History of Walker Family Vintners - Rancho Cucamonga, California

In 1994, while living and working in Indianapolis, George Walker stepped into the neighborhood WineArt Home Wine-Making Supply store for the first time. Why? Mostly because, upon seeing the store after moving into their new home, he began reminiscing about that gallon of homemade wine he made for a science project as a kid growing up in Peru, Indiana (and maybe a little because he thought that, perhaps, he might make it cheaper at home). Even moreso, George loved wine...ever since he had that first bottle of Chateau Neuf du Pape in College, and was also intruduced to wine appreciation upon attending a tasting event in 1982 featuring Sebastiani wines.

Thus, on that fateful day in 1994, Oxford Cellars was born (so-called because the Walker family lived on Oxford Street). This marked the beginning of an eleven- year sojourn of love for the making of the fruit of the vine...a sojourn that has developed and nurtured George's passion (or according to his wife, Angela, his obsession) for winemaking. From there, the 2002 founding of Walker Family Vintners was realized, as well as an annual celebration and family tradition. Our epiphany? A family that makes wine together, well, uh, hmmm, enjoys life better together...or something like that.

Oh, and one other great result...the 2003 founding of the Walker family's annual Crush & Bottle Fest...a grape-harvest-gathering of family and friends (and always a few friends of friends) who all come together to crush the new vintage and to bottle the prior year's rendering. Each year a bit bigger, each year a bit better, each year a bit more fun, and...well...you get the picture by now.

Below: The Walker Family Label...on its 3rd year of representing the great time had by all...the great time that should be had by all when enjoying the company of family, friends, and a great glass of vino. Many thanks to the famous French painter, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, for providing us with this very apropo depiction.

From that initial 5-gallon batch of Chateau Neuf du Pape vinted from a store-bought wine-making kit in 1994, fast forward through the following years of experimentation with kit wines and grape concentrates (merlot, cab sauv, mataro, barolo, chardonnay, even champagne), then wines made from local fresh fruits (Michigan cherries, local blackberries, store-bought honey, and more), then the big move to wine heaven...California! 

With all their belongings, a new job for George in L.A., and about 20 cases of homemade wine, the Walker family landed in Rancho Cucamonga, California.  Home of the first winery established in California, with civic pride in its grape-harvest history and heritage, and still sparsely populated by working vineyards and wineries...there the Walker family settled in 2000. 

It wasn't until 2002 that George was able to get his hobby up and running again due to the big move, finding a permanent home, and getting settled in.  But George wouldn't settle for starting out again with a small batch.  Recognizing that he was no longer hamstrung by grape concentrates in Indiana, and feeling the powerful call of the grape harvest, George, a co-worker, and the Walker family seized the opportunity during the 2002 harvest and produced a little more than 30 gallons of wine, and there became established the new name of Walker Family Vintners 

Having never produced more than a 5-gallon batch at a time during the Oxford Cellars/Indiana times, this was certainly a challenge and a thrill for George and his family, not to mention a bit scary and nerve-racking.  But the challenge was welcomed and met head-on...and we got through it,  Then three years later, that same wine won First and Third Place awards at the innaugural Fagan Family Wine Tasting event.  We couldn't have been more proud.  The wines produced in 2002?  Zinfandel, Sangiovese, Mourvedre (aka, Mataro)...ummmm.

So, 11 years later, here is another result of the obsession.  The Walker Family Vintners' Wine Shed.  Authorized by Angela, built by Lowe's Home Improvements, and finished/painted by Contractor Luis Beso in 2004, the WFV Wine Shed is home to George's hobby, and currently holds nearly 70 gallons of wine awaiting bottling at the next Crush & Bottle Fest later this year.  Insulated, air conditioned, built with wine-making in mind, this 10x12 wine shed is any hobbyist's dream.  Thanks, honey...I love it and you (O.K, and the kids, too...can't leave them out).

5 and 6-gallon glass carboy containers hold the fruit of the 2004 vintage.  5 and 10-gallon barrels of American oak work to soften and round the new wine.  So what are the wines?  Old Vines Zinfandel and Syrah...ummmmm.

Many thanks to Gino and Joey Filippi, owners of Joseph Filippi Winery and Vineyards in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, for their profound assistance and support by selling us a half ton of Zinfandel grapes!  Thanks also to Charlie Curry, owner of Curry Vineyards in Temecula, CA, for selling (and bringing) us the 400 lbs of Syrah!