Label Stories

A Wine Label Can Say a Thousand Words

It is our opinion that a truly exquisite wine cannot be judged on taste alone. For us, we want something that grips us and won’t let go. A wine that can tell a story is far more compelling than some ordinary store-bought bottle where the origins are unknown. Our goal is to tell our family heritage and history through each bottle we share and it is through our wine labels that we hope our story can take root.

We invite you to learn more about our family and our wine by reading below…

Ricci Vineyards Rosé of Pinot Noir

Remnants of an Old Windmill

This image, which can be found on the label for our Rosé of Pinot Noir, is the last remaining vestige of a windmill that existed on the property long before it ever became a vineyard. Perhaps more precisely, this was part of a wind pump that drew water from an underground well and fed it into a stock trough for grazing cattle. Although the cattle have long been removed, and the physical relics of a livelihood that existed prior to the vineyard slowly fade to dust, this tower is an unrelenting reminder of our family’s legacy; first as ranchers, now as farmers, and forever patrons to the land.

Three Lions - Pinot Noir

Undeterred by Sun and Time

At Ricci Vineyards there lies a small pond that has served as a source of summer relief and relaxation for our family for many years. Posted on the edge of this pond are three stone lion statues that stand ever vigilant and watchful; their stern gaze spanning across the reaches of our property. They are the protectors of our vineyard and even as the scorching sun cracks their stone bodies, they remain unwavering and determined. We like to think that the same principles apply towards our efforts as wine producers and grape growers. The image above can be found on the label of our Three Lions Pinot Noir.

St. Laurent

A Looming Giant

On the label of our St. Laurent you will find an image of a towering concrete monolith that casts its shadow over everything that lays below it. Although slowly crumbling by the passage of time, this pillar is an old grain silo and a reminder of the days long before our grapes and vineyards ever existed. The silo was a necessary vessel for storing grain to sustain the herds of cattle that lived on the land when it was used by our family as a dairy. We feel truly honored to carry on the family traditions of farming and we have no doubt that this looming giant will continue to stand tall; ushering in our future generations of agricultural undertakings.

Pommard Clone - Pinot Noir

A Leap of Faith

Looking upon the vast sea of vineyards, vacant dairy pastures and marshland, Carneros can be viewed as a unique patchwork of untamed ruggedness and beauty. Kissed by chilling winds that whip over Mt. Tamalpais and the Marin Hills from the west, and wrapped in a blanket of fog that creeps in from San Pablo Bay to the south; this land will reward patient stewards that can embrace the challenge of growing wine grapes in such an environment. There is no doubt that starting a vineyard here can take a leap of faith, so our success in Carneros is like a badge of perseverance we wear with pride. Truly, there is no other place we would rather be.

Carneros Chardonnay

Tools of the Trade

Tucked in a forgotten corner of our property, all but locked away from the rest of the world, is a room that speaks of generations long ago. Harboring the remains of a once-proud machine shop, the walls within are a time capsule adorned with antique jars filled with screws and bolts, saw blades that dangle from rusted nails, and hammers cloaked in cobwebs. The laboring of a century ago radiates through the warped, wooden planks that hold the building upright; invoking a sense of admiration for a much simpler time. For us, this old shop is a reminder that beauty shines brightest with simplicity; wine in hand and the conversation of friends and family nearby.

Dry Muscat

Survival and Resilience

This old, rusted delivery truck is a survivor. At one point its refrigeration unit was used as an incubator to nurse our young, fledgling vines. However, prior to this purpose it was a part of a proud fleet that transported cargoes of milk throughout Sonoma County for the historic Stornetta Dairy. In 2017 the Stornetta Dairy, which was established in 1932, was leveled by the raging fires that tore through the heart of the Sonoma wine country. After the ash and smoke had settled, this vehicle instantly became a treasured artifact; an endangered memento from a chapter of Sonoma’s agricultural past. This truck will remind us how those flames changed, and strengthened, our community forever.

Cesta Cuvée

Cherish the Voyage Equally to the Destination

Cesta (pronounced sess-tah) is a Czech term that translates to “journey” or “path”. The train tracks pictured above run through our vineyard and are symbolic for the trek we embarked upon as farmers in Sonoma nearly 40 years ago. Back in 1982, the path we started on is not the same path we travel today. Meandering through the decades, we have made plenty of course corrections and adaptations along the way. Ultimately, we celebrate our grape-growing odyssey for the direction it has taken us and find solace knowing that wherever we end up on this journey, our hands will till the soil and our hearts will undoubtedly be entrenched in Carneros.

Chardonnay Pét-Nat

Whispers From a Forgotten Town

Situated along the muddy banks of Sonoma Creek, mere miles from our vineyard, is the ghost town of Wingo. In a physical sense Wingo is no more than a collection of ramshackle dwellings slowly being reclaimed by the marshlands that besiege it. Yet, the undeniable spirit of Carneros is softly murmured from the creaking cabins and howling winds. Far removed from the opulence and commercialized grandeur of wine country, this is Sonoma Valley in its purest form. Much like the origin story of Ricci Vineyards, Wingo was built on hard work, sacrifices made by early settlers, and an ongoing admiration for the surrounding land. We pay homage to this spectral place and its enchanting legacy.

Spazzino Pét-Nat

Scavenging to Make Ends Meet

Within our family circle our founder, Dale Ricci, is lovingly referred to as a scavenger. During the early years of his farming endeavors he was determined to start his vineyard operation independently and without financing. Venturing to the surrounding vineyards of Sonoma and Napa he gathered whatever materials other grape growers were willing to part with. Through these unconventional collection efforts, he cobbled together the first parts of his vineyard — row by row, block by block…

Over four decades later and with Dale’s scavenging days (mostly) a thing of the past, we still respect his ongoing resourcefulness and grit. “Spazzino,” roughly translated from Italian means scavenger, and this sparkling wine is made with the VCR18 Italian-clone Pinot Noir. All-in-all, this is a perfect bottle to pop open, grab a drinking buddy, and metaphorically pick through the bones.

Block 87 Chardonnay

Sunshine in liquid form

For centuries and across various cultures sunflowers have come to embody admiration, positivity and prosperity. Our ambition was to evoke these same sentiments specifically from the 87-block of our vineyard — a section of vines renowned for producing radiant, sun-washed fruit. Through our efforts we created this skin-fermented Chardonnay. Skin-fermented wines, also known as skin-contact or “orange” wine, constitute an amber-hued tannic warmth that is not commonly achieved when making traditional white wines.

Captivated by the golden brilliance of this Chardonnay, our matriarch set forth to replicate the artistry within the bottle in painted form. Clutching a brush in one hand and wine glass in the other, she created the sunflower artwork found on the label. It is our hope that this wine inspires you to seek out your own place of joy — one with the sun on your face and the company of friends and family nearby.

Romeo - Carbonic St. Laurent

Honoring the people of our past

Romeo “Rome” Masnada was a steward and ambassador to the land we now occupy long before it was a vineyard. Upon assuming the day-to-day operations of the property from his father in 1937, Rome devoted his livelihood to ranching and maintained Dale Dairy Farms — one of the most renowned dairies in Sonoma County — for more than four decades. This wine is a tribute to him and his contributions to our family’s legacy.

Carbonic maceration is a winemaking process where intracellular fermentation occurs by subjecting whole grape clusters to an oxygen-free environment through the application of carbon dioxide. The resulting wine is light, fruity, and lean on acidity and tannins. To borrow from the French, this wine is “glou glou” — easily drinkable and meant to be consumed in abundance.