how it all began...
The Story of Hafner Vineyard
one lucky horseshoe
Hafner Vineyard began during a game of horseshoes.
In the Summer of 1967, Dick Hafner had just lost a game of horseshoes when he turned to his partner, a farm broker, and said, "If you ever have a ranch for sale in the wine country..."
As it happened, he did. (This was when "Wine Country" was filled with farms, white pickups, untravelled dirt roads, cowboys and just a handful of vineyards.)
Two weeks later, Dick and Mary drove to Sonoma County's Alexander Valley to see a 96-acre ranch planted with prunes, pears and a small block of Zinfandel. It was the first (and only!) property they ever looked at.
On November 1, 1967, it became Hafner Vineyard.
That decision shaped the next four generations.
growing together
The early years were anything but glamorous. Dick and Mary farmed prunes and pears while planting Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay vines by hand. Family and friends spent weekends clearing rocks from the fields, protecting young vines from jackrabbits and learning as they went. Experienced neighbors like Robert Young Sr and a dedicated vineyard crew shared their knowledge, helping to transform the ranch into a premium wine vineyard.
In the beginning, most of those grapes were sold to wineries throughout Sonoma and Napa Counties, while a small portion made its way home to become family-made wine.
It's thanks to friends, family and neighbors who helped us begin this journey.
our family's vision
When eldest son Parke returned from studying viticulture and enology at UC Davis and working harvests in Napa Valley and Burgundy, France, he and his wife, Sarah, oversaw the building of our winery. The first vintage was produced in 1982, beginning a winemaking philosophy inspired by balance, patience and the traditions of the Old World.
Soon after, younger son Scott returned to help create our sales business by developing the direct relationship with the people who would enjoy our wines. Rather than chasing distribution, the Hafner family chose to remain small, selling directly to patrons with personal service and fair pricing.
More than forty years later, that philosophy remains unchanged.
the next generation(s)
Today, Hafner Vineyard is a third-generation family business. Parke continues to oversee winemaking, Scott leads the business. The third generation has become involved; Parke and Sarah's two daughters, Kate and Grace, have joined the winery, continuing the tradition. Even Kate and Martin's children who are the fourth generation help and are involved from time to time.
remaining the same
While some has changed since 1967, our purpose has not.
We still farm the same land, the very same footprint of the original orchard.
We still make wine exclusively from our vineyard.
We still believe great wine should be shared directly with the people who drink it, so we never work with distributors.
And we're still grateful for every Hafner patron who enjoys our wine, shares it with family and friends and passes the wine through their generations.