Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir

Castelli & Pizarro Family Winery

Painting by Agata Zaborowski - People sharing wine

Castelli & Pizarro Family Winery: A Legacy Rooted in Tradition

The journey of Castelli & Pizarro Family Winery began in 1995, when Emilio Castelli moved from his beloved Lake Como in Italy to the picturesque landscape of Sonoma County. With him, he brought not only a passion for winemaking but a deep family tradition that had shaped his life for generations.

For Emilio, wine has always been more than just a drink—it’s a part of life. Growing up in Italy, his childhood was filled with vibrant family dinners, where his father and uncles would passionately debate over the wines on the table. As more bottles were uncorked, the discussions grew livelier, filling the room with laughter and memories that stayed with him long after the evening was over.

But the family’s connection to wine goes back even further. During World War II, Emilio’s grandfather’s villa in Como was ransacked, yet the family managed to save a precious collection of wines from Piemonte, Valtellina, and Burgundy—some even crafted by Emilio’s grandfather himself. These bottles, stashed away in their new home, became treasured family heirlooms, and over the years, the men in the family would ceremoniously open them, sparking guessing games about the wine’s origin and how well it had aged.

It’s those early moments—filled with mystery, joy, and tradition—that inspired Emilio’s passion for winemaking. Today, with the Castelli & Pizarro Family Winery firmly rooted in Sonoma County, he and his family are dedicated to crafting wines that capture the essence of this beautiful region. Each bottle is a reflection of their commitment to the land and the shared memories that inspire their work.

Nebbiolo: The Wine of Kings

At Castelli & Pizarro Family Winery, Nebbiolo takes center stage. Though not commonly grown in California, this noble grape thrives in the Russian River Valley’s Green Valley AVA. Native to Northern Italy, Nebbiolo is the grape behind the famous Barolo and Barbaresco wines, known for their elegance and complexity. The grape’s name, "nebbia" (Italian for fog), speaks to the misty climate of its homeland, which mirrors the conditions in Sonoma County.

Growing Nebbiolo is no simple feat. It’s an early budder and a late ripener, making it susceptible to frost and requiring close attention to the vineyard’s microclimates. But the effort pays off with a wine that’s light in color yet rich in character. Nebbiolo’s intense aromas, balanced by firm tannins and acidity, make it a perfect choice for aging and an excellent companion for meals. It pairs beautifully with classic Northern Italian dishes like mushroom risotto, braised meats, polenta, and aged cheeses.

At Castelli & Pizarro Family Winery, every bottle of Nebbiolo tells a story—a story of tradition, family, and the timeless connection between the land and the people who nurture it. With each sip, wine lovers are invited to share in the passion and history that define the Castelli family’s winemaking journey.

Tom Eddy

wine cprks and glass - Pixabay

The first vintage of Tom Eddy Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was 1991, but Tom’s experience in the wine industry goes back farther than that. He earned the U.C. Davis degree in 1974, did his requisite stint in a few big wineries, then settled into the North Coast as general manager and winemaker at Souverain Winery in Geyserville. The accolades for his wines started to follow, for everything from North Coast French Colombard to Sonoma County Zinfandel.

Cinnabar Vineyards & Winery

glasses of wine in front of fireplace - Pixabay

Cinnabar Winery is a family-owned establishment that embraces winemaking as a harmonious blend of science and nature's magic. Nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains, their vibrant Saratoga and Gilroy Tasting Rooms serve as the heart of the winery, where they collaborate with local growers to transform California's finest grapes into distinctive and approachable wines.

History

Founded in 1983 by the late Tom Mudd, Cinnabar initially planted vineyards and constructed a majestic winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Following Tom's passing, the estate changed hands in 2007, and Cinnabar relocated to its new home in downtown Saratoga.

In 2019, Ron Mosley, the original vineyard manager, took ownership, completing a remarkable full-circle journey. Ron is dedicated to honoring Cinnabar's legacy while steering the business toward an exciting future. Cinnabar's philosophy remains rooted in the joy of creating serious wine with a sense of fun.

