Few wineries in America can offer the historical perspective of Foppiano Vineyards

For over one hundred years, the Foppianos have been involved in the American wine industry from their home ranch in Sonoma County's Russian River Valley. The story of Foppiano Vineyards is a family epic and full of industry history. It is a tale which confirms the value of perseverance and commitment.

Pictured right: Mathilda Foppiano (2nd from left) and Lou Foppiano (far right) in front of the winery, circa 1940.

Foppiano Vineyards was founded in 1896 by Giovanni Foppiano, a native of Genoa, Italy. Giovanni emigrated from Italy to San Francisco in 1864, walking across the isthmus of Panama en route. He hoped to find his riches in the gold fields of California. It was Giovanni who founded Foppiano Vineyards after moving to Healdsburg, California when his search for gold proved to be unrewarding. He purchased a working winery called "Riverside Farm" on the same land where today's Foppiano Vineyards still stands and operates.

Giovanni was joined in his winemaking pursuits by his son, Louis A. Foppiano. Together they worked the vineyards and developed a market for their wines among the local Italian families and in San Francisco's Italian North Beach District. Over the years, the founding Foppiano and his son began to deviate from their common vision on how the winery should be managed. In 1910, Louis A. purchased the family winery from his father. The father and son did not speak to each other again until just before the founder's death.

For the next eight years, Louis A., along with his wife Mathilda, built Foppiano Vineyards into one of the area's most prosperous wineries, and the Foppiano name became among the most prominent in Healdsburg. Among the varieties planted on the estate was Petite Sirah, a grape which produced hearty, rich, deep reds; the kind of wine Foppiano Vineyards� customers demanded. Other varieties were planted, but at the time the wines were not identified by the variety in the bottle. It was simply Foppiano's renowned wines which customers desired.