It began in 1993, when Rudy Chinco purchased 41 rolling acres near Plymouth, in California’s Shenandoah Valley appellation, a region noted for its intense, rich Zinfandels and other zesty reds. Rudy, his son Chris and daughter Cathy took time to learn about growing winegrapes and making wine at nearby wineries. They worked side by side, planting their vineyards in 1998 and laying plans for the winery they would open 10 years later. In addition to winegrapes that took naturally to the red soil and 1700 foot elevation, antique cars and tractors seemed to find their way to the 41 acres. Rather than clear away the antiques to make room for the cellars and tasting room, the family decided to build a home for the collection (to open in Fall 2009) and create a destination for others who share their enthusiasm for vintner’s wine and vintage cars.

At Driven Cellars, we’re proud to say that our desire to preserve natural resources, combined with our appreciation of vintage treasures and our desire to spend money on items that increase the quality of the wines we produce—such as French oak barrels and climate control systems, instead of utility bills and construction materials—has resulted in a very green operation. The building that houses our tasting room is largely constructed from an old California State Fair building used before the fair moved to Cal Expo in the late 1960s. We use a large collection system that stores winter rainwater for summer use in our vineyards’ drip irrigation system. 
The large stones that line our quarter-mile driveway came directly from our site. No transportation costs were involved in the wall’s construction. Our cellars and tasting room building heated with energy-efficient radiant heat tubes. Solar panels provide the energy to power our vineyard irrigation system. At Driven Cellars, we believe that efficiency, economy and environmental responsibility work together beautifully to the benefit of all.