Tedeschi Family Winery

Tedeschi Family Winery is a great boutique winery to visit and tour. Tedeschi produces approx. 2,000 cases each year. At the time of adding the winery to our California Winery Directory we learned from Stephanie Trotter- Zacaria the Directory or Sales and Marketing that Tedeschi Family Winery took some recent medals for their wines. Congradulations to Emil Tedeschi, vintner & the winery owner, to Emilio Tedeschi the Winery's General Manager and not for forget Mario Tedeschi winemaker.  We will be updating the winery in the future and getting a better picture assigned to the listing soon *

Hours:

By Appointment Only 

Frei Brothers Winery

cluster of grapes - Pixabay

Frei Brothers Reserve is a winemaking story more than a century in the making. In 1890, Swiss immigrant Andrew Frei purchased the core of what is now Frei Ranch in Sonoma County's Dry Creek Valley. The superb stretch of land was already a vineyard, but Frei brought it to prominence when he built a winery that produced 20,000 cases of wine annually by 1895. In 1903, Frei turned the winery over to his sons, Walter and Louis, who adopted the name Frei Brothers.

Kosta Browne Winery

wine and cheese - Pixabay

Kosta Browne began as a dream shared by Dan Kosta and Michael Browne. In the summer of 1997, while working at John Ash & Co. restaurant in Santa Rosa, California, Dan and Michael decided to venture into winemaking. They saved tip money for about eight months and eventually had enough to buy a half ton of Pinot Noir, a used barrel and an old hand-crank stemmer-crusher, a purchase that marks the beginning of Kosta Browne. Since that vintage, they have nurtured relationships with the best growers and honed their winemaking skills, making sure to focus on the vision and values with which they began.

Talisman Wines

wine cellar - Pixabay

After tasting completely through, I must admit I was very impressed! Not only by all the lovely single vineyard pinots, but also talking with Scott (winemaker) and Marta Rich about the wine... Really cool folks.

Prodigal Wines

painting two people sharing wine - Agata

In 1960, Stephen Russell became one of the first graduates of UC Davis' now-renowned Enology program, part of the inaugural class alongside a Franciscan monk. Without family ties or connections in the wine industry, Russell quickly made his mark by becoming the first formally trained enologist hired by the Gallo family. However, after feeling disillusioned with winemaking in his twenties, he decided to step away from the industry. He returned to school to pursue a PhD and embarked on a successful academic career in cancer research, eventually becoming the head of the cancer program at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

Despite his accomplishments in academia, in 2001, Stephen and his wife, Mary, returned to California to fulfill a long-held dream by founding Prodigal Wines. The “prodigal son” had returned.

Nestled in the picturesque hills of the Sta. Rita Hills appellation, Prodigal Wines is known for producing some of the region’s finest Pinot Noirs. The sloping vineyard is planted with clones 115, 667, and 777. With a focus on limited production and careful clonal selection matched to each vineyard block, Prodigal continues to craft world-class wines that reflect the unique terroir of the area.

For wine lovers visiting California's wineries, Prodigal Wines offers a captivating story of redemption and artistry, with exceptional wines that celebrate the journey of a man who returned to his first passion.

Petroni Vineyards

wine by the fire - Pixabay

We had a wonderful experience at the winery. We were greeted by Elizabeth and tasted approximately 8 wines out by the pool. The atmosphere was very relaxed and I loved how we could just taste our way through the wines at our own pace. It was also nice to break up the tasting with olive oil and fresh bread. What makes Petroni different from other wine tasting experiences in Sonoma?: - sit down tasting - relaxed atmosphere (uncommon at most Napa and Sonoma wineries) -fabulous wines, the real "stand-out" for me was their unfiltered Pinot Noir, it was incredible!

Alfaro Family Vineyards

grape cluster - Pixabay

Alfaro Family Vineyards is everything a local Santa Cruz Mountains winery needs to be. The owner is incredibly passionate about his work and drove us over his lovingly cared for property in his pick-up truck. It was an adventure to remember! Fun fact: he is so passionate about the local environment that he re-fenced his property so that the deer can go through it, without being able to access his vineyards. I had a great time touring the vineyard and an even better time tasting the wine. There was a wide variety of wines available for the tasting, and all of them were both tasty and very reasonably priced. Everyone we met here was a great conversationalist and really made me feel comfortable and relaxed. I wish I lived closer so that I could come to taste wines every Saturday for their open tastings! Open Saturdays from noon to 5:00 pm year-round; Sundays June 16 - September 1. Enjoy a flight of 7 or more wines.

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