Description
John Shafer is the founder of Shafer Vineyards in Napa Valley. Shafer was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1924 and raised near Chicago. After college and military service, Shafer returned to Chicago where he worked and raised a family before making a major midlife change. In 1972, he purchased land in the Napa Valley that would by the end of the decade become Shafer Vineyards, which now produces widely-collected varietal wines. In this interview, Mr. Shafer discusses the origins and early decades of Shafer Vineyards; the social milieu of Napa Valley in the 1970s and 1980s; his introduction to Napa Valley Vintners and its fundraising auction; the auction’s support of community-based organizations; and his own service to community health organizations in Napa County.
Table of Contents — John Shafer