Posted on Monday, June 15th, 2026 at 10:22 am.

Written by Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association

In Livermore Valley, wine has always been about more than what’s in the glass. It’s about the people willing to take a leap of faith, plant roots, and believe in the future of a region long before the rest of the world caught on. The Livermore Valley wine region would not be what it is today without the historic legacy of founding wineries like Wente and Concannon, whose vision helped put this valley on the map and shaped generations of winemaking in California. Alongside these iconic names, we’re also proud to recognize Page Mill, Retzlaff, and Fenestra as they celebrate 50 years in Livermore Valley this year. Their dedication, perseverance, and passion have each played an important role in the story of our wine community, helping continue the rich legacy that has defined Livermore Valley for decades.

As they celebrate 50 years, Page Mill Winery, Retzlaff Vineyards Estate Winery, and Fenestra Winery each mark five decades in 2026, honoring not only the wineries themselves, but the fathers, families, and bold visions that helped shape Livermore Valley into the wine region it is today.

Each story is different, but they share something unmistakable in common: a belief in Livermore Valley, a passion for wine, and a commitment to building something lasting for future generations.

Retzlaff Vineyards Estate Winery: A Legacy Rooted in Curiosity and Courage

Retzlaff Vineyards was founded in 1976 by Dr. Robert Wesley Taylor and his wife, Gloria Retzlaff Taylor. Bob was many things throughout his life: a geologist, chemist, winemaker, lifelong learner, and, by all accounts, a bit of a mischief-maker. He approached the world with curiosity and creativity, always eager to explore what was possible.

The story of Retzlaff began with a simple but life-changing idea. One day in the early 1970s, Gloria came home and declared, “Bob, let’s start a winery!” That spark led to the founding of Retzlaff Vineyards, which would go on to become one of California’s first organic vineyards.

Fifty years later, the winery remains family-owned and operated by the Taylor family, with the next generation carrying forward the vision Bob and Gloria created together. Aaron Taylor serves as operations manager, Noah Taylor as winemaker, and Salomé Taylor as business manager, continuing a legacy deeply rooted in family, sustainability, and innovation.

Retzlaff’s story is one of passion, experimentation, and staying true to a vision long before organic farming became commonplace. Their legacy is not only found in the wines themselves, but in the generations of family who continue to steward the land and the community they helped build.  Retzlaff remains the only CCOF-certified organic vineyard in the Livermore appellation. 

Page Mill Winery: Wine as a Celebration of Humanity

Page Mill Winery first began in the Santa Cruz Mountains in 1976 through the vision of Ome and Dick Stark, who believed deeply in the power of wine to bring people together.

“The pleasures of the table remind us of our love, our passion and our humanity.”

For Dick and Ome, success was never defined by scores, competitions, or accolades. Instead, their philosophy centered on connection, how a shared bottle of wine could create conversation, celebration, and meaningful moments around the table.

That philosophy continues to shape the winery today.

In 2004, their son Dane Stark relocated Page Mill Winery to Livermore Valley, carrying forward the family’s enduring mission of “Peace through wine, one glass at a time.”

The move to Livermore Valley allowed Page Mill to continue evolving while remaining grounded in the values established nearly fifty years ago. Through every vintage, the Stark family has remained committed to making wine that feels approachable, thoughtful, and deeply human.

Their legacy is a reminder that wine is not simply a product , it is an experience meant to connect people, celebrate life, and foster community.

Fenestra Winery: A Frontier Spirit That Never Faded

When Lanny Replogle and his wife Fran founded Fenestra Winery in 1976, they took what their family describes as a “massive leap of faith.”

At the time, Lanny was a Chemistry professor at San Jose State University, where he taught for 31 years. Outside the classroom, he was passionately devoted to home winemaking, earning several gold medals at the California State Fair for his wines. Encouraged by Fran and driven by belief in his craft, the two decided to turn that passion into a profession.

It was not an easy decision. Lanny was still teaching full-time while supporting Fran and their two sons, but together they believed wholeheartedly in the dream they were building. That leap ultimately made Fenestra Livermore Valley’s fifth winery.

Livermore proved to be the perfect fit. Its proximity to San Jose State allowed Lanny to continue teaching while refining his winemaking skills at the old Ruby Hill Winery. But beyond practicality, Lanny and Fran quickly fell in love with the Livermore Valley itself, its rich wine history, its welcoming community, and what they described as the region’s “frontier spirit.”

That spirit of experimentation became central to Fenestra’s identity. Lanny embraced the opportunity to work with a wide variety of grapes and styles, believing that pushing boundaries made both better wines and better winemakers. Fenestra was the first winery in Livermore Valley to produce a Cabernet Franc from Livermore fruit and the first to create a Semonnay, a blend of Chardonnay and Semillon.

Even after fifty years, Lanny’s original vision remains remarkably unchanged: make great wine at a reasonable price and ensure it feels approachable to both seasoned wine lovers and newcomers alike.

Today, that legacy continues through multiple generations of the Replogle family. Lanny’s son Eric and daughter-in-law Robin remain deeply involved in the winery, while the third generation Joshua and Natasha are increasingly stepping into larger roles within the business.

And perhaps most remarkably, at 91 years old, Lanny still comes into the winery three days a week. Though officially retired for the last decade, it seems the winery simply never left his system.

A Shared Legacy in Livermore Valley

While each winery has its own story, together they represent something much larger: the spirit of Livermore Valley itself.

These families helped shape the modern identity of the region through hard work, creativity, and an unwavering belief in what Livermore Valley could become. They planted vineyards, built businesses, raised families, weathered challenges, and helped establish the collaborative community that continues to define the valley today.

Fifty years later, their impact can still be felt in every tasting room conversation, every vineyard row, and every bottle shared around the table.

As Livermore Valley Wine Community celebrates these remarkable milestones, we raise a glass not only to the wineries themselves, but to the visionaries who started them, and to the generations continuing their stories today.