Piazza - 'Estate' - Grenache - Ballard Canyon, Santa Barabra, CA - 2022

Grenache from our estate Bella Vista Vineyard, organically farmed, planted in 2001, 50% whole cluster with 20% new French oak plus neutral oak and puncheon. 35 ppm so2

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"OUR BOUTIQUE WINERY

Ron and Nancy Piazza have roots in Santa Barbara County and the Santa Ynez Valley soil that go back decades. Inspired by family, friends, and winemakers, Ron and Nancy planted what became a small family vineyard within sight of the region's originators, Sanford & Benedict, more than a decade before the Sta. Rita Hills AVA was founded.

In partnership with a group of cloistered Carmelite nuns, Ron and Nancy founded Mt. Carmel Vineyard, supplying pinot noir and chardonnay fruit to a small group of Santa Barbara's most esteemed winemakers. With their interest piqued, they searched for a vineyard site where they could build their future.

ABOUT THE FAMILY

Living among the vines, Ron and Nancy Piazza have found a place to retreat from city – a ranch with sweeping views of the vineyard. The production facility is just a short walk down a dirt path, a path well-trodden with their footprints. With views of Stolpman Vineyard and Beckmen’s La Purisima Vineyard, Piazza Bella Vista Vineyard is in good company.

A successful restaurateur, Ron Piazza is a gardener at heart. He likes to plant seeds, grow something, and see the results. Every so often, Ron takes a step back, brushes the dirt off his jeans, and admires what he has built. “We planted that,” he thinks to himself, the work his greatest reward. Nancy, always working by his side, is the heart of the ranch. Happiest when she loses track of time and the outside world, she is quick with a helping hand. The winemakers can expect to see her bringing lunch, checking on the animals, and visiting with neighbors.

Originally hailing from Queens, New York, Ron is proud of his rich Italian heritage, from which his Grandfather Dominic handed down a passion for life and gardening. Ron remembers Sunday family dinners, wine paired with Dominic's stories, jokes, and subtle wisdom. Inspired by those recollections, Ron's focus is on the meals that families share and the "handcrafted" character within their wines. With decades of hard work under his belt, Ron and his wife Nancy are now planting the seeds and growing their own family roots, creating wine to share with you and yours.

From organic farming to natural winemaking, sustainability is something the Piazzas take to heart. With Bella Vista Vineyard, they set out to make natural wines with minimal interference. They are planting the seeds and growing a legacy winery for their five children and multiple grandchildren, family the emphasis in the Piazza Family Wines. With that in mind, they work together to make wine meant to be shared."