The Sonoma Valley Community Advisory Commission (SVCAC) recently recommended approval the expansion of the Robledo Family Winery by the County of Sonoma.
An increase in the number of cases of wine produced and an expansion of events at the winery location of Bonness Road were in the application.
The SVCAC is comprised of members of the community chosen by both the City of Sonoma and the County of Sonoma, intended to review and make recommendations on land-use applications and projects that have regional impacts. Their decisions are recommendations only, and each jurisdiction may choose to follow or disregard the commission. Applications are processed using the customary approval procedure of the City and the County.
Concerns were raised about water use and the effects of increased traffic on Bonness Road. In addition, neighbors of the winery were not properly notified about the application by the County. Ultimately, the recommendation of the commission included requesting the County to more closely calculate the increased water use associated with an increase in production, and to seriously consider road improvements to the narrow, two lane street.
About Robledo Family Winery
According to their website, the story of the Robledos in the wine industry began in the 1940s when the Robledos lived at a labor camp in Healdsburg, California where they farmed fruit trees and worked in the vineyards. It was in the vineyards, though, that the Robledos found their life’s calling as workers and master grape grafters. Everardo (Lalo) Robledo, fourth son (second generation) of Luis, recalls working for hours hunched over on his knees grafting hundreds of vines in one day. Lalo learned to farm wine grapes with his brothers, cousins, and from his father Luis.
Reynaldo Robledo, Lalo’s oldest son (third generation), came to America in 1968 at the age of sixteen with a vision of someday buying and farming his own land. Reynaldo was determined to learn from his father all about growing quality grapes. After marrying Maria de La Luz Ramírez in 1970, Reynaldo began a new chapter in the Robledo legacy when he and Maria started a family of nine children grounded in the culture of agriculture and their determination to farm their own vineyards.
When Maria was not taking care of the children or cooking delicious meals, she was working in the vineyards with Reynaldo to help the family get ahead. In 1984, Maria and Reynaldo saved enough money to buy their first piece of property in the Los Carneros appellation of Napa, where they planted Pinot Noir grapes and where the nine Robledo children grew up working in the vineyards. Reynaldo ran a strict household. The children worked in the family vineyard after school, on weekends, and on holidays.
All the children of Reynaldo and Maria proudly contribute to carrying on the long-standing traditions handed down to them by their parents.
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