Barbara and Jay Fritz were actually ahead of the game when they started Fritz Winery in 1979. They had been farming their 100-acre vineyard on the edge of Dry Creek Valley since 1971. From the beginning, majestic redwood trees offered ideal microclimates, and a fresh spring was utilized for simple irrigation.
Eight years later, when they decided to build a winery, the Fritzes dug deep—two stories underground into the side of a hill. Their ingenuity allowed them to employ a natural gravity-flow system for the juice and an ideal, cool temperature for aging their wines, decades before the green movement came into being.
Since then, the couple has never waivered in their commitment to quality and conservation. They have been joined by their son Clayton, who now manages the winery with the same passion and keen eye for sustainability and excellence. In 2007, winemaker Brad Longton, a native Australian, joined the winery to apply his gentle touch in handcrafting the wines. Longton's efforts have already earned praise and enthusiasm from wine critics all over the world. WineEnthusiast repeatedly awards Fritz wines with ratings above 90 points, and the 2009 Estate Reserve Zinfandel recently won Double Gold at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair. In short, Fritz Winery’s energy-efficient wines have a devoted following.
Fritz Winery's Tasting room guests gather at the tasting room bar or have a seat at a picnic table on the patio. They are invited to taste two different flights, or the Artisan Chocolate and Wine Pairing Flight, featuring Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon. For those who’d like to see the wine caves, a reservation for a weekend tour (including a rare barrel tasting) can be made.
At a time when going green is a goal for many, Fritz Winery is already enjoying the fruits of its eco-conscious efforts that began more than 30 years ago.