Concannon Vineyard
A historic Livermore Valley winery known for early California Petite Sirah bottling and influential Cabernet Sauvignon clones.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Concannon Vineyard is a historic California winery in the Livermore Valley, east of San Francisco. Founded in 1883 by Irish immigrant James Concannon, it is among California's oldest continuously operating wineries. The estate developed within a region whose winegrowing history predates the modern California wine boom and became associated with both traditional European grape material and commercially accessible California wines. James Concannon came from Inishmaan in County Galway, Ireland. In 1893, he imported vine cuttings associated with Château Margaux and planted a substantial portion of the Livermore property with the material. Those plantings later became important to the winery's role in California Cabernet Sauvignon history. During the phylloxera crisis of the twentieth century, vines descended from the older Concannon plantings appeared to show greater resistance than vines derived from other material. This observation led to a collaboration with the University of California, Davis. In the 1960s, Jim Concannon, who was responsible for research and development at the winery, worked with UC Davis researchers including Harold Olmo and Curt Alley. The collaborators selected and propagated material from the historic vines, subjecting the specimens to heat treatment and controlled observation. UC Davis subsequently registered the selections under the designations Concannon Cabernet Clones 7, 8, and 11. These selections became widely planted in California and contributed to the expansion of Cabernet Sauvignon production, particularly in vineyards seeking established heritage material. Concannon also helped shape the identity of Petite Sirah in the United States. In 1961, the winery became the first producer credited with commercially bottling Petite Sirah as a varietal wine. That achievement helped distinguish the grape as a named California wine category rather than merely a blending component. The estate has also been associated with Bordeaux varieties and with the production of sacramental wine, a business that reportedly helped it continue operating during national Prohibition. The company changed ownership several times in the late twentieth century. Guinness acquired Concannon in 1986 through its purchase of the Distillers Company. In 1988, Guinness agreed to sell the winery to its winemaker, Sergio Traverso. An investment group associated with Tesla Vineyards acquired Concannon in 1992, and The Wine Group purchased the operation later that year. The transaction reportedly included the brand, inventories, winery, and approximately 170 acres of vineyards. The Wine Group sold Concannon Vineyard in December 2024 to Lemmons Family Vineyards LLC. Under Tom and Paige Lemmons, the estate has been positioned for renewed investment in vineyard redevelopment, hospitality, and winemaking. Reference material also reports that Lemmons Family Vineyards acquired neighboring Cuda Ridge Wines in 2026, bringing the Cuda Ridge and Concannon brands under the same local ownership. The winery's historical plantings and role in California viticulture have also been recognized through designation as California Historical Landmark No. 641.
History
Concannon Vineyard was established in 1883 in California's Livermore Valley by James Concannon, an Irish immigrant from Inishmaan, County Galway. The winery grew during the formative period of California's commercial wine industry and became one of the state's long-running continuously operating wineries. Its early identity was shaped by James Concannon's interest in European grape material. In 1893 he imported cuttings associated with Château Margaux and planted them at the Livermore estate. The property also supplied grape cuttings to Mexico between 1889 and 1904, according to historical accounts cited in reference material. The historic plantings became especially significant during the phylloxera crisis. Vines descended from the 1893 material appeared healthier than vines with other ancestry, prompting further investigation. In 1965, Jim Concannon contacted Harold Olmo of the University of California, Davis. Working with Professor Curt Alley, they established a test bed at Concannon to observe selected vines. Three cuttings from a single vine were heat-treated, propagated, and monitored at the UC Davis Oakville campus. UC Davis later registered the resulting selections for the wine industry between 1970 and 1974 as Concannon Cabernet Clones 7, 8, and 11. The selections became widely planted across California and helped support the growth of Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards. Reference material attributes an estimated 80 percent of California Cabernet Sauvignon production to these clones, although the precise estimate is not independently established here. Concannon's viticultural importance is also reflected in its designation as California Historical Landmark No. 641. The winery is credited with commercially bottling Petite Sirah as a varietal wine for the first time in 1961. This helped establish Petite Sirah as a recognizable named wine in the United States. Concannon also produced sacramental or altar wine for the Roman Catholic Church, a business reported to have helped the winery survive national Prohibition. Ownership changed repeatedly after the founding family's period of control. Guinness acquired Concannon in 1986 through the purchase of the Distillers Company. In 1988, Guinness agreed to sell the winery to winemaker Sergio Traverso. Tesla Vineyards, an investment group that also owned Wente Vineyards and included members of the Tesla family, acquired Concannon in 1992. The Wine Group then purchased the operation in July 1992. The reported transaction included the brand, inventory, winery, and about 170 acres of vineyards. In December 2024, The Wine Group sold Concannon Vineyard to Lemmons Family Vineyards LLC. Tom and Paige Lemmons subsequently oversaw investment in vineyard redevelopment, hospitality, and winemaking. Reference material further reports a 2026 acquisition of neighboring Cuda Ridge Wines by Lemmons Family Vineyards, expanding the ownership group's local portfolio. Concannon remains associated with Livermore Valley wine, Cabernet Sauvignon heritage, Petite Sirah, and the preservation and commercial use of historic California vine material.
