1892
Immigrated to AmericaDavid Garrod, his wife Sophia and children: Ralph Vince (RV), Harold, and Maisie, immigrated to America from Southern England in 1892.
1893
Garrod Farms EstablishedGarrod Farms was establised in 1893 with the purchase of 65 acres from the Mt. Eden Orchard and Vineyard Company. They made a living by working for neighbors, cutting wood to sell in San Jose, and finally planting orchards of prunes and apricots. For decades Garrod Farms produced dried prunes and apricots, like much of the Santa Clara Valley, which was then known as "The Valley of Heart’s Delight."
1893
Garrod Farms EstablishedGarrod Farms was establised in 1893 with the purchase of 65 acres from the Mt. Eden Orchard and Vineyard Company. They made a living by working for neighbors, cutting wood to sell in San Jose, and finally planting orchards of prunes and apricots. For decades Garrod Farms produced dried prunes and apricots, like much of the Santa Clara Valley, which was then known as "The Valley of Heart’s Delight."
1916
RV Marries Emma Stolte
In 1916, when RV was 42, he married Emma Stolte, 33, the daughter Ferdinand Stolte, a German sea captain immigrant. Emma was born in an apartment over a saloon in San Francisco, which her father owned and worked. Her father ultimately deemed it imprudent to raise daughters over a bar, and moved the family to a small farm on the summit of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The pair lived on Garrod Farms after marriage, and added acreage and children until they had 240 acres of apricots, prunes, and hay fields and Louise, Vince and Richard.
1941
Louise married George Cooper and Vince married Jane Whiteman
In 1941, Louise married George Cooper, and they ultimately had four children: Bill, Jim, Barbara, and David. Also in 1941, Vince married Jane Whiteman; and they went on to have six children: Peter, Tim, Jan, Vicky, Emma, and Christina.
1941
1954
Richard married Edna May Duddy
Richard married Edna May Duddy in 1954; they did not have children.
1962
The Stables opened for business with the purchase of 10 horses
With the decline of agriculture in Santa Clara Valley following World War II, Garrod Farms moved away from dried fruit, which no longer paid the bills. Aging orchards were replaced with an equestrian center, offering boarding, as well as a rent string for trail rides and lessons. The Stables opened for business in 1962 with the purchase of 10 horses.
1962
1964
The barns and covered Main Arena were built
1969
Vaulting came to Garrod Farms
The sport of Vaulting – gymnastics on horseback – came to Garrod Farms in 1969, brought in by Jane Garrod, who felt it would be a strong addition to the equestrian activities already offered on the ranch. Today the Mt. Eden Vaulting Club continues to make its home here, and has won medals in both national and international competitions.
1969
1972
The first vineyard of Cabernet Sauvignon was planted
Then followed the addition of grapes. The first vineyard of Cabernet Sauvignon was planted in 1972, taken from cuttings from the nearby Paul Masson Vineyard. George Cooper served as the founding winemaker, with Jan Garrod managing the vines. Winemaking began as a retirement hobby for George, after an almost 30-year career as a NASA Test Pilot at the Ames Research Center in Moffett Field. For the better part of two decades, growing grapes and making wine was a family pastime.
1972
Start of involvement in Open Space
1972 also marked the start of the family’s long involvement in Open Space, as Vince Garrod helped to found the MidPeninsula Open Space District. In the early 1980s, the Garrod Family sold and gifted 120 acres to the Mid-Peninsula Open Space District; which enabled the land to continue to be used for bridle trails and public hiking, as a part of the Fremont Older Open Space Preserve today.
1972
1975
Bird Flat Ranch was purchased by the Garrods
Bird Flat Ranch, located just outside of Susanville, CA, was purchased by the Garrods in 1975, as a place for the family to grow their own hay for the horse operation. Today it is run by Tim Garrod and his son Luke Garrod.
1993
The family celebrated the centennial of Garrod Farms.
1993
1994
Opened the Tasting Room to the public
1994, we released our first vintage of Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards wine, and opened the Tasting Room to the public. What had started as a hobby was now part of the family business; today we have two labels: varietals are seen under Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards, and blends are known as the Test Pilot series – each unique blend named for a different airplane that George Cooper flew as a Test Pilot.
2008
Achieved Certified Organic Certification
We moved to become CCOF Certified Organic with our farming practices in 2005, achieving certification in 2008.
2008
2010
Became Certified Sustainable
In 2010, we were one of the first three wineries in the state of California to become Certified Sustainable in our farming practices as well.
1892
Immigrated to America
David Garrod, his wife Sophia and children: Ralph Vince (RV), Harold, and Maisie, immigrated to America from Southern England in 1892.
