Viti Vecchie, Vino Buono

OUR HISTORY
One might say that winemaking has always been in the Battaglini family blood. As a child Giuseppe Battaglini remembers running through the vineyards in Tuscany, Italy on his grandfather Giulio’s vineyard. Meanwhile half a world away, his future wife Lucia was running thru the vineyards in Mendoza, Argentina.

After meeting in San Francisco, California in 1961, it seemed to be only a matter of time before Giuseppe and Lucia would look to recreate the exotic beauty and peaceful tranquility of their youth spent in the vineyards. Their dream finally became a reality in 1988 when they purchased the old Lagomarsino Winery in Santa Rosa, California.

The Lagomarsino winery has its roots from 1885 when Italian immigrant Bartholomew Lagomarsino first imported Zinfandel and Petite Sirah grapes from Tuscany, Italy and planted them on the property in Santa Rosa, California. At its zenith, the winery was producing over 130,000 gallons of wine per year.

By the time Joe and Lucia purchased the property in 1988, however, it was no longer a functioning winery even though these ancient vines were still producing full-bodied grapes. The grapes were being sold to Beringer on a grape contract that still had 6 years to run.

Hence it was not until 1996 that Joe and Lucia were able to make their first wine from the 1994 vintage of Zinfandel and Petite Sirah. Focusing on making high quality wines, they only made 250 cases that year.

TODAY
Today Battaglini Estate Winery produces about 2,500 cases per year with that same focus on producing high quality wines. The long summer days, followed by cool nights, impart distinctive flavors, with deep complex aromas. The result is long, lingering finishes from complex, superb wines. The 25 acres of old vines consisting of the Zinfandel and Petite Sirah vines, were supplemented in 1996, with a new planting of Chardonnay grapes to take advantage of the favorable climate. The ancient vine Zinfandel and Petite Sirah are now amongst the oldest producing vines in the United States.

The Battaglini family strongly believes in leaving it to nature. We do not use chemicals in the vineyards and allow all of the wines to go through natural fermentation. The old vines are non-irrigated, head-pruned, and hand-picked. The traditional methods of viticulture and winemaking are how the exquisite quality in the wines is achieved.

While you will come, of course, for the delicious wine, there are also plenty of other reasons to visit. Adorned with pictures from the old country, the tasting room truly represents a trip back to Italy. Various medals won in prestigious wine tasting competitions adorn the walls amongst pictures of the old country. A collection of old antique tools imported originally from Italy is assembled to create a mini industry museum on the winery grounds. Italian music is often in the air and the bocce ball court is sitting there calling anyone who is brave enough to challenge the hosts. Hope to see you soon in our little piece of Italy in Santa Rosa, California!