Baldacci Family Vineyards Patio
Family-owned businesses have innate air of closeness and heart, so why not expect such a personal touch for your wine? Next time you make a winery visit, ensure it’s extra special by opting for one that is family-owned from the list below.
Website/ 1623 Mission Dr 93463
When your wine tasting takes you to Solvang, consider Alma Rosa Winery, which was founded by Richard and Thekla Sanford and is now owned by Bob and Barb Zorich. Its Santa Barbara County tasting room in the quaint Danish town presents a premier selection of its small-production wines. Alternatively, you can also experience private tastings by appointment at the Alma Rosa Winery ranch. Either way, you’re in for a treat when sipping on winemaker Samra Morris’ pinot noirs and chardonnays.
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Website/ 4685 W Dry Creek Rd 95448
Fans of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and Zinfandel will want to set their sights on A. Rafanelli Winery. The Healdsburg vineyard specializes in the trio, but what’s especially impressive is that the Rafanelli family has been in the biz since the early 1900s. Four generations later, the winery is still family-owned and operated, meaning that production is limited, but the quality is exceptional. A. Rafanelli Winery is committed to developing handcrafted wines and does so by executing sustainable farming practices.
Website/ 6236 Silverado Trail 94558
As you would gather from the name, family is truly at the epicenter here. When Thomas and Brenda Baldacci purchased the Stags Leap property almost two decades ago, they knew it would become a place for their family to stay connected across generations. Now, 11 years after graduating college, their son Michael leads as winemaker and has crafted a cabernet sauvignon portfolio that is equal parts approachable and complex.
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Website/ 1661 Mission Dr 93463
Also in Solvang, the Crawford family wants you to come see what micro-production of pinot noir, chardonnay and Syrah is really all about. This vino establishment is run by Mark and Wendy Horvath, who have a long history in the Santa Barbara County wine scene. Anchored by a minimalist approach to winemaking, the Crawford Family Wines tasting room offers a welcoming experience for connoisseurs and novices alike.
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Website/ 2660 Anderson Rd 93446
Home is where the heart is, and that’s what distinguishes Connor and Rebecca McMahon’s passion for wine. Fulldraw Vineyard is their home and the husband-and-wife team’s 100-acre property sits in one of Paso Roble’s best wine neighborhoods. Offering top-notch Rhône varieties, Fulldraw Vineyard’s operation is a balance of agriculture, ambition, art and family values.
Website/ 7554 St Helena Hwy 94558
The Gamble family had three generations of farming history when Tom Gamble founded the vineyard in 2005. Stretching about 175 acres, the boutique Napa winery promises a tranquil visit in its isolated nook of the valley’s Oakville District. What’s more, it has earned a reputation for its great Bordeaux varieties.
Website/ 3900 Piner Rd 95401
Just before the turn of the century, Kathleen Inman decided wine was to be a family business. She founded her Sonoma County winery in 1999 and has been its proprietor and winemaker ever since. Committed to being what she calls “eco-ethic,” Inman Family Wines operates a regeneratively farmed and sustainably made practice that produces pinot noirs, pinot gris, chardonnay and sparkling wines.
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Website/ 1474 Alexander Valley Rd 95448
The Jordan family was inspired by food to become vintners, which makes their vino exports the ultimate complement to any special meal. Founded in 1972, Tom and Sally Jordan made it their mission to set a high standard for American wine, while while being inspired by the wine estates of France. Now their son John Jordan runs the winery and continues to uphold their reputation for excellent chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and hospitality.
Website/ 1100 Larkmead Ln 94515
Larkmead operations are in its fourth generation of the family, and you can look back to 1948 when the estate was purchased by Larry and Polly Solari. But you can look even further back to 1895 when Larkmead Vineyards was originally founded. As one of the oldest family-owned Napa Valley establishments, it has become dedicated to crafting fine Bordeaux varieties.
On your next trip to wine country, make it all about the family.
Photography by: Circo Coelho; Rocco Ceselin; Alan Campbell; Courtesy Inman Family Wines; Courtesy Larkmead Vineyards
