California custom crush winery, founded as a 1934 grower cooperative and acquired by the Kautz family in 1997.
The producer
Bear Creek Winery began as a grower cooperative in 1934. The Kautz family acquired it in 1997, after John Kautz had established Ironstone Vineyards as his first winery in 1988. Kautz Family Farms operates approximately 7,000 acres of vineyards across Lodi and the Sierra Foothills. Bear Creek works as a custom crush facility for major beverage alcohol companies. The family has practiced sustainable viticulture for over 35 years, with vineyard certification since 2018 and Bear Creek certification in 2021.
Known for
California custom crush production
Notable facts
Bear Creek Winery was founded in 1934 as a grower cooperative.
The Kautz family acquired Bear Creek Winery in 1997.
Kautz Family Farms operates approximately 7,000 acres of vineyards across Lodi and the Sierra Foothills.
Bear Creek Winery was officially certified sustainable in 2021.
The story
From Immigration To Bear Creek
In 1926, Frederick and Marie Kautz immigrated from Germany to California. They began farming in 1940. Their son John moved from cherries to wine grapes in 1968, then established Ironstone Vineyards as his first winery in 1988. Bear Creek had been founded as a grower cooperative in 1934. The Kautz family acquired Bear Creek in 1997, after Ironstone was already in the family portfolio. Ironstone Vineyards and Bear Creek remain separate Kautz family properties.
From Immigration To Bear Creek
In 1926, Frederick and Marie Kautz immigrated from Germany to California. They began farming in 1940. Their son John moved from cherries to wine grapes in 1968, then established Ironstone Vineyards as his first winery in 1988. Bear Creek had been founded as a grower cooperative in 1934. The Kautz family acquired Bear Creek in 1997, after Ironstone was already in the family portfolio. Ironstone Vineyards and Bear Creek remain separate Kautz family properties.
From the atlas
Bear Creek Winery
Bear Creek Winery is a California wine facility with a grower cooperative origin and Kautz family ownership.
At A Glance
Field
Detail
Region
California
Origin
Grower cooperative
Ownership
Kautz family
Production role
Custom crush facility making and preparing wine for major beverage alcohol companies under their labels
Sustainability
Certified sustainable
The Producer
Growers founded Bear Creek as a cooperative in 1934. The Kautz family's route into wine passed through Frederick and Marie Kautz, who immigrated from Germany to California in 1926 and began farming in 1940. John Kautz moved from cherries to wine grapes in 1968. In 1988, he established Ironstone Vineyards as his first winery. The Kautz family acquired Bear Creek in 1997.
Bear Creek operates as a custom crush facility for major beverage alcohol companies. Custom crush work places the facility between grape supply and a company's finished label, with the wine made and prepared for that company's brand. Bear Creek is the sixth largest family owned US grape grower and winery operation.
The Kautz family has practiced sustainable viticulture for over 35 years, and its vineyards have carried California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance certification since 2018. Bear Creek received official sustainable certification in 2021. Sustainable viticulture manages vineyard resources and farming inputs over time. The designation marks vineyard management, while grape varieties and cellar methods are separate parts of the wine.
Place
The Kautz family's vineyards stretch across two California appellations, Lodi and the Sierra Foothills. The holdings cover approximately 7,000 acres across those areas, giving the family fruit from more than one named growing place.
Climate and ground influence ripeness, acidity, body and tannin before fermentation. Fruit from separate appellations can arrive at the cellar with those differences already present. The place names mark different starting points for the wine before custom production begins.
Wines
Bear Creek's custom crush role serves multiple beverage alcohol companies. The facility makes and prepares wine for another company's label or brand, so the range can carry different names and grape compositions.
Yoga Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Petite Sirah 2022 is a red blend named for its three grape varieties. Blackcurrant, blueberry and wild raspberry sit alongside chocolate, mint and vanilla. The wine has oak character, a full body, and a rich, long finish.
Final Word
Bear Creek joins the Kautz family's vineyard supply across Lodi and the Sierra Foothills to wine prepared under other companies' labels. Its present work spans vineyard sourcing and custom production.