The story of Buehler Vineyards
By Lisa Gmur, CSW
OPERATION STORYTELLER
Buehler Vineyards is a little bit like taking a step back in time. Located just five country miles east of St. Helena, the winery sits perched atop more than 300 acres. Climbing the windy road in our SUV was not a favorite part of the day for some in our group. The rain didn’t help. But once we arrived at the top, it was all worth it. We were greeted by two very beautiful and boisterous dogs and John Buehler, proprietor of the winery. “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride,” he quips as we make our way towards him. His family purchased the property more than fifty years ago, planted grapes and the rest as they say is history. It has remained family owned and run ever since.
“Well, it all started in 1971, which means I have been at it for 53 years,” says John as we start talking. “Living on a ranch, with vineyards and growing grapes for over a half a century, up in the mountains above St. Helena,” he adds, “well, it’s not bad.”
The Eastern Mountain range often referred to as the Vaca Range is a pretty rugged area. Buehler has 50 acres planted to vine. “You go from an elevation of about 475 feet to about 1,475 feet, so it definitely qualifies as a mountain vineyard,” says John. “We live on the ranch, and we work on the ranch. We’ve been making wine and selling wine commercially since 1978.”
Pictured Left: John Buehler
DOWN TO EARTH
It’s this farm philosophy and down to earth mentality that permeates everything about the winery. Wanna kick dirt? This is the place to do it.
“We looked long and hard. It was an empty canvas when we bought it. It was just rocks and rattlesnakes, mountain lions, bobcats, deer, fox, possum snacks, raccoons. The list goes on and on of all the critters. But yeah, it was just it was an empty pallet. So, we just started. We pioneered the road in. We built the driveway, drilled wells, found water, started playing the vintages and in 1972 never looked back.”
Buehler Vineyards is not about the SKUs. They have three wines: Russian River Chardonnay, Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and their Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.
“Our chardonnay comes from the Russian River,” says John, “where it’s a much cooler environment, greater maritime influence, and that much closer to the Pacific Ocean. Perfect for Chardonnay production. I wouldn’t want to be growing cabernet there.”
The Buehler Russian River Chardonnay is all about the growing conditions in the Russian River. “It’s really fruit forward. When you think of our Chardonnay,” he says, “you should think of stone fruit like apricots and peaches.” Agreed, it is more of that Burgundian style.
As for their grower, “I purchase the grapes from my best friend,” he adds, “who happens to be a former garbage man from Rochester, New York, practicing Buddhism, a certified public account. The perfect guy to grow grapes for our Chardonnay.”
If you haven’t noticed yet, John has a witty sense of humor. Definitely something I have enjoyed since I met him 25 years ago when I was working as a wine rep in Hawaii.
Pictured Right: Utmost attention to details, from grapes to bottling, Buehler Vineyards bottles exclusively on their estate.
BUEHLER VINEYARDS WINES
Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
Cabernet Sauvingnon, Napa Valley
Estate Cabernet Sauvingnon, Napa Valley
fourth-generation
John goes on to say, “Conversely, I wouldn’t want to be growing chardonnay where we grow Cabernet on the ranch. We have 2 tiers of cab starting with our core Cabernet, which is about 10 to 12,000 cases a year, it’s a blend of valley, floor and mountain grown grapes. The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is all off the ranch, and it usually represents about 3,500 cases a year.”
Location. Location. Location. “This is such a cab, Centric Valley,” he adds about the area of the Napa Valley where Buehler is located. Cabernet is definitely their bread and butter.
“We’ve been making wine and selling wine commercially since 1978. We are family owned, three generations,” he adds, and with a smile, “actually it’s four now. We have a fourth generation. My youngest son just had a baby boy, 2 years ago. So, we’re excited about that.”
Continuing the family legacy is certainly something to cherish.
Pictured Right: 2nd and 3rd generation sons and owners of Buehler Vineyards.
Fourth-generation vineyard dedicated to honesty, quality and family.
LIFE LONG DEDICATION
John shares with us his first foray into the grape industry being in 1958.
“A personal memory of mine was my first time in the Napa Valley. My brother-in-law’s father owned a lot of vineyards. In fact, by 1960 he was reputed to be the second largest independent grower in Napa.”
Napa just happened to be where John spent a lot of his early years.
“From 1959 on, I spent a lot of formative years in Napa. Whether it was 4th of July, and just living in the middle of a vineyard, it was what I knew and loved. And so it stuck and here I am all these years later. Just living the farm and wine life.”
John also feels strongly that this life, this farm and wine life has been good for his family.
“I think they all have appreciation for nature and the environment. Especially this place. One of them is actively involved on a day-to-day basis, but they’ve all been involved at some point. They have all had their time working for the winery. And I think they grew as people because of it. They also all grew up hunting and fishing. And they are all fluent in Spanish,” he adds, “they had to be if they wanted to get breakfast in the morning.”
Ah, that witty humor again.
Pictured Left: Cabernet grapes on the vine.
A Day in the Life
As for a typical day in the life of John Buehler?
“Get up! And then it’s just business in either the vineyard or the winery. Usually, I’m in the office by about 7:30, or 8 o’clock, or 9 o’clock, but you know, it’s a well-oiled machine. Everybody that’s been here has been here for a very long time.”
Misha, his sidekick and sales and marketing manager has been there for 29 years. As expected, they don’t get a lot of visitors up there.
“By design, yeah. I think this is where folks see that time stood still for us in i1970. We are not a hospitality suite, masquerading as a winery. There’s no bachelor parties here, no hedge fund guys drinking, bragging about, you know the one, the $300 bottle of wine they just bought. We are the real deal.”
There actually is a lovely small tasting room.
“It’s personal. I mean, we limit tours to Monday through Friday, and it’s usually one or 2 a day, and it’s never more than 6 people.”
And the drive to get there, to this very old school, very intimate experience; worth every hairpin turn.
Pictured Right: John stands among the wine tanks at Buehler Vineyards.