Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery, A Cal-Italian Experience with a World Class Wine Estate
Villa Fiore: Stroll Lush Gardens and Enjoy Food Pairing Choices
Ferrari Carano Vineyards and Winery, Sonoma, Dry Creek Valley – This winery is well-known for their stunning Italian gardens, French and Italian varietal wines, and tourism events. This past Fall I experienced one of the “Pergola Tastings” set in an olive tree grove and promising 5+ reserve wines and a charcuterie board. They kept bringing us more to try! This lovely winery setting has been a perennial favorite of mine, as the Italian gardens are stunning. I consider the Ferrari-Carano Fumé Blanc (Sauvignon Blanc) my go-to house white wine since the 90’s when it was recognized as Wine Watch’s “Best Wine of the Year.” Over 230,000+ cases are produced so the Fumé Blanc can literally be found everywhere. The large production of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay (mostly sourced from Napa’s Carneros region) understandably receive lots of media attention, but I find their red wine portfolio to be high quality with some unique blends. There are 5000 members of their wine club, so it’s a highly popular brand. See Wine Recommendations below.
Ferrari-Carano History
Don and Rhonda Carano, natives of Reno, Nevada, and second- generation Italian Americans, founded Ferrari-Carano in 1981. Don and Rhonda were introduced to the beauty of Northern Sonoma County in 1979 while searching for wines to enhance the wine lists at the Eldorado, their hotel and casino in Reno. They eventually purchased a 60-acre parcel in the Alexander Valley, and realizing the potential for the area, began to acquire additional vineyard land. Ground was broken for Ferrari-Carano Winery in Dry Creek Valley in 1985. The first wines bearing the Ferrari-Carano label were released in 1987. Those first wines were a 1986 Fumé Blanc and a 1985 Alexander Valley Chardonnay. Now spanning 1,200 acres across three counties, Ferrari-Carano's 21 certified sustainable estate vineyards provide the grapes that go into its esteemed wines.
About Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery
Nestled in picturesque Dry Creek Valley, Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery has been home to award-winning wines, exquisite gardens, and breathtaking vineyard views for over 40 years. Cyprus trees line many of the vineyards. From the beautiful Italianate hospitality center, Villa Fiore, guests may stroll lush gardens and taste wines in the Villa Fiore Wine Shop, in the underground Enoteca, outside on Il Terrazzo, or in the Fontana Pergolas. Visitors can enjoy experiences like Sunday Wine & Brunch, Pizza & Vino, and Molto Bene wine and food pairing. Ferrari Carano is one of the premier portfolio members of the Foley Family Wines along with (in California) Silverado, Chalk Hill, Chalone, and Acrobat in Oregon.
The Fontana Pergola Tasting
It was an absolute pleasure sitting under a large cabana/pergola with a generous charcuterie tray in October harvest season in Sonoma. The hospitality team especially Juan Torres WSET III, Guest Services Lead, gave us an enormous amount of attention and education on the FC wines. He also recommended the FC Sunday Wine & Brunch experience and the Pizza and Vino pairing.
If You Go
Ferrari-Carano - Fontana Pergola Reserve Wines Tasting with Cheese and Charcuterie
8761 Dry Creek Road
Healdsburg, California, 95448
707-433-6700
Recommended Wines
2023 Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc, North Coast, Sonoma, $16
James Suckling, 92 Points – It’s often my house white wine.
2019 Ferrari- Carano Sky High Ranch Pinot Noir, Mendocino Ridge, Sonoma $64
Wine Enthusiast, 93 Points – My “Best of Our Tasting”
2021 Ferrari-Carano Merlot, Sonoma County, $30
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points – A very well-made Merlot with lots of plum, English toffee, vanilla, and leather….perfect for any red meat course or by itself.
2019 Ferrari-Carano Trésor Red, Sonoma Country, $65
Ranked #19 of Wine Enthusiast “Top 100 Wines of 2023,” 94 Points
A Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc.
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