Fred Peterson

Fred Peterson moved to the Dry Creek Valley in 1983 from the Santa Cruz Mountains where he managed a winery/vineyard.  That year, he planted a vineyard and built his house on Bradford Mountain, where he currently lives with his partner, Kathleen Stewart, and continues to grow wine grapes and fruit trees.  Peterson Winery was founded in 1987 at the vineyard on Lytton Springs Road now owned by Ridge Vineyards.

The winery moved to its current location at Timber Crest Farms in 2006 with son, Jamie Peterson, now as winemaker and GM.  1987 was also the year that Fred joined the Geyserville Volunteer Fire Company as a firefighter.  After 33 years as a firefighter, EMT and engineer he retired from responding to calls in 2020 but continues to serve as a director for the fire district and active in COPE leadership working to make our community safer by risk reduction and citizen education.  He began his wine growing career working in a vineyard in Mendocino County in 1973. In 1976 he enrolled at UC Davis and graduated in 1978 with honors earning a BS degree in Viticulture.  He has been a director for the Sonoma County Grapegrowers and a director for many years with the United Winegrowers for Sonoma County.  He has lived over half his life in the Dry Creek Valley and plans to spend his remaining years here.