Our History

Peterson Winery grew out of the vineyards that now supply it with grapes. That may seem unusual, but Fred’s background is not just in winemaking, but also in grape growing, or viticulture. That is why he refers to himself as a winegrower. For Fred, making great wine is about the grapes — where and how they were grown, what the weather conditions were, and how the vineyards were managed during the growing season.

Fred arrived in Dry Creek Valley in 1983, employed to find and develop world-class vineyard properties. It was an exciting time for Fred, being able to select ideal vineyard locations and then plant the appropriate grape variety and clone for each site. The vineyards Fred developed in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley, including his own property on Bradford Mountain, began producing exceptional fruit. The next step was a natural one: Fred wanted to make wine from the fruits of his labor (Sorry about the pun, it was too good to pass up).

In 1987, all the pieces fell into place for Fred, and he launched Peterson Winery. For nearly twenty years, the winery was located in an old red barn tucked away in the vineyards off Lytton Springs Road. It was beautiful place to make wine, but the antique structure began to show its age.