Rohnert Park, CA — Last week, Sally Tomatoes in Rohnert Park hosted the inaugural Century Club celebration, recognizing 22 Sonoma County families who have farmed in the region for over a century and are now integral to the county’s wine grape industry. The event, organized by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, honored these families whose enduring contributions have shaped the agricultural landscape of the area.
The Century Club shines a spotlight on the historical and ongoing role these families play in the region’s farming community, celebrating their dedication to sustainable agriculture and winemaking.
Among those celebrated was the Azevedo family of Azevedo A-Bar Ranch in Healdsburg, whose roots in Sonoma County trace back to 1904. Today, John Azevedo manages the family’s vineyards in partnership with his mother, Patricia, and the legacy continues with the birth of John and Alicia Azevedo’s daughter, Micaela, in December 2023, marking the fifth generation.
The Bacigalupi and Gaddini families, owners of Bacigalupi Vineyards in Healdsburg, have been farming since 1883. The Bacigalupi family gained global recognition when their grapes were used to craft the 1973 Chardonnay that won the 1976 Paris Tasting, a pivotal moment in elevating American wines on the world stage. The family continues to farm 150 acres of premium wine grapes and raise cattle, with four generations still actively involved.
In Santa Rosa, the Bastoni family has maintained a presence since 1905, when Pasquale and Luigi Bastoni immigrated from Italy. Today, Pasquale’s granddaughter, Martha Messana, cultivates 35 acres of vineyards with her husband, Russ, in the historic Fountaingrove District. The Messanas are known for their preservation efforts, including protecting their historic home and vineyards from the Tubbs Fire in 2017.
The Bisordi family, based in Fulton, has farmed in the Russian River Valley since 1898. The family’s current operations include growing walnuts, chestnuts, olives, eggs, and a variety of wine grapes, including Zinfandel and Chardonnay.
The Gundlach Bundschu family, one of the oldest winemaking families in Sonoma, has been farming since 1857. Jacob Gundlach initially acquired 400 acres in Sonoma, founding the now-famous Rhinefarm. Over the generations, the family has earned acclaim for sustainable farming practices, with the sixth generation continuing the tradition today. In 2023, their wine was named one of Wine Enthusiast’s top 100 wines of the world.
The Denner Ranches, established in 1890 by Russell Lindsey Denner, is now managed by his descendants, including Russell Wasson and his son Brian Alexander Denner, who continue the family’s sustainable farming practices on the original 488-acre ranch.
The Dutton family has been farming Sonoma County land since the 1880s. Today, the family operates approximately 1,400 acres across multiple appellations, producing both organic apples and sustainable wine grapes, managed by the fourth, fifth, and sixth generations.
The Giusti family has been farming in Sonoma County for 150 years, after immigrating from San Pellegrinetto, Italy. The family is known for selling most of their grapes to the prestigious Kosta Browne Winery, under the Giusti Ranch Vineyard designation.
In Sonoma Valley, the Kunde family has a rich history with vineyards dating back to 1879. Louis Kunde, who emigrated from Germany in 1904, acquired the Wildwood Ranch, renowned for its iron-rich volcanic soils. The ranch, which was originally planted by Captain John Drummond with cuttings from Chateaux Margaux and Lafite Rothschild, continues to be managed by the fourth and fifth generations of the Kunde family.
These families, alongside others honored at the Century Club event, embody the rich agricultural heritage of Sonoma County, with a shared commitment to preserving the land and legacy for future generations. Their contributions to both farming and winemaking continue to shape the region’s reputation as a world-renowned wine-growing area.
You Might Be Interested In:
