page_title: Hanzell Vineyards
section_title: Ownership and winemakers
hierarchical_section_title: Hanzell Vineyards / Ownership and winemakers
caption_attribution_description: California winemaker Michael McNeill from the Sonoma winery Hanzell
context_page_description: Hanzell Vineyards is a California wine producer located just outside the town of Sonoma. The winery was founded by James David Zellerbach who acquired 200 acres in the Mayacamas Mountains in 1943 and began planting Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in 1953. At the time, the entire state of California had fewer than 200 acres planted to Chardonnay.
  Hanzel would go on to pioneer in the California several winemaking techniques that would become associated with the style of California Chardonnay including the use of barrel-aging, malolactic fermentation, and the use of inert gases and anaerobic winemaking. Hanzell was also among the first vineyards to plant the Wente Clone of Chardonnay.
context_section_description: Three families have owned Hanzell Vineyards and four winemakers have been involved there since its founding. The first winemaker was involved for nearly 20 years, and the second continues to advise as Winemaker Emeritus after nearly 30 years overseeing production.
  Zellerbach, James D. and Hana (inception to 1965)
  Day, Douglas and Mary (née Schaw) (1965 - 1975)
  de Brye, Jacques and Barbara, then Alexander (1975–present)
caption: Current Hanzell winemaker, Michael McNeill.
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