San Francisco County

Biographies

CLAUS SCHILLING & CO.

C. SCHILLING & CO.--The wine interest of California is worthily represented by the above named firm at their spacious wine vaults at 230 and 240 Brannan street, San Francisco. The house was established in 1866 by G. Groezinger, who started a small establishment on the corner of Pine and Battery streets. In 1871 Mr. C. Schilling became connected with the house as bookkeeper, and with his keen insight and practicability he improved every opportunity for gaining knowledge of the wine industry. In 1870 Mr. Groezinger purchased 500 acres in Napa Valley, and planted a vineyard, and in 1871 built a large winery, where he made his own wines and conducted an extensive business. In 1874 a branch house was established in New York, at 24 Day street, under the firm of Tyson & Totten, successors to J. R. Tyson, one of the first to introduce California wines in the Eastern States. In 1880 Mr. Groezinger sold his business to the firm of Walter Schilling & Co., which continued at the old stand until 1886, and was then transferred to the present firm of C. Schilling & Co. Mr. Schilling looks after the business in San Francisco, while Tyson & Totten manage the Eastern branch, with mutual interests. Under Mr. Schilling’s able management the business became so extended that in 1889, instead of renting cellars here and there about the city, they decided to concentrate their interests under one roof, and to that end they leased the building 137½ x 275 feet, on Brannan street, between First and Second, which has a frontage of 137½ feet, and depth of 275 feet, and which was erected for their present commodious wine vaults, which have a capacity of 1,750,000 gallons. The building is one story with basement, and, being very light, with broad passage-ways, is one of the most convenient and attractive wine vaults in the city. Mr. Schilling being practical in every detail, has arranged his spacious tanks and receptacles for convenience as well as utility. He has one tank containing 28,000 gallons, and four others, each holding 7,500 gallons which are used in the process of blending wines; also many small tanks, and over 2,000 puncheons for the storage and maturing of wines. The company own no vineyards, but are large purchasers throughout different portions of the State, their chief supply coming from Sonoma and Napa valleys. The company have spacious and attractive offices and sample and store rooms, with every convenience for the bottling and care of wines, all of which Mr. Schilling personally superintends. All wines are labeled with firm name, no foreign labels being used. In 1889 the firm established a branch house under the name of California Wine Company, at Bremen, Germany, all wines have been carefully analyzed, and have received the cordial endorsement of many prominent authorities. They are thus building up a reputation for pure wines and square dealing. Cleanliness and “a place for everything and everything in its place,” is the rule governing the Brannan street establishment.

Transcribed by Donna L. Becker

Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 2, Pages 190-191 Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.