2025 is officially The Year of the Vintner, thanks to the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance. Honoring the 200th Anniversary of the first grape harvest in Sonoma Valley, the birthplace of the California wine industry, the SVVGA has been celebrating all summer with a series of wonderful public events, which will culminate for 2025 in September with the Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival in September.
Sonoma County Wine History
200 years ago, the commercial California wine industry began when Spanish missionaries and their indigenous workers planted several thousand vines to make sacramental wine, in the area that is now the town square of Sonoma. Now, with the 200th Anniversary of Sonoma Valley Wine Celebrations, the SVVGA honors the history, the work, the craft, and the joy of Sonoma Valley Wine.
2024 was the Year of the Farmer, and 2026 will celebrate The Year of Community, and I had the pleasure of celebrating the 2025 harvest in true Year of the Vintner fashion with a gorgeous evening at Sangiacomo Winery in the heart of Sonoma with the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance. It makes perfect sense to celebrate at one of the oldest family owned vintners and farmers in the area, celebrating their 98th year on August 30th.
Celebrating Sonoma Wines at Sangiacomo Vineyard
Last week I was able to join in the harvest celebration at the beautiful Sangiacomo Vineyard in Sonoma. The weather was perfect as the sun set over the vineyard on the late summer evening. In a first for me, I sat outside, looking out at the vineyard full of ripe grapes ready for harvest, drinking the exact white wine that was growing in the fields before me. It was an incredible moment to taste the exact grape that is in the wine you are sharing with friends, and one that can only be experienced during harvest time.
Mike Sangiacomo, Mia Sangiacomo Pucci and Steve Sangiacomo are farmers (and family!) first. Partnering with more than 90+ wineries, they supply premium grapes to other wine makers. Third generation farmers, they love the land, focus on sustainability, tend to their myriad grapes; harvesting them at the perfect moment for the wines they’ll become. For their Rosé, they pick the very best grapes and give them the full champagne treatment.
In 2016, they decided to make their own wines, and hired James MacPhail, a celebrated local consulting winemaker, to craft their lineup. None years of award-winning wines and a cult following of their Pinot Noirs point to that being a wonderful decision.
We enjoyed a beautiful and hearty Italian buffet dinner paired with their absolutely delicious new release wines, with the most perfect seasonal stone fruit pies for dessert. Andrew Smith, the Hospitality Sales Manager, took us through the three generations of the estate as well as a tour of the picturesque Sonoma property. Employing over 120 people, they have a number of other properties throughout Sonoma County, each with its own soil properties and grape styles.
In such a beautiful place, tasting a luscious wine made from grapes I could see on the vines in front of me, hearing from Steve and Mike Sangiacomo about their passion for growing great grapes, I could see and taste the craft of winemaking at the same time. I also couldn’t leave the property without picking up a bottle of their Rosé to remember the evening.
Toast with a Spritz
To celebrate the year of the Vintner at home, grab a bottle of Sangiacomo Family Wines or try the SVVGA’s Official Sonoma Spritz Recipe for a delicious summer cocktail:
1. 1 tsp. Fig Preserves/Caramelized Fig Syrup by Liber & Co.
2. ¾ oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
3. ¾ oz. Simple Syrup
4. 3 oz. Sonoma Valley Rosé
5. 2 oz. Soda Water
Instructions – Shake fig preserve (or syrup), lemon juice, and simple syrup together. Strain into a glass over ice. Then top with your favorite Sonoma Valley Rosé and soda water. Stir gently to combine. Garnish with a fresh rosemary sprig and enjoy!
As Sonoma Valley raises a glass to 200 years of winemaking, The Year of the Vintner is more than just a celebration of history—it’s a tribute to the generations of farmers, vintners, and families who have poured their passion into the land. From the first vines planted in Sonoma’s town square to today’s award-winning wines enjoyed around the world, the valley continues to thrive as the heart of California’s wine industry. Whether you join the festivities in person or savor a bottle at home, 2025 is the perfect moment to honor the craft, community, and legacy that make Sonoma Valley truly timeless.