Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/430172
december 2014 / the tasting panel / 53 Scheid Vineyards Timeline 1972: Al Scheid begins a long process of partnering with investors to purchase property in Monterey County on which to plant vineyards, whose development he can write off. 1975: A group of wine grape growers, including Al, establish the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG). 1977: Scott Scheid works a summer in Greenfield on the vineyards, where he can't get into trouble and "had absolutely nowhere to spend the money I'd earned." 1982: First partner in vineyard investments is bought-out. 1982–1986: Scott works in the brokerage business on Wall Street. 1986: Scott returns to California to help Al run Scheid and buy out remaining partners. 1988: Kurt Gollnick joins Scheid's leadership team after managing operations at Bien Nacido Vineyards in Santa Maria. 1992: Heidi comes to the business during maternity leave from Ernst & Young, never to return. 1996: Final partner is bought out. 1997: Scheid Vineyards tasting room opens in Greenfield. 2005: Ground-breaking of Scheid winemaking facility. 2007: Footprint of facility doubled. 2010: Branded goods established as the next chapter in Scheid his- tory, along with grape-growing and custom crush. Scheids have since also become a winery, they will forever identify themselves as growers—the Scheid logo depicts a farmer hauling grapes, in homage to the company's beginnings— and, as such, in its nearly 40 years of advocacy, CAWG has always benefited from at least one member of Scheid's "Gang of Four" on the board. The Scheids are also founding members of the Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association, which educates media and consumers about the attributes that set Monterey County apart. Scott sits on the board of the Wine Institute, which partnered with CAWG to write the historic Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices, and Kurt has been instrumental in advocating for the Monterey Wine Corridor, which will allow subdivision of large parcels along River Road and encourage the establishment of smaller, boutique wineries and economic stimulation for the area. Though Al's background includes entrepreneurial endeavors ranging from real estate to biotechnology, it's wine that drew his family to work together—including another son, Tyler Scheid, who joined the company as Technology Coordinator in 2011. Still, 40 harvests later, it's the world of finance that informs his philosophy. "In the brokerage business, the only differentiator between you and any other competitor in the marketplace is service. If you want to buy stock in something, you can do it through anyone—it's all the same. What counts is serving the client. That's been our philosophy from day one at Scheid. The most important thing in our world is our customer. Without him, we are nothing." Scheid Vineyards Grenache Blanc and District 7 Pinot Noir.