This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Fetzer, Oster, Rodrigue, White Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/UW.2ADE/1719 Message Board Post: Ukiah Daily Journal Ukiah, Mendocino Co., CA Wednesday, October 14, 1981 Redwood Valley vintner Bernard Fetzer felled by heart attack The head of one of Mendocino County's great winery clans, Bernard "Barney" A. Fetzer of Redwood Valley died early yesterday morning in Hopland at the home of his eldest son. He was 61. The cause of death has not been verified, but a winery spokesperson said Fetzer apparently succumbed to a heart attack. Founder and president of the winery and vineyard in Redwood Valley that bore his name, Fetzer was considered by everyone in the industry, a creative marketer, a hard-working family man and a vintner with a vision. Born in Nebraska, Fetzer came to Mendocino County from Oregon in 1954. Lumber was his primary occupation in those years. He was employed in succession by Hollow Tree Lumber, Al thrasher and finally Masonite, where he was general manager of their western operations from 1970 until 1975. But all along he was thinking about grapes and wine. He began the large family winery with the purchase of 750 acres in Redwood Valley in 1957, 70 of them in old vines long since replanted. Settling in with his wife Kathleen, Barney began planning the cultivation of both family and soil. The family included 11 children, all raised in the fields and taught the "Three P's" (picking, planning and pruning). As the family grew, Fetzer continued expanding his Redwood Valley acreage. The Fetzer's literally built their own winery from foundation up, beginning in 1968. Always a family operation, Fetzer Vineyards has become one of Mendocino County's most respected wineries. A listing of the awards won by Fetzer wines would fill pages. Golds, Silvers and bronzes have been earned by Fetzer vintages in nearly every category entered, from the Los Angeles and Orange County fairs to the Maitres des Tastevins International. Unusual approaches and brilliant thinking enabled Barney Fetzer to pilot his winery into a position of power and respect throughout the wine world. Unilaterally Fetzer was viewed with the respect befitting a man of sharp business skills and over-whelming vision. "Barney was a very close personal friend of mine. I knew him long before he went into the business," reflected Augie Solomon of Calpella, a representative of Cresta Blanca Winery with 45 years of grape involvement. "I remember when he started with just a little crusher and some vines. He and his family built up that business from scratch. They have done a tremendous job. "I just can't say enough about him and what he has accomplished," Solomon continued. "Barney was simply one of the greatest contributors to Mendocino County in the wine market. "He was a great man," the longtime friend said with great emotion. "I just cannot find words enough to praise him." Ulysses Lolonis, a teacher at the Redwood Valley Middle School, owns 175 acres of grapes planted by his father. "I knew Barney ever since he moved here and bought the Smith Ranch. We already had grapes and I remember Barney talking with my dad and gathering advice," Lolonis said. "I have commented often about this--Fetzer was a shrewd and knowledgeable a businessman as I have ever met. He has been a tremendous boost to growers in both Lake and Mendocino counties. He was involved in every aspect of the winery operation and managed to produce a very high-quality product for a very modest price. "He was more than fortunate to have the full support and involvement of his family," Lolonis remembered fondly. "It is a real rarity to involve the family to the extent that Barney did. He achieved a unique participation." Lolonis was among several vineyards whose name appeared on the label of Fetzer wines. Barney Fetzer was very committed to preserving the individual identity of each vineyard lot. He bottled and marketed special quality grape lots under the name of the vineyard that produced them. This meant the time and expense of crushing, pressing and fermenting the harvest of various growers separately, but Fetzer felt it was worth the extra effort. "I am not sure if Fetzer was the first to identify the grower on the label or not, but we benefited tremendously from the recognition," Lolonis conceded, "and so did several other area wineries." Another one of Fetzer's visions was the revitalization of Hopland, mostly realized in his lifetime. Since Fetzer crews began working in the tiny town about 12 miles south of Ukiah, Hopland has been attracting new businesses and tourists in great numbers. Fetzer opened a small wine tasting room alongside Highway 101 in Hopland a few