Great wine starts in the vineyard, and few California families farm as wide a range of great ground as the Riboli Family. From the cool coastal valleys of Monterey to the rocky hillsides of Paso Robles and the prized Cabernet country of Napa Valley, their estate vineyards span the state’s most distinctive regions. Here’s a tour of the family-owned California vineyards behind San Antonio Winery.
Three Regions, One Family
The Riboli Family—four generations strong and rooted in Los Angeles since 1917—farms estate vineyards across three of California’s benchmark growing regions: Napa Valley, Paso Robles, and Monterey. Each site was chosen for what it does best, so the family can match the right grape to the right place. You can see all three on the Estates hub.
Napa Valley: The Rutherford Cabernet Estate
The family’s Napa Valley story began in 1986, when Stefano and Maddalena Riboli started farming a 16-acre vineyard in Rutherford, the heart of Napa Valley. Set along the famed Silverado Trail, the site was carefully chosen for its rich clay loam soils and gentle slope. A temperate climate of warm days and cool nights gives the long growing season that Cabernet needs to fully develop its flavors and aromas.
Several clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, plus a small section of Petit Verdot, bring complexity and depth to the wines. The vineyard sits in esteemed company, too, with neighbors including Caymus Winery and Beckstoffer’s Georges III Vineyard—and it has produced multiple award-winning Cabernet Sauvignons. Learn more on the Riboli Family Vineyard (Napa Valley) page.
Paso Robles: Bold Reds from Rocky Hillsides
Farther south along the Central Coast, the family farms several estate vineyards across the El Pomar and Creston Districts of Paso Robles—including Maddalena, Stefano, Pretty Penny, Creston Highlands, and Riboli Creston. Warm days, cool nights driven by breezes through the Templeton Gap, and rocky, calcareous soils produce the concentrated, structured reds the region is known for, from Cabernet Sauvignon to Zinfandel and Rhône varieties.
Monterey: Cool-Climate Finesse
In Monterey County, the maritime influence takes over. Estate vineyards in the Arroyo Seco, Monterey, and Santa Lucia Highlands appellations—including Sarmento and Doctors—catch morning fog and steady afternoon winds that slow ripening and preserve acidity. It’s ideal ground for elegant, Burgundian-style Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Farmed with Care
Across all three regions, the family pairs tradition with sustainable farming. The Paso Robles winery is 100% powered by solar energy and uses on-site water treatment to recycle wastewater for irrigation. In the vineyards, cover crops replenish and enrich the soils, and livestock are used to trim overgrowth and provide natural fertilizer—practices that benefit both the vines and the surrounding ecosystem.
Why Family Ownership Matters
What ties these vineyards together is the family behind them. Now in its fourth generation, the Riboli Family has kept its founding values alive while embracing innovation—choosing each estate with care and farming it for the long term. That continuity is what turns a collection of vineyards into a genuine legacy, and what you taste in every estate-grown bottle.
FAQs
Where are the Riboli Family’s estate vineyards?
The family farms estate vineyards in three California regions: Napa Valley (Rutherford), Paso Robles (the El Pomar and Creston Districts), and Monterey County (including the Santa Lucia Highlands).
When did the Riboli Family start farming in Napa Valley?
In 1986, Stefano and Maddalena Riboli began farming a 16-acre vineyard in Rutherford, along the Silverado Trail in the heart of Napa Valley.
What grapes does the Napa Valley estate grow?
The Rutherford estate is planted primarily to several clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, with a small section of Petit Verdot, and has produced multiple award-winning Cabernet Sauvignons.
What makes a family-owned winery different?
Family ownership brings long-term stewardship and continuity. The Riboli Family, rooted in California since 1917 and now four generations in, chooses and farms each estate with its legacy in mind rather than short-term gain.
Can I visit or shop the estate wines?
Yes. You can explore each estate on the Estates hub and shop the family’s estate-grown wines, including Napa Valley Cabernet, through San Antonio Winery.