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An agreement in principle covering purchase of the Parducci Wine Cellars, planted vineyards surrounding the winery and various Parducci brands has been signed between current owner Carl Thoma and the MWG, with closing expected later in May.
Purchase terms were not disclosed.
Paul Dolan will serve as President of the Mendocino Wine Group, and brothers Tom and Tim Thornhill, owners of La Ribera Vineyards in Mendocino, are also partners, along with their parents, Tommy and Ann Thornhill. Tim Thornhill will serve as Chief Operating Officer.
Dolan and the Thornhills, who have neighboring ranches on Old River Road, said they plan no major changes at the winery, founded in the hills above the Ukiah Valley in 1932. All winery staff, including winemaker Bob Swain and general manager Claudia Baron, will be retained, and valuable partnerships with existing distributors will also continue.
"There is a great heritage and a great strength in the Parducci Wine Cellars history and operations in Mendocino County," noted Dolan. "Our efforts will build on that success, and bring honor to the Italian heritage that is so much a part of what makes Mendocino one of the great wine producing regions in California, and the world."
Sustainable business practices and organic farming practices will be enhanced at the winery.
Parducci Wine Cellars produces about 150,000 cases of premium and super-premium wines, and has recently been certified as an organic processor. There are 30 acres of Syrah and old-vine head-trained Petite Sirah surrounding the winery included in the purchase, and these vineyards will be farmed and certified as organic. All existing brands and most varietal wines will be retained, with a future exploration and development of Italian varietals such as Pinot Grigio and Primitivo planned, said Dolan.
The Parducci story in Mendocino dates to 1912, when the family first arrived in California from Tuscany. Adolph Parducci purchased a vineyard north of Ukiah in 1921, and followed with a winery next to the vineyard in 1932.
In 1944, the family produced a varietal bottling of Zinfandel, building on the Italian heritage found throughout the county. The Parducci family continued to participate in the winery until 1994, and it was sold in 1996 to its current owners, the Thoma family.
During their stewardship of Parducci over the past eight years, the Thomas invested in new vineyards and production enhancements at the winery, which continued to receive steady acclaim for its wines, and new brands such as the Zinfandel focused Zingaro were introduced.
With the sale of Parducci, the Thomas will focus on Van Duzer Vineyards, their estate winery in Oregon's Willamette Valley.
"This is a unique opportunity for two Mendocino families to continue a tradition started nearly a century ago," said Dolan. "For Parducci Wine Cellars, the best is truly yet to come."
