Our Story
Abbot's Passage is a winery and mercantile situated in the heart of Glen Ellen, a place that inspires us to explore the unconventional and embrace the exceptional. Our story began with a passion for field-driven blending and co-fermentation, showcasing small-lot blends of grapes from notable but often overlooked vineyards. We celebrate the beauty and nuance in imperfection, taking a turn off the beaten path and exploring fantastic new blends and embracing new and old-world winemaking techniques.
Our Wines
We produce Rhone-style wines that challenge convention and inspire our curated mercantile experience. Our wines are an expression of the unique partnerships we have formed, allowing us to explore how different varietals work together, accentuating each other's best characteristics to create wines as richly layered as they are approachable. In 2020, we inherited an old-growth vineyard populated exclusively by a 1940 planting of Zinfandel vines, which we have breathed new life into by crossing the vines with new varietals like Mourvedre, Carignan, and Petit Sirah. We look forward to what this vineyard will bear in future vintages.
The Mercantile
Our mercantile is a collection of treasures we have found, tokens that have found us, and brands we return to time and time again. We emphasize products that are local, sustainably made, and sourced from female-run businesses. We carry everyday items and clothing by quality purveyors we know and love and highlight products that are unique, approachable, and richly layered, just like our wines.
The Founder
Katie Bundschu, The Vintner, has always kept her family's story and process close to her heart. As the first female winemaker in her six-generation California wine family, she understands the rules before choosing to break them. With more than 150 years of family history in winemaking, Katie saw an opportunity to add a new dimension to the Bundschu legacy. She envisioned a winery dedicated to creating distinctive wine blends that honor process and challenge conventional expectations. Each bottle embodies Katie's unique perspective to bring vineyards, story, and people together.
At Abbot's Passage, we invite friends and family to come often and stay awhile. Whether you're new to our valley or a seasoned explorer, we invite you to come and taste, shop, play or celebrate with us, and explore the beauty and nuance in imperfection.
Overview
The reviews of Abbots Passage Winery are overwhelmingly positive, with many reviewers praising the winery's beautiful atmosphere, excellent service, and high-quality wine.
Positive Comments
- Many reviewers praised the winery's beautiful atmosphere, with one reviewer calling it a "lovely spot" and another saying it's a "special place to visit".
- The service was widely praised, with reviewers using words like "excellent", "warm", and "inviting" to describe the staff.
- The wine was also widely praised, with many reviewers saying it was "tasty", "delicious", and "amazing".
- The food was also praised, with reviewers enjoying the grazing platter and cheese plate.
Negative Comments
- One reviewer was disappointed with the winery's policy of not allowing outside food, but noted that they had a small selection of food available for purchase.
- Another reviewer had a mixed experience, saying that the winery was "quaint" and "cute", but that the service was rushed and rude at the end of their visit.
- One reviewer thought the wine was "ok" but not worth the price of the tasting flight, and another reviewer thought the staff was "pretentious".
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