In January we lost one of our most celebrated agricultural leaders, Richard Kunde. Rich, and his beloved Saralee McClelland Kunde, both from multi-generational Sonoma County families, had the rich qualities of the place of which they were born.
This imprint of place defined their work, as they dedicated their lifetimes to protecting and promoting agriculture in Sonoma County.
A University of California at Davis graduate with a bachelor of science in horticulture and masters in viticulture, Richard Kunde revolutionized rootstock propagation in the early 1980s with his fledging nursery Sonoma Grapevines. Comprehensive scientific studies led to the success of his company in planting millions of vines annually throughout California and the United States.
When vineyards at Thomas Jefferson’s former estate Monticello in Virginia were replanted, vines were shipped from the Sonoma County nursery of Rich Kunde. Rich loved the idea of elevating the wine industry.
Saralee was his muse. Their love story transformed agriculture in Sonoma County. Saralee’s passion was county fairs. She worked first for her hometown Petaluma fair. Soon after, while working for the Santa Rosa fair, she met Richard.
Decorating the Hall of Flowers for the new Harvest Fair, which she was instrumental in founding, Saralee needed foliage to beautify the enormous barn-style building. Her friend since childhood, Tim Tesconi, called Rich to see if he could help. According to Tim, “Once Rich met Saralee he was smitten, and delivered truckloads of foliage and monumental trees to impress her. A year later they were married.”
Saralee wanted to continue working after marriage, as she loved the fair. Rich, the romantic, lured her away with the promise of her own fairgrounds on former silo fields of a new property they had recently purchased on Slusser Road. After all, with his marriage proposal delivered in the Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia, he committed to replicating the beauty of these gardens in their own backyard.
Rich was in charge of the nursery and of the magnificent gardens on Slusser Road. Saralee devoted herself to the planting and cultivation of vineyards, while promoting the Russian River Valley appellation.
One of the highest honors in the American agricultural industry is the Award of Distinction from the Agriculture and Natural Sciences department of UC Davis. Rich received this honor in 2008. He was inducted into the Sonoma County Farm Bureau Hall of Fame in 2010. Two years later, this honor was bestowed upon Saralee.
Saralee’s Vineyard and Richard’s Grove — their backyard — became the gathering place of our community. Now cared for by the Jackson Family, it remains a revered place for locals in raising money and awareness to protect our diverse local agriculture.
It was always Rich’s intention to give Saralee a platform. A philanthropist dedicated to preserving small family farms and developing the new leaders, Saralee was an advocate for 4-H and Future Farmers of America.
In previous columns, I’ve written about Sonoma Select, a marketing arm for specialty food in Sonoma County in the 1980s and early 1990s, as well as her vision in creating Sonoma County Chefs’ Tasting. With annual five-course sit down white tablecloth luncheons in the Grove, scores of chefs, sommeliers, and restaurateurs from the Bay Area and beyond were introduced to our cornucopia of food and wine.
The legacy of Richard and Saralee Kunde was founded on love: A love of the land and a love for each other.
Four years to the month after Saralee’s passing, Richard is now beside her once again, leaving us a county rich in agricultural resources, well known and respected throughout the world. We honor their memory by safeguarding the integrity of their dream, while supporting the young leaders passionate about farming and community who are forging new footprints.
Marie Gewirtz represents wine and food clients with marketing and communications in Sonoma County and throughout the world. She can be reached at
wi*******@so********.com
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