Winemaker and industry pioneer John Angelo Parducci died at his home in Ukiah Tuesday at 96.

Honored numerous times over his lifetime for his role in shaping the wine industry not only in Mendocino County but in California, Parducci will be remembered for his determination to produce a quality wine at an affordable price.

Born on January 22, 1918 in Preston, Calif. (just north of Cloverdale), in the same house his mother Isabelle Katherine Lucchetti was born, the family moved to the Ukiah Valley in the 1920s. Once in Ukiah, Parducci and his three brothers helped their father construct Parducci Wine Cellars in 1932. After graduating from Ukiah High School in 1936, Parducci attended Santa Rosa Junior College. In March 1937 he married the love of his life, Margarett Louise Romer.

Parducci returned to work at the family”s winery and took over winemaking in 1940. He strove to improve the quality of wine while making it accessible and affordable. Affectionately labeled Mr. Mendocino, he championed this winemaking region nationally for more than half a century. He stayed active in winemaking for 70 years, most recently with his grandson Rich, at McNab Ridge Winery.

“He was a man of many things like all great characters are,” remembered long time friend Mike Geniella who met Parducci when Geniella was a newspaper reporter. “He was a contrarian and crusty and he could be the kindest, sweetest, loving man.”

Geniella says his favorite of Parducci”s stories was one the winemaker told about being at an event in a Dallas hotel back in the days when white zinfandel – the pink wine – was a huge trend. Geniella says Parducci told him he was asked to speak before a large crowd in the hotel ballroom where many Dallas socialites “were swilling pink zinfandel” as John put it,” and “he launched into this tirade about this trendy wine he called soda pop. The room went silent, because the whole room was drinking it. The marketing people were waving their hands and going nuts.” As Parducci continued his story, according to Geniella “He looked sheepish, and he said, Well, I was just telling them what I thought.””

Geniella points out that Parducci”s pioneering efforts include being the first Mendocino County winemaker to put a varietal on the label.

“That was huge,” Geniella said. “We were just bulk wine producers before that.”

Parducci was well-known for his determination to produce a wine people could drink with meals everyday.

“The 50 dollar bottle of wine just blew his mind,” Geniella said.

Parducci was a “colorful character,” Geniella said, and “I was honored and entertained to be in his company.

Geniella says he thinks Parducci”s legacy will be his “feeling that most people want a good wine everyday like in the old world, a glass of wine with your meal. He used talk to me all the time about that.”

Another friend, whose family was close to the Parduccis is 1st District Supervisor Carre Brown.

“What I remember is he was very passionate about the wine industry, the reputation for Mendocino County and the industry itself. He was the Godfather” of winemaking in Mendocino County,” Brown said.

She recalls that when she became executive director of the Mendocino County Farm Bureau years back, Parducci called her at harvest season and said she needed to “come out and see this harvest. So I went out and learned.”

Brown believes the Parducci legacy is not only in his family, who are carrying on the winemaking tradition, but also “his passion, how he promoted the wine industry.”

Potter Valley resident Janet Pauli, who spent summers working for Parducci when she was young, described him as an “amazing person” who was a second father to her.

“I knew him as a friend and as a boss,”said Pauli, whose parents Bill and Peggy Friend were friends with Parducci. “He could be really onery, but he was always fair and had a good heart.” Professionally, Pauli described Parducci as an “excellent winemaker and an incredible marketer who probably did more than anyone else to put Mendocino County wine on the world”s radar. He was sort of the patriarch of our wine industry. “He was a fantastic storyteller, which is what made him such a good marketer,” Pauli continued. “He was certainly one-of-a-kind.” Parducci was honored numerous times with awards by his industry associates for contributions to the wine industry; named winemaker of the year many times, received lifetime achievement awards and most recently was inducted into the Vintner”s Hall of Fame.

Here in Ukiah, he was president of the Ukiah Rotary Club, past president of Pomo Shrine Club and was awarded Mendocino County Agricultural Man of the Year. He and his wife, Margarett, were also ardent supporters of the Grace Hudson Museum.

He is survived by his wife Margarett of 76 years, son William, brother Dolph, six grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. His father Adolph, mother Isabelle, son Richard, brothers George and Vernon precede him in death.

The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 10 at Eversole Mortuary, 141 Low Gap Road, Ukiah. Memorial donations can be made in John”s name to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2425 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento, Calif. 95817.