Inspired by Ancient Vines

Fred Cline is a winemaker who hails from a family of innovative thinkers. When he and his wife Nancy started Cline Family Cellars in 1982, they drew inspiration from Fred’s early experiences in the vineyards with his grandfather, Valeriano Jacuzzi.

“When I started making wine, it was a continuation of what I had learned from my grandfather about making wine for the family to use,” Fred said.

Valeriano had arrived in the U.S. from Italy in 1920, joining his six brothers to work on airplanes, water pumps and, later, the whirlpool bath that still carries the Jacuzzi family name. During the Great Depression, Valeriano purchased a 161-acre farm in California where he grew grapes and made wine for his family and friends.

Three generations later, Cline Family Cellars is known widely for its zinfandels, Rhône-style wines, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and pinot noir – with some vines that date back to the early 1900s. The winery that Fred and Nancy started as a young couple now produces more than 250,000 cases each year, with its wine sold across the U.S. and internationally.

“Once I got into this business it was quite exciting, and I learned that I was really into agriculture,” Fred said.

Family Roots

In 2007, Fred and his family launched Jacuzzi Family Vineyards, a Sonoma winery that pays tribute to Valeriano and his enthusiasm for winemaking. It’s been a “lifelong dream” for Fred that has created opportunities for the next generation to get involved.

Fred and Nancy have seven children – four of whom are working in the family business and pushing their wine brands in new directions. Dreamed up by sisters Megan and Hilary Cline, Gust is an offshoot wine label that is rooted in the Petaluma Gap, a prized Sonoma County appellation known for exceptional pinot noir, chardonnay and Syrah.

“Fred and I are constantly thinking about the future,” Nancy said. “It’s this perfect world that combines traditional business practices with this fantastic perspective from our children.”

Understanding Farming

What started as a dream has grown into multiple successful wine labels, popular tasting rooms and direct-to-consumer channels, all while raising a family.

When Cline Family Cellars needed financing for a vineyard development project, the family turned to American AgCredit.

Fred appreciates the benefits of working with a Farm Credit lender who has expertise in agriculture.

“Working with American AgCredit, they understand farming, they understand farmers, they recognize hard work, and they know seasons,” Fred said. “It’s night and day compared to any other lenders.”

Sustainable Wine

Cline Family Cellars continues to make wine with grapes that are grown sustainably and with an eye for preserving the land for future generations. The winery grazes sheep and goats in the vineyards to remove weeds, uses winery compost as fertilizer for the vines and collects corks from the winery to be reused as an alternative to foam and plastics.

With more than 34,000 square feet of solar panels, the operation is one of California’s largest wineries to be fully powered by renewable energy.

Nancy points to her children as the inspiration to grow wine sustainably and with fewer inputs. As time went on, she said the idea continued to make sense for their children, customers and the finished product.

“Fred and I raised our family on the winery property, and it was just so clear and obvious to us,” Nancy said. “We had all of our kids running around, and if our growing practices could be healthy for the plants as well as our lives and customers, then everyone wins.”

This article was originally published by American AgCredit.