Scherrer Winery

About Us

"Scherrer Winery was born from my fondness for alcohol back when I was a teenager. Making a little Zinfandel from the old vines my Grandfather planted made me a rock star in High School (the only reason). I knew then what I was going to do with the rest of my life.

I received my degree in Fermentation Sciences at U.C. Davis and then back to the "real world" of wine making to learn where, when, how, and importantly if to apply science to the art of winemaking. This included some early days making wine in Alexander Valley and in Mendocino County. I returned to Sonoma County in 1988, making wine at Dehlinger for 10 years. During this time, I continued to refine my long-time notion that "winemaking revolves around the vineyard".

With my father’s support [Ed Scherrer of Scherrer Vineyard], and the encouragement of Tom Dehlinger, I began making Zinfandel from my families’ vineyard in 1991. The first vintage consisted of 600 cases. Over the next 5 years, I was able to slowly expand production of Zinfandel as I continued my ‘day job’ as winemaker at Dehlinger. In late 1997, I was at the point that I was able to make the winery a full-time occupation moving into its current location in an insulated metal building just north of Sebastopol. Once in my own place, I was able to include Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Syrah and Grenache to the line. I do all of the cellar work myself. I’ve been able to impose on a handful of friends and customers here and there to help during harvest or bottling. We are the only winery in the building which allows me to explore very time-inefficient winemaking. Our annual production is about 3000 cases, about half of that Pinot Noir. Judi, my wife and partner since college, has handled all the administrative and compliance for the winery since 2002, keeping me out of trouble with bureaucrats and freeing me do what I love to do most." Fred Scherrer, Owner/Winemaker