- 2026
Cuda Ridge Wines joins the Lemmons portfolio
[1]Reference material reports that Lemmons Family Vineyards acquired neighboring Cuda Ridge Wines.
- 2024
Lemmons Family Vineyards becomes owner
[1]The Wine Group sells Concannon Vineyard to Lemmons Family Vineyards LLC in December.
- 1992
Concannon changes ownership twice
[1]Tesla Vineyards acquires the winery, followed later that year by The Wine Group's purchase of the operation.
- 1988
Sergio Traverso acquires the winery
[1]Guinness agrees to sell Concannon to its winemaker Sergio Traverso.
- 1986
Guinness acquires Concannon through Distillers
[1]Guinness becomes the winery's owner after acquiring its parent company, Distillers Company.
- 1970
UC Davis begins registering Concannon Cabernet selections
[1]The selections later known as Concannon Cabernet Clones 7, 8, and 11 are formally registered for the wine industry during the early 1970s.
- 1965
Concannon and UC Davis begin Cabernet research
[1]Jim Concannon contacts UC Davis to investigate and propagate material descended from the estate's historic Cabernet plantings.
- 1961
Petite Sirah is commercially bottled as a varietal
[1]Concannon is credited with the first commercial bottling of Petite Sirah as a varietal wine in the United States.
- 1893
European vine cuttings are imported
[1]James Concannon imports cuttings associated with Château Margaux and plants them at the Livermore estate.
- 1883
Concannon Vineyard is founded
[1]Irish immigrant James Concannon establishes the winery in California's Livermore Valley.
Products and positioning
A heritage California winery combining Livermore Valley place identity, historic European vine material, Cabernet Sauvignon research, and approachable varietal wines.
Red wine
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is central to Concannon's historical identity. The winery's Livermore plantings descended from nineteenth-century European material became the basis for a collaboration with UC Davis that produced the selections known as Concannon Cabernet Clones 7, 8, and 11. Concannon continues to present Cabernet Sauvignon as a principal expression of its estate and regional heritage.
Red wine · 1961
Petite Sirah
Concannon is historically associated with the development of Petite Sirah as a named American varietal wine. Its 1961 commercial bottling is widely credited as the first of its kind, helping differentiate Petite Sirah from its earlier role as a blending grape. The variety remains one of the winery's signature historical offerings.
Wine
Bordeaux varieties
The winery has long worked with Bordeaux-associated grapes, reflecting James Concannon's importation of cuttings linked to Château Margaux and the estate's later Cabernet Sauvignon research. These wines connect Concannon's Livermore Valley production with the broader California tradition of adapting Bordeaux varieties to local vineyards.
Specialty wine
Sacramental wine
Concannon produced sacramental or altar wine for the Roman Catholic Church. Historical accounts cited in reference material state that this business helped the winery remain in operation during national Prohibition.
Brand decisions
2024
Sale to Lemmons Family VineyardsM&ABackground
The Wine Group decided to sell Concannon Vineyard after owning the operation since 1992.
Action taken
Lemmons Family Vineyards LLC acquired Concannon Vineyard in December 2024.
Aftermath
The new owners began investing in vineyard redevelopment, hospitality, and winemaking.
1992
Sale to The Wine GroupM&ABackground
Concannon had been acquired earlier in the year by Tesla Vineyards, an investment group also associated with Wente Vineyards.
Action taken
The Wine Group purchased the Concannon operation, including the brand, inventory, winery, and reported vineyard acreage.
Aftermath
Concannon became part of The Wine Group's wine portfolio for more than three decades.
1988
Sale to Sergio TraversoM&ABackground
Guinness owned Concannon after acquiring the Distillers Company and subsequently decided to divest the winery.
Action taken
Guinness agreed to sell Concannon Vineyard to its winemaker, Sergio Traverso.
Aftermath
The winery moved from large corporate ownership to control by a winery executive.
1965
Initiation of the Concannon–UC Davis Cabernet programStrategyBackground
Historic Concannon vines appeared comparatively healthy during the phylloxera crisis, creating an opportunity to investigate their lineage and viticultural performance.
Action taken
Jim Concannon worked with Harold Olmo and Curt Alley at UC Davis to select, heat-treat, propagate, and monitor cuttings from the historic vines.
Aftermath
The program produced the registered Concannon Cabernet Clones 7, 8, and 11, which became widely planted in California.
Recent events
- 2026
Lemmons Family Vineyards expands local wine portfolio with Cuda Ridge acquisition[1]
M&A
Reference material reports that Lemmons Family Vineyards acquired neighboring Cuda Ridge Wines, placing the two brands under common ownership.
- 2024
The Wine Group sells Concannon Vineyard to Lemmons Family Vineyards[1]
M&A
Concannon Vineyard changed ownership in December 2024 when The Wine Group sold the winery to Lemmons Family Vineyards LLC.
Sources2 sources
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