J. Rochioli Vineyard & Winery

The history of Rochioli Vineyards began in 1938 when Joe Rochioli Sr. purchased a 162-acre farm in the Russian River Valley called Fenton Acres. Initially the property was used for crops such as hops, prunes, and beans, but his son Joe Rochioli Jr. eventually shifted the focus to wine grapes. Joe Jr. was among the first in the region to plant Sauvignon Blanc in 1959 and Pinot Noir in 1968. The family sold their fruit to other wineries for many years until Joe Jr.’s son, Tom Rochioli, decided to produce estate-bottled wines. The winery was established in 1982, and today the fourth generation, including Rachael and Ryan Rochioli, assists in managing the business.

The estate covers 162 acres on Westside Road, with 140 acres currently planted to vines. The property sits on the banks of the Russian River and contains diverse alluvial soils that vary by elevation and proximity to the water. Tom Rochioli handles the winemaking with a focus on site-specific expression, an approach he adopted after observing the vineyard-designate traditions of Burgundy. The winemaking process involves micro-batch fermentation to keep fruit from separate vineyard blocks isolated. Notable holdings include the West Block, East Block, Little Hill, and River Block, which are farmed to emphasize their specific soil compositions and microclimates.

Rochioli is recognized for its estate and single-block Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. The Sauvignon Blanc is significant because it is sourced from vines planted in 1959, representing some of the oldest plantings of the variety in California. The winery distributes its most limited wines through an allocation system called The List, which has a multi-year waiting period for new members. Its reputation grew in the mid-1980s when early releases earned high scores from critics, helping to establish the Russian River Valley as a major area for cool-climate grapes. The family continues to operate as an independent estate, maintaining its legacy in a region often dominated by larger wine groups.