Rafanelli

The A. Rafanelli Winery produces Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from their vineyards and small winery located in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley. Alberto Rafanelli, an immigrant from Italy, planted grapes and made wine near Healdsburg in the early 20th century. In the 1950s, Alberto’s son, Amerigo, moved the operation to its present location in the Dry Creek Valley. Today the winery is owned by the third generation of Rafanellis, but with great-granddaughter Rashell in charge of winemaking. A humble and rustic operation that recalls a simpler era in Sonoma County agriculture, Rafanelli produces just 11,000 cases of wine per year that they sell from the winery only. However, the scale of this winery does not hint at the quality of Rafanelli wines. After all, the Dry Creek Valley is where climate and soil join forces to create, arguably, California’s best terroir for Zinfandel. Matt Kramer calls Rafanelli “one of the stars of Dry Creek Valley.”

Shelly Rafanelli

USA

California