California viticulturist Robert “Bob” Steinhauer, whose career spanned five decades and who was responsible for farming more than 15,000 acres of vineyards throughout California, predominantly in Napa and Santa Barbara Counties, died Nov. 28. He was 84.
“Bob had a major impact on the whole of Napa Valley,” said Andy Beckstoffer, of Beckstoffer Vineyards. “He was everywhere. This was a time when Napa Valley was undergoing a major shift from prune orchards to grapevines. He was changing us from an agricultural community to a viticultural community.”
Born in 1941 in Exeter, Calif., in the Central Valley, Steinhauer’s childhood was spent in Easton, as his family farmed grapes for raisins, setting a foundation for his love of farming and vineyard laborers. Steinhauer attended California State University, Fresno, earning a bachelor’s in viticulture and master’s in plant science. When he graduated in 1969, he was one of the first trained viticulturists from the nascent program. He began his career in the Central Valley, managing around 5,000 acres of vineyards for Schenly Industries, while negotiating some of the state’s first farmworker union contracts.
A Move to Napa
In 1971, Steinhauer moved to Napa Valley with his wife, Verna, and began working for Beckstoffer, who at the time was running Napa Valley Vineyard Company, farming vineyards for Inglenook and Beaulieu Vineyards. Beckstoffer was intrigued by the college-trained viticulturist and convinced winemaker André Tchelistcheff to hire Steinhauer for BV’s vineyards. With Beckstoffer, Steinhauer worked BV’s famed number 3 and 4 vineyards in Rutherford and Oakville, respectively, the latter in the famed To Kalon vineyard.
Steinhauer then left Napa Valley Vineyard Company in 1979 to oversee vineyard management for Beringer Vineyards. “[Bob and Verna’s] kids and our kids know each other. I hated to lose him, but I was happy for the industry,” said Beckstoffer, who remained friends with Steinhauer.
It was at Beringer where Steinhauer would make his greatest impact over a 26-year run. During his tenure, Beringer expanded its vineyard holdings to more than 10,000 acres in multiple California appellations. Steinhauer oversaw the farming while helping develop Beringer’s Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay Private Reserve program, as well as its single vineyard Napa Valley wines. A Beringer vineyard on Howell Mountain bears his name.
Steinhauer earned the nickname “Tasmanian Devil” for his propensity to tornado through offices and vineyards with speedy questions and instructions, and then rush away. In the early 2000s, Beringer Blass, Beringer’s then owner, established a Santa Barbara County winery, Taz, in tribute to Steinhauer; he would then go on to plant the winery’s Santa Barbara vineyards. Steinhauer retired from Beringer in 2005 and founded his own firm, Wineland Consulting LLC, which he remained active in until his death.
Steinhauer is survived by his wife of 57 years, Verna, his children, Erik and Anne, his granddaughter, Parker Steinhauer, and his cousin, Leonard Hoskins, with whom he farmed raisins as a young boy.
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