Claudia Springs Winery

In the spring of 1989, longtime friends Claudia and Bob Klindt and Claudia and Warren Hein were traveling through the Anderson Valley during a weekend trip from their San Jose homes. At the time, Bob Klindt, who was employed as a social worker in Santa Clara county, was already demonstrating winemaking prowess with several prizewinning homemade wines.

Near the rural community of Philo, surrounded by the hills of Anderson Valley's vineyards, conifers and oaks, the foursome discovered a home and 20 acres for sale. The property was offered by Anderson Valley wine pioneer Milla Handley and included an assortment of winemaking equipment. The Heins and Klindts had dreamt of leaving the fast pace of city life, and it didn't take long for ideas to spring. By the fall of that year, the Klindts had sold their San Jose home and purchased the property. Soon after, the Heins purchased an adjacent undeveloped 20 acres and Claudia Springs was born.

With winemaker Bob Klindt at the barrels, the winery produced 550 cases of Chardonnay the first year, 1989. During the same period, the winery began expanding into the Pinot Noir and Zinfandel varietals, which today are its mainstay. Claudia Springs wines are made exclusively from Mendocino County vineyards with special emphasis on Anderson Valley grapes.

In 1994, the Klindts found jobs in Mendocino County and moved to the winery full time. We experienced further major developments during the 1998 year. Regrettably, the Heins were no longer able to remain in the winemaking business, but were able to sell their interest to Bob and Claudia.

From those initial 550 cases, Claudia Springs has grown to an annual production nearing 3,000 cases. Every bit of the work, from crushing and pressing to bottling and marketing, is done by Bob and Claudia. Their hands-on approach allows them to maintain strict, personal quality control. This philosophy, steeped in sound winemaking techniques and friendly business principals, has allowed Claudia Springs to build a solid customer base ranging from individual wine lovers to some of the west's finest restaurants and retail outlets.