While touring through the Alexander Valley. Second generation Italian-Americans Don and Rhonda Carano felt so much at home that they decided to open up a winery.
To prepare for this new adventure, they traveled back to Italy and France to learn the art of winemaking. They also took classes at UC Davis. Then, after hiring some consultants, they founded the Ferrari-Carano vineyards and winery in 1981.
The Carano's attention to detail is evident wherever you look. From the moment you arrive at the grand Italian style villa, to the taste of the wine, to the label on each bottle which tells a more personal story.
"Emilia Ferrari is my paternal grandmother and we felt we should put a family name on there. The Ferrari-Carano name itself is sort of the old generation and the new generation and I think it sort of mimics what winemaking is all about. The old traditions of making wine and the new technologies that we have now."
The underground cellar holds 1,100 wine barrels and creates the optimal humidity and temperature levels necessary for the aging wines. And this is where winemaker George Bursick spends much of his time.
After tasting some of Ferrari-Carano's fine wines and seeing the underground cellar, a trip to this winery just wouldn't be complete without a stroll through the gorgeous gardens. "Today around Ferrari-Carano, we have five beautiful acres of gardens and not only do wine lovers come here but garden lovers come because they truly are magnificent".
"We're basically farmers at heart and coming from an Italian background the land, the roots and working with the land is very humbling and really rewarding in a lot of respects."
