Frick Winery. The early years.

 It started with my summer vacation.

Young Bill Frick

When I was young I went on a summer vacation.

My parents packed the Mercury station wagon in Southern California for a family vacation heading to Northern California. A few days later we pulled into the parking lot at Italian Swiss Colony Winery in Asti, Sonoma County.Bordering the parking lot green grapevines bright with purple grapes danced in a breeze.

In the tasting room I looked through pretty post cards. Then we took the winery tour. Inside it was dark cool and damp. Redwood vats towered over us. I stuck my head into a freshly drained vat and inhaled the amazing aromas.

I was smitten with the aromas and beautiful grapevines. It was a new exciting and exotic experience. The wine bug bit me hard. I had just celebrated my 7th birthday.

After this I imagined growing grapes and making wine from them. I wanted to be a winemaker.

My wife Judith Gannon and I made this dream come true in 1976. We sold our ‘57 Chevy emptied our savings and bought winemaking equipment. Money was tight, but Judith convinced me to spend an extra $100 to install an electric motor on our red hand crank crusher (I am really glad I did). Our first crush lasted well past midnight. As we crashed into bed it never felt so good to be totally exhausted.

We were broke, but happy. This was heaven to us.

The early years.



Frick Family in 1976

Frick Family Winery in 1976. Michael, Bill, Judy, Susan.




New winery equipment ready for our first crush.

Our winery equipment ready for the first crush. Check out the motor on the red crusher.



Looking back, the first crush in 1976 was like a dream. Friends and family were there to share the event. It was a party. 

first crush

Here you see Ken Wormhoudt, Jim Gannon, Babe Garibaldi-Gannon working the crusher/stemmer.




First crush at night.

Crushing went late into the night.




crush scene 

Jim Gannon, Bill Frick, Mark Franz celebrating the grape delivery.






Inside the winery during a crush. Kelly Gannon, Michael Frick, Jim Gannon, Judy Gannon-Frick, Susan Frick, Bill Frick, Mark Franz, Bob Frick (my dad).






We thought it would never change.




Bill Frick and Judy Gannon posing ala Grant Wood.

Bill and Judy reenacting a famous painting






Judy and Bill pressing.

Judy Gannon and Bill Frick loading the presses.





Bill Frick and Judy Gannon crushing grapes.

Bill and Judy crushing grapes. 



Judy and Bill labeling wine bottles

Judy and Bill labeled every bottle by hand.








When you love something you stick with it.




That's what it is all about.