BINMAG.COM $9.95 BEVERAGE INDUSTRY NEWS + IRISH WHISKEY • AGAVE BOOM • CANNABIS CONVERSATION • KOMBUCHA • AND MORE FERRARI-CARANO VINEYARDS AND WINERY INSPIRED WINES, VINE TO BOTTLE Written by Marcy Gordon When Don and Rhonda Carano first came to Sonoma County from Nevada on a buying trip looking for wines for their Eldorado Hotel and Casino in Downtown Reno, they did not expect to buy land. But Sonoma County has a way of working its magic in mysterious ways, and they found a 60-acre parcel of land in Alexander Valley that proved irresistible. The rest is history, as Ferrari-Carano went on to become one of the finest wineries in Sonoma County. 18 BIN 2019 Ground was broken for the winery in 1985, that broadens the picture when looking at Bevilacqua, which means ‘drink water’ in and the first wines bearing the Ferrari- things. They generally are good listeners Italian. We couldn’t name the winery using Carano label were released in 1987. Those and understand nuances that may be my last name, so we used my late husband’s first wines were a 1986 Fumé Blanc and overlooked by men. Ferrari-Carano has grandmother’s maiden name, Ferrari.” a 1985 Alexander Valley Chardonnay. three women winemakers, our human Today, Ferrari-Carano produces those resource department is led by a women, Rhonda draws on her heritage and the wines as well as a variety of other white as well as other areas such as compliance, spirit of Italian hospitality throughout all and red wines, including: Pinot Grigio, wine club and regional managers her business responsibilities in California, Siena (a Sangiovese-based blend) and including Vintners Inn, a 78-room hotel in Merlot from Sonoma County; Russian Santa Rosa, the highly-regarded John Ash River Valley single vineyard Chardonnays; & Co. restaurant, The Front Room Bar & Reserve Chardonnay from Napa Carneros; Lounge, River Vine Café, Vi La Vita Spa, Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley; Sky a retail boutique in downtown Healdsburg, High Ranch Pinot Noir from Mendocino Seasons of the Vineyard Wine Shop, as Ridge; Zinfandel from Dry Creek Valley; well as a small winery in Anderson Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve Cabernet Lazy Creek Vineyards, known for its Sauvignon, Trésor (a Bordeaux-style outstanding Pinot Noirs. blend), two mountain vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons, PreVail Back Forty and West Naturally, Italian heritage is an important Face, all from Alexander Valley; and three part of the Ferrari-Carano brand. “I believe dessert wines, Eldorado Gold, Eldorado being an Italian-American, family-owned Noir and Baci. winery brings an awareness to our Italian culture, as do some of our wines in our In 2017, after the death of her husband, portfolio, like our SIENA, which is a red Rhonda Carano, CEO; Ferrari-Carano Winery Don Carano, Rhonda assumed the role blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon of CEO for the winery, which she had and Malbec. Another wine, our Pinot co-managed since 1981. Her new role throughout the country. Women bring Grigio, is inspired by the Pinot Grigios expanded her duties and set her apart as nuances to wine with our innate sense of found in the Northeastern regions of Italy,” the leader of one of the few, woman owned smell and taste. That’s not to say that men says Rhonda. and operated wineries in Sonoma County. do not have this capability, but women Many of the senior management positions bring a different perspective to the table.” Rhonda notes the wines in the portfolio at Ferrari-Carano are held by women too. were chosen to emphasize the exceptional It’s almost pre-destined that Rhonda would growing conditions for Italian varieties. Being a woman-centric organization is end up in the wine business, focusing on “Having 24 certified sustainable vineyards important to Rhonda. “I think women Italian varietals. Rhonda’s family hails gives credence to our emphasis on terroir, add a different dimension and insight from Genoa, Italy. “My maiden name is and SIENA, our Sangiovese blend, grows Executive Winemaker Sarah Quider, CEO Rhonda Carano, Winemaker Red Wines Rebecka Deike, Pinot Noir and Lazy Creek Vineyards Winemaker Christy Ackerman very well in this region. The wine is a You’ll find it in the landscaping, and in the evaluated for what would be the best reflection of our Italian heritage and we’ve soils, you’ll find it in the way they protect practices in management. When we always enjoyed Italian Sangiovese wines.” the fish and wildlife on the land and in the manage the vineyards in the best way, conscious use of water. You’ll find it in the the grapes true expression is shown in the Despite it’s size, Ferrari–Carano maintains manicured grounds of the winery, that are resulting wines.” a small family sensibility. Rhonda attributes a showcase for the growing possibilities of that feeling in part to being located in Sonoma County, with over 2,000 species of Ferrari-Carano was an early adopter of Sonoma County. “Ferrari-Carano