The rocks of Concannon Vineyard tell a tale rich in history. They tell the story of a fiercely determined Irishman who planted the first vines in this rocky soil in 1883, establishing one of California's oldest wineries.
      The Concannon clan dates back about a thousand years in Ireland; it may be one of the oldest family names in that country. James Concannon was born on St. Patrick's Day in 1847 on Inishman Island (or Inis Mean,) off the Coast of Ireland. Although he must have had the luck of the Irish, it was his strong character and perseverance that brought James to California where he became the first Irish vintner to take advantage of California’s unparalleled potential.
      With his vision for a winery in place, he moved his family from San Francisco to Livermore Valley where the rocky soil and rich terroir reminded him of France’s premier winemaking regions. With its idyllic Central Coast climate, Livermore’s grapes flourish in warm days and nights cooled by winds from the San Francisco Bay.
      Concannon has a history of firsts. Its austere vineyards produced the world’s first Petite Sirah from the 1961 vintage. Its innovation pioneered the creation of the widely adopted Cabernet Sauvignon Clones 7 and 8, securing Concannon Vineyard's prominent place in the annals of California viticulture and planting most of Napa’s Cabernet vineyards. And its eye for winemaking talent discovered America’s first female winemaker, a Hungarian ballerina named Katherine Vajda.
      Today, Concannon Vineyard is a historical California landmark and a producer of award-winning wines enjoyed across the world.