Sangiacomo Wines - A Tradition in Farming, A Legacy in Winemaking
For Sonoma’s Sangiacomo Family, farming isn’t just a tradition, it’s in their blood. The multi-generational Sonoma farmers grew up on the ranch their family has farmed since 1927, learning the value of stewardship from their parents and grandparents at a young age. Though at one time they were the largest pear-growing farmers in Sonoma County, the Sangiacomos have since built a name for themselves as one of the top wine grape growers in California—but their story doesn’t end there. Armed with over 50 years of experience and knowledge growing cool-climate grapes in Sonoma County, the Sangiacomos are forging a new path in their family legacy: making sustainably-farmed estate wines under their own boutique label, Sangiacomo Family Wines.
Since planting grapevines in 1969, the Sangiacomos have continued to honor the family’s tradition of sustainable farming, growing premium grapes from their 1,600 acres of estate vineyards throughout Sonoma County and Napa Valley. In 2015, all 15 of their estate vineyards were certified sustainable, granted by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA), helping to lead Sonoma County’s efforts to become the first wine region in the U.S. that is 100% sustainable. Known for their commitment to quality, the family has established themselves as respected growers of sustainably-farmed Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes—grapes that are highly sought-after by some of the top producers throughout California.
Inspired by their passion for the region, the Sangiacomo Family established their eponymous label in 2016, hiring acclaimed winemaker James MacPhail—whose accolades include producing 100 different Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays with 90+ point scores—to lead the winemaking efforts. Driven to make highly expressive wines of complexity, freshness, and a pure sense of terroir, the family sources Pinot Noir and Chardonnay fruit from the most compelling individually farmed sites throughout their Carneros, Petaluma Gap, Sonoma Valley, and Sonoma Coast estate vineyards, as well as small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley’s Oakville appellation. Drawing on their vast experience, careful consideration is made with regard to how the various clones and rootstocks, vine spacing and orientation, pruning, and canopy management can tease an extraordinary range of flavors out of the grapes.
A family business in the truest sense, with two generations working side-by-side each and every day, Sangiacomo Family Wines leads with authenticity in all areas of operations, and the family takes pride in their commitment to being environmentally conscientious and socially responsible—an ethos that captivated Winemaker James from the start. With an admiration for meticulous farming, James approaches Sangiacomo wines with a deeply rooted understanding of the value of terrior. Using an artisanal style in the cellar, he employs traditional, old-world techniques and minimal intervention to tell the stories of the microclimates and soil diversities of each specific site, creating wines that express the voice and character of the land the Sangiacomos have called home, and hope to call home, for generations.
Sangiacomo Family Wines welcomes visitors to their historic Sangiacomo Home Ranch, situated at the gateway to Sonoma Valley. The heart and soul of the family business, a visit to the 110-acre ranch offers rare insight into the history of the family and the land they’ve farmed for nearly a century. 90-minute private tastings take place on the serene terrace, where guests can enjoy current release wines while taking in breathtaking views of the ranch and surrounding hills.