separated in anticipation for our wine clubs like the 2021 Nathan's Zin and the 2021 Single Barrel Andrew's Zin.
2006
In 2006, the 2003 Sobon Estate Barbera won an international barbera competition in Italy. Paul Sobon flew out to receive the award. You can find the award from this event still hanging in the Shenandoah Vineyards tasting room.
2007
In 2007, Shenandoah Vineyards decided to take the next step in their pledge of sustainability and installed solar panels on the warehouse and crush pad.
2014
Continuing their commitment to sustainability, Shenandoah Vineyards was equipped with a free EV charging station powered by the solar panels. It has been very handy and is used by staff and customers regularly.
Looking Ahead
Our Future in Sustainable Winemaking
As we reflect on our journey through the years, we are filled with gratitude for the milestones that have shaped our family business. Each step has brought us closer to our mission of crafting sustainable, award-winning wines at affordable prices. With the next generation of our family born in recent years, we are excited to pass down our passion and commitment to quality. Together, we look forward to continuing this legacy, nurturing our vineyards, and creating exceptional wines that bring joy to families like ours for generations to come.
