Ramazzotti

The Old World is artfully conjoined with the New here at Ramazzotti Wines in Geyserville, California. After years of building a personal fan club serving their legendary homemade wines to family and friends, Joe and Norma Ramazzotti catapulted a 50-year saga into high gear, opening their own winery in 2002. A Pomologist by education—having studied the practice of cultivating fruit at Chico State University—Joe is the consummate second-generation Italian-American. Born Giuseppe Ramazzotti near the small Adriatic village of Ancona, Italy in 1950, he emigrated to Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley with his papá and mamma, Germano and Yolanda, at the tender age of 8 years when they came to help Germano’s aunt with the farm after her husband had passed away. Germano, previously a railroad welder, became skilled at his new trade as a farmer, while Yolanda learned to raise chickens, rabbits and tend a garden. Meanwhile, Joe went off to school, where he didn’t know a soul and no one spoke his language! All of his free time was spent helping out on the ranch, and it is here where Joe developed his talent and passion for cultivating grapes. After graduation from Geyserville High School, and some time at Santa Rosa Junior College (where he met his soul mate Norma), Joe mastered the modern art of farming in Chico. For almost 30 years, these two have managed and farmed vineyards in the Dry Creek and Alexander Valley areas. It is a true life and wine partnership. Joe manages the big picture; the vineyards, when to pick, coordinates the crew and crush. Norma is the glue behind the scenes. She keeps the books and handles the orders, and at harvest you would find her in charge of quality control of the fruit; she carefully examines the MOG (Material Other than Grapes), picking leaves and bugs out, and leaving only perfect clusters and berries to be crushed to make their extraordinary wines. Their own vineyards, and other fabulous fruit garnered from their wide personal and professional vineyard network, fill Ramazzotti wines with the essence of the local terroirs while reflecting an endearing, spirited character. – Description from Dragac    (hide)