Joan Rombauer died in December

Wines & Vines, Feb, 2003

Joan Rombauer, co-owner of Rombauer Vineyards and 30-year Napa Valley resident, died Dec. 18 of pancreatic cancer. She was 64. Rombauer and her husband Koerner became partners in Conn Creek Winery in 1976, began producing their own custom wines in 1980 and began construction of Rombauer Vineyards in 1982.

In 1993, the family purchased Hanns Kornell Winery in Calistoga. She also served as national sales director at Stag's Leap Wine Cellars for 12 years. During an almost four-year battle with cancer, she raised more than $500,000 for cancer research. She is survived by her husband of 44 years, a son, a daughter and five grandchildren.