Abbot's Passage Shutting Down

The latest victim of the decline in visitors to California Wine Country and broader industry challenges: Abbot's Passage. which not only has a winery in Glen Ellen but also a tasting room, gift shop and event space.

"It became increasingly challenging for the brand and hospitality experience to build the momentum we had envisioned," Katie Bundschu, founder, wrote in an email to the San Francisco Chronicle. Bundschu, a sixth-generation member of the family that owns Gundlach Bundschu winery. The winery reduced its hours last year and had planned to increase them this spring and summer, Bundschu said, "but continued declines in traffic made it difficult to justify it from a business perspective."

Abbot's Passage was targeted at younger generations. The Chroonicle describes it as "more casual and offbeat" and its tasting room featured picnic tables amongst an olive grove, shuffleboard courts, "grazing boards," a photo booth and a mercantile store full of artisan goods, clothing and jewelry. . It hosted events like Dogs + DJs, featuring dogs in partnership with a local animal rescue organization.