is family, trees and shrubs marked with identification sustainability measures, and has been and the winery is located in a part of the tags. Sustainability at Ferrari- Carano is not instrumental in implementing many country that’s truly representative of living just a marketing term, it a way of life and initiatives of sustainability as standard your best life -- a bounty of artisan food, set of guiding principals that that Rhonda management practices. “We have been wine, friends and the endless beauty of this and Don Carano set out as they sought to working with the Federal, State, and local region – we’re truly living la dolce vita.” develop their vineyard properties. From government agencies for years to provide the beginning, their point of view was not fish friendly farming and creek restoration As the company has grown, Rhonda has just as vineyard owners, but also as stewards at multiple vineyards sites, and have kept the sense of famigila and intimacy of the land and champions for it’s future. continued some of the practices throughout intact by focusing on the employees first our other ranches,” says Quider. and foremost. “Ferrari-Carano has always Sustainability can easily be just a term prided itself with long term employees,” batted around, but at Ferrari-Carano, they In 2014, Sonoma County Winegrowers says Rhonda. “We have more than a walk-the-walk and talk-the-talk; from the announced it would become the nation’s handful of employees who have been vineyard roadways made with tree sap as an first 100% certified sustainable wine with us since day one and others for over alternative to asphalt-paved roads that it is region. According to the Sonoma County 20 years. We have always had an open- biodegradable and halts the spread of harsh Winegrowers, “for a vineyard to become door policy where camaraderie is the chemicals leaching into the surrounding sustainable, growers must complete a self- guiding spirit of Ferrari-Carano. Many soils; to the baby doll sheep (small in assessment of each vineyard that includes staff members are friends outside of work. stature to limit the grazing to the grass and a comprehensive set of 138 best practices, We’ve had monthly luncheons with all weeds and not the buds or grapes) used to undergo an independent third-party team members since the very beginning. limit the use of pesticides in the vineyards. audit and create an annual continuous During harvest, we prepare breakfast, Ferrari-Carano pays attention to the tiniest improvement plan. The auditors are lunch and dinner for our workers. All our of details to preserve the land and make environmental scientists, biologists, employees have a great deal of pride and wines that are true and authentic to place. chemists, professors, geologists and other sense of family in working for Ferrari- trained professionals.” That same year, Carano, and I think they represent that to It all begins with soil health, and the Ferrari-Carano’s 24 vineyards earned the community.” ongoing care of the land is the key to California Sustainable Winegrowing representing genuine terrior in the bottle. Alliance (CSWA) certification. They SUSTAINABILITY Executive Winemaker Sarah Quider became a Certified California Sustainable Care for the land is also paramount in the points to soil management practices as Vineyard for their abundant efforts to corporate ideals – and commitments to crucial to achieving varietal characteristics preserve the land for future generations, sustainability objectives are an important in the bottle. “We have many various soil and are recognized for being conscientious part of the Ferrari-Carano ethos. types throughout our 24 different, certified of the environment, surroundings, sustainable vineyard ranches,” says Quider. neighbors and their labor force. “And each one has to be monitored and 20 BIN 2019 Ferrari-Carano Wine Tours NEW LABELS HIGHLIGHT SONOMA certifications because their customers Additionally Dick notes—“Don and COUNTY SUBSTANTIALITY – the consumers – are asking for them. Rhonda Carano together created one of Last year, a pilot program for labeling Consumers are more conscious about their the most fantastic wineries in California. wines in Sonoma County as Sustainable health and the environment than ever They combined their love of wine with a was rolled out, and Ferrari-Carano was before. It’s important for us to have brands love for hospitality when they built Villa immediately on board. “We joined the in our portfolio that enable our trade Fiore, possibly one of the most outstanding pilot program with no hesitation at all customers to satisfy these trends.” and magnificent properties in wine because we have been sustainably farming country.” for years and feel that spreading the word Furthermore, Dick sees sustainability for the Sonoma County wine industry driving innovation across the wine “I was quite honored to be chosen,” says only helps our local farmers and wineries,” industry—from wine growing practices to Rhonda.