Gundlach-Bundschu reschedules Huichica

Gundlach-Bundschu Winery has long been a must stop for wine lovers who wish to sample their estate grown wines and learn of its long history. Some 100 years into that history, the winery added live music to its offerings.

The wines, including the grape Sonoma County is perhaps best known for, zinfandel, are always winners. Their offerings also include tempranillo, originally from Spain, and a rare bottling of a German varietal, gewürztraminer.

The history of the winery includes a fateful April day when over a million gallons of its wine was spilled out from the tanks, and the winery, a city block in length, was destroyed. Three adjacent family homes were also ruined in the calamity. That April was in 1906, and the event that caused the havoc was the “big one,” the earthquake in San Francisco where the winery was located for many years.

The rocking and rolling winery employees felt that morning over 100 years ago continues with the music Gun-Bun now offers. In recent history, California’s oldest family-owned winery has also been on the radar of Northern California music fans. It offers special nights of music several times during the year. Gun-Bun is also the home of the now 12-year-old Huichica Music Festival.

The 2021 Huichica, usually held during the summer months when the winery is not slammed with crush, will be Oct. 15 and 16 this year. Weekend passes went on sale last Friday, single day tickets will follow in the days to come.

The lineup is as indie-impressive as always. Returning this year are Mack DeMarco, Yo Lo Tengo and Vetiver. New acts this year include Los Dug Dug’s and Jess Cornelius.

Jeff Bundschu and his partners at FolkYeah productions have secured a solid slate of acts. To categorize them, always difficult and never necessary, is to call them “folk and indie artists.” There will be no shortage of electric guitars and drums, though. Also, the bands are almost 100 percent original, there will be nary a cover song to be heard.

Bands at Huichica will perform both on the winery’s beautiful outdoor stage facing the amphitheater, and inside the Redwood Barn. The crowd size is always kept to an “intimate” level, ensuring a satisfying concert experience. Huichica is promoted as being “family-friendly” so bring the kids, and “all-ages” (so you might even see an old geezer like me there).

Visit huichica.com to answer all your questions. First, these answers: Yes, bring sunscreen. Yes, it will be great.

If you cannot wait until October for a Gun-Bun fix, the winery is also presenting Neko Case on Aug. 27 and Waxahatchee on Sept. 21. After Huichica, your musical snack can be indie pop sensation band Japanese Breakfast on Nov. 11.