1893
Garrod Farms Established
Garrod Farms was establised in 1893 with the purchase of 65 acres from the Mt. Eden Orchard and Vineyard Company. They made a living by working for neighbors, cutting wood to sell in San Jose, and finally planting orchards of prunes and apricots. For decades Garrod Farms produced dried prunes and apricots, like much of the Santa Clara Valley, which was then known as “The Valley of Heart’s Delight.”
1893
1916
RV Marries Emma Stolte
In 1916, when RV was 42, he married Emma Stolte, 33, the daughter Ferdinand Stolte, a German sea captain immigrant. Emma was born in an apartment over a saloon in San Francisco, which her father owned and worked. Her father ultimately deemed it imprudent to raise daughters over a bar, and moved the family to a small farm on the summit of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The pair lived on Garrod Farms after marriage, and added acreage and children until they had 240 acres of apricots, prunes, and hay fields and Louise, Vince and Richard.
1941
Louise married George Cooper and Vince married Jane Whiteman
In 1941, Louise married George Cooper, and they ultimately had four children: Bill, Jim, Barbara, and David. Also in 1941, Vince married Jane Whiteman; and they went on to have six children: Peter, Tim, Jan, Vicky, Emma, and Christina.
1941
1954
Richard married Edna May Duddy
Richard married Edna May Duddy in 1954; they did not have children.
1962
The Stables opened for business with the purchase of 10 horses
With the decline of agriculture in Santa Clara Valley following World War II, Garrod Farms moved away from dried fruit, which no longer paid the bills. Aging orchards were replaced with an equestrian center, offering boarding, as well as a rent string for trail rides and lessons. The Stables opened for business in 1962 with the purchase of 10 horses.
1962
1964
The barns and covered Main Arena were built
1969
Vaulting came to Garrod Farms
The sport of Vaulting – gymnastics on horseback – came to Garrod Farms in 1969, brought in by Jane Garrod, who felt it would be a strong addition to the equestrian activities already offered on the ranch. Today the Mt. Eden Vaulting Club continues to make its home here, and has won medals in both national and international competitions.
1969
1972
The first vineyard of Cabernet Sauvignon was planted
Then followed the addition of grapes. The first vineyard of Cabernet Sauvignon was planted in 1972, taken from cuttings from the nearby Paul Masson Vineyard. George Cooper served as the founding winemaker, with Jan Garrod managing the vines. Winemaking began as a retirement hobby for George, after an almost 30-year career as a NASA Test Pilot at the Ames Research Center in Moffett Field. For the better part of two decades, growing grapes and making wine was a family pastime.
1972
Start of involvement in Open Space
1972 also marked the start of the family’s long involvement in Open Space, as Vince Garrod helped to found the MidPeninsula Open Space District. In the early 1980s, the Garrod Family sold and gifted 120 acres to the Mid-Peninsula Open Space District; which enabled the land to continue to be used for bridle trails and public hiking, as a part of the Fremont Older Open Space Preserve today.
1972
1975
Bird Flat Ranch was purchased by the Garrods
Bird Flat Ranch, located just outside of Susanville, CA, was purchased by the Garrods in 1975, as a place for the family to grow their own hay for the horse operation. Today it is run by Tim Garrod and his son Luke Garrod.
1993
The family celebrated the centennial of Garrod Farms.
1993
1994
Opened the Tasting Room to the public
1994, we released our first vintage of Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards wine, and opened the Tasting Room to the public. What had started as a hobby was now part of the family business; today we have two labels: varietals are seen under Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards, and blends are known as the Test Pilot series – each unique blend named for a different airplane that George Cooper flew as a Test Pilot.
2008
Achieved Certified Organic Certification
We moved to become CCOF Certified Organic with our farming practices in 2005, achieving certification in 2008.
2008
2010
Became Certified Sustainable
In 2010, we were one of the first three wineries in the state of California to become Certified Sustainable in our farming practices as well.
Today
129+ Years of Operation
It continues to be a family agriculture operation today, 129+ years and five generations later. Alongside the horse operation, we now have 28 acres of vineyards here on the property. Jan Garrod is our General Manager, overseeing the stables, vineyard, and winery operations. Bill Cooper is our winemaker, and his wife Doris Cooper handles Winery Marketing. Jan’s son Trevor Garrod serves as Cellarmaster and Ranch Yard Foreman; Vicky Garrod Bosworth manages the Boarding, Lesson, and Summer Daycamp programs; Emma Garrod Seely directs the Vaulting program, and Vicky’s daughter Cory Bosworth manages the Tasting Room.
Today
Winery
22645 Garrod Rd, Saratoga, CA 95070 (408) 867-7116 winery@garrodfarms.com
Weekdays 12-5pm Weekends 11am-5pm