years ago, but have since completely remodeled the old Hopland High School — abandoned for years — and are presently applying the finishing touches to the gymnasium next door. The gorgeous grounds and lavishly restored interior speak well of Fetzer presence in the town. "I have worked for Fetzer for about five years," said Patrick Healy of Redwood Valley, the manager of the Hopland tasting room. "He was a charming person, a vital force. He moved the business along tremendously, just look at what he has done here in Hopland. I have great respect for Barney Fetzer." Besides being a successful businessman, Fetzer is remembered both as a community leader and supporter. "Fetzer Vineyards has always been especially supportive of community groups," said Don Eller, head of the Ukiah Community Center. "It would be hard to find a person who cared more about their community." Surprisingly, the founder of Fetzer Vineyards kept out of politics and rarely used his influence to benefit any cause. "I didn't know him personally, but he did appear before the board on a few occasions," Supervisor Jim Eddie confided last night. "His death was a severe shock to all of us on the Board. "Barney Fetzer worked hard and well within this community. Fetzer (Vineyards) exemplified the strong kind of family business that succeeded because of good management and planning, hard work and intelligence. "He was a fine man and a great success," Eddie concluded. "He was very much admired and will be well remembered." Mendocino County Agriculture Commissioner Ted Eriksen had nothing but praise for the Redwood Valley winery wizard. "Barney was an all-around great guy. An innovator. He put the winery together himself and made it work. "He did a fabulous job for grapes in this county," Eriksen continued. "He was such an imaginative individual. I just can't say enough good about the man. He made his winery and vineyard a very big part of the agriculture in this county. He has done a tremendous job." But the greatest praise may have come from Ukiah's Charley Barra, who, as the chairman of the board of Souverain Vineyards was a competitor — yet he remembered Fetzer as a dear friend. "I have known Barney since 1955," Barra recalled, "in fact I was operator of the ranch in Redwood Valley before he bought it. We have worked very closely over the years. "He made remarkable progress in a very short period of time. His achievements in the industry have been spectacular — truly spectacular. He was always confident about his work and enthusiastic. And he always had great support from his family. "The industry has been in awe of his abilities," Barra said. "He is considerably well respected within the inindustry as an achiever of goals. There have been few people who have achieved what he has in such a short period of time. "He was a wonderful man and a great businessman," Barra commented. "He never exploited the industry, he was always a contributor. He was a great promoter of the area, always a doer rather than a talker." Anthony Das Blue, syndicated wine columnist and editor of Bon Appetit magazine also spoke warmly of the Redwood Valley vintner and his outstanding wines. "I first met Barney in New York at a wine tasting event," Blue recalled. "Fetzer wines were already big in New York in the 70's. Especially their Premium Red. It was low-priced and high-quality, about the best on the market. It was the hottest thing on the East Side in those days. "Fetzer showed you could make a top quality wine at a reasonable price. Aside from being a wonderful guy, he was very important from the industry point of view for this reason. I feel that he should be a role model for the entire industry. "There are about 400 wineries, but of all of them Fetzer stood out. The man was more than important, he was very likeable," said Blue. "He built something genuinely wonderful, a dynasty." Fetzer, a veteran of Merchant Marine service during World War II, is survived by his wife, Kathleen, and children John, Joseph, James, Robert, Richard, Daniel, Patricia and Diane Fetzer, Kathleen White, Mary Rodrique and Teresa Oster, all of Redwood Valley. Two brothers, Robert and Jerry Fetzer, both of Redwood Valley, and a sister, Margaret Ann Kinley of Lakeview, also survive as do 13 grandchildren. Recitation of the Rosary for the Nebraska native will be held tomorrow night at 7:30 at Zimmerman Mortuary. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Friday at St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church, Msgr. Andre Tournier officiating. Burial will be in Ukiah Cemetery. Mendocino County Indexes http://www.pacificsites.net/~pcarna Mendocino County Tombstone Photos http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mendocem/