Rudolph Weibel and his son…
…Fred E. Weibel, Sr., learned traditional tricks of the winemaking trade in their native land of Switzerland. With these time-worn techniques, the pair immigrated to the United States in 1937. Fred and Rudolph spent a year working at Columbia Winery in Vancouver, Washington before settling in San Francisco, California in 1938. There, the two made sparkling wine below the hustle and bustle of Clay Street, in the basement of the William Tell Hotel. As the success of the William Tell Hotel wines grew, so did the reputation of the two Swiss winemakers.
In 1946, the opportunity arose to purchase 100 acres of historical vineyards in Fremont, California—and the Weibel family grabbed it. The Mission San Jose vineyards held a rich history, first being owned in the 1800’s by California Governor, Leland Stanford. The grounds, however, were in a state of decay when acquired by the Weibel family. With a determination to restoring the land to its former glory, the Weibels revitalized the production facilities, replanted the vines, and put Oscar Habluetzel, Fred’s brother-in-law, in charge of winemaking—a position he had held for 37 years.
