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John Concannon, the fourth-generation vintner and former leader of the historic winery in the Livermore Valley that bears his family’s name, has died, company officials confirmed on social media last week.
“John dedicated his life to honoring and evolving the legacy that began in 1883,” Concannon Vineyard officials wrote July 10. “He was a passionate steward of the land, a champion of sustainability and a proud guardian of his family’s rich heritage.”
“John’s legacy lives on in every bottle, every vine and every story shared on the estate he worked so tirelessly to preserve,” Concannon officials added.
A cause of death was not immediately revealed.
Born in 1961, John Concannon rose to the helm of Concannon Vineyard’s now-235-acre estate in 2008, following in the footsteps of his father Jim Concannon and the grandfather and great-grandfather preceding him, according to the company website. James Concannon founded the winery in 1883.
One year into his leadership, John Concannon led the winery to become one of the first in the state to be certified sustainable, an achievement that officials said was among his proudest.
He also led a decade-long revitalization of the Concannon estate, including its restoration and the creation of a solar-powered, small lot winery, according to the company website.
“He believed deeply in preserving the past while building toward the future, and his work helped shape Concannon into not only a historic winery, but a vibrant, welcoming destination known across the country,” Concannon officials wrote.
While at the helm, John Concannon also secured the winemaker’s place in The Smithsonian Institution, which houses three Concannon bottles dating back to the Prohibition era in its National Museum of American History collection. This wine was made and sold for sacramental purposes, according to the company website.
He also served as a Concannon representative on the world stage, presenting “The Concannon Cabernet Clones 7, 8, 11” as a keynote speaker at the 2014 International Cabernet Symposium in Napa.
“John was a dedicated steward of his family’s legacy and a tireless advocate for the Livermore Valley region,” said Eric Wente, fourth-generation winegrower with Wente Family Vineyards. “It was an honor to work alongside him over the years. Our thoughts are with all who knew and admired him.”
Closing out their commemorative post on social media last week, Concannon Vineyard representatives offered their goodbye, saying, “We will miss his warmth, his wisdom, and his unwavering vision. Thank you, John, for everything.”
Following the news of John Concannon’s death, Livermore Downtown Inc. was among the Livermore-based organizations to commemorate his life.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of John Concannon — a wonderful man whose lasting impact on Livermore and the California wine community will never be forgotten,” LDI officials wrote July 10 on social media. “With heavy hearts, we offer our condolences to the Concannon family and all who mourn this tremendous loss.”
Concannon Vineyard on Tesla Road is now owned by Lemmons Family Vineyards and Darcie Kent Winery, who teamed up to acquire the vineyard from The Wine Group for undisclosed price late last year.
