Our Story

Family Patriarch Ardash Agajanian (Gary Agajanian’s grandfather) came to America from the village of Moush, Armenia in 1914. He worked with an Italian winemaker at the Armenian owned MISSION BELL WINERY in Madera, California. In 1922 Ardash planted 40 acres with winegrapes, raisin grapes, tree fruit and walnuts. Joseph Agajanian (Gary’s father) increased the grape plantings to over 800 acres throughout the 1960′s to 1980′s, and continued to develop and improve the vineyards that would later produce award-winning wines. Joe also developed his talent with an artist’s brush over the years, and it is his Sailing Ship painting that is used in the Agajanian Vineyards Label today.

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In his early years, Gary Agajanian cannot remember a time when he was not working in the vineyards – hoeing weeds, pruning, irrigating and driving tractor. Soil was a way of life, and he loved every minute of it. Gary began leasing his own vineyards and open ground for watermelons, cotton and beans  when he was 16 years old. He continued to work in production agriculture specializing in winegrapes through his school years. And so with agriculture in his blood, and a degree in Ag Business with an emphasis in Viticulture and Enolology from Fresno State under his belt, Gary dove further into the challenging grape marketing of the 1980′s . In 1986 he began international sales and marketing of general fresh produce. He gained valuable experience negotiating for several fruits and vegetable growers across 37 countries.