KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – One of Lake County’s well-known wineries has new owners.

Myron and Marilyn Holdenried of Wildhurst Winery welcome Michael and Tanya Hat to the Kelseyville community with their recent purchase of the winery and tasting room business.

This transaction caps the long winery industry career for Myron Holdenried.

In 1966, Holdenried, along with his cousin Reid Dorn – both fifth-generation Lake County farmers – along with his neighbor Walt Lyon and his Big Valley friend, Floyd Silva, planted winegrapes within a week of each other, thus beginning the rebirth of the wine industry for Lake County.

Holdenried planted Zinfandel in the pasture on Gaddy Lane. He sold his grapes to John Parducci and Barney Fetzer of Ukiah, and to Jess Jackson at his Lakeport winery, Kendall-Jackson.

By 1991, Holdenried, with the partnership of the four Collin brothers from the Central Valley, took the leap to establish Wildhurst Winery.

The first winery and tasting room were located in Lower Lake at the former Stuermer Winery location. The first winemaker was Kathy Redmond, a native of South Africa. Jed Steele also made his first wines there, and served as a consultant to Redmond.

At the time, the Lake County wine industry included only three other wineries: Konocti Guenoc, and Kendall-Jackson. With the addition of Wildhurst and Steele Wines, the total number of wineries in the county grew to five.
Wildhurst Winery made the permanent move to Kelseyville in 1997, with the opening of the tasting room on Main Street, in the old, historic I.O.O.F. Hall. Their wines were produced at the winery facility on Benson Lane, Kelseyville.

Today, there are more than 30 wineries in Lake County, with five tasting rooms now in Kelseyville.

Holdenried was a founding member of the Lake County Winegrape Commission, and worked on the creation of the well-known Clear Lake and Big Valley appellations.

“Over the past 25 years, it has been exciting to be part of the Lake County wine industry,” Holdenried said. “Marilyn and I have enjoyed and appreciated being in our home town and watching the industry grow. We are thankful for all of the support from our friends and customers. It is a pleasure to see the tasting room venue continue with the Hats, both of whom have the passion and energy.”

The Holdenrieds thank their Wildhurst team for their continued loyalty and support.

“We have been very fortunate, through our many years, to have had talented, dedicated and loyal staff members from winemakers, cellar masters, office personnel, outside sales, and tasting room employees. They are the ones who helped build the quality reputation that Wildhurst has enjoyed,” Holdenried said.

Michael Hat, a third-generation grape grower, and his wife, Tanya, live in Manteca, but look forward to working in the Lake County area and participating in the many winery events.

“We were amazed, and continue to be, by the Holdenrieds’ long history in this area and the sincere respect they have earned,” Michael Hat said.

The Hats invite the community to stop in for a visit, taste the new wines, and enjoy the new colors and ambiance.

“We have wonderful surprises in store for our wine club members and new friends,” Tanya Hat said. “The same friendly Wildhurst staff looks forward to pouring the new wines for you.”

Myron and Marilyn Holdenried continue to produce winegrapes in their vineyard on Gaddy Lane and Clark Drive in Kelseyville.