Vino Noceto

Suzy and Jim Gullett have established Vino Noceto as “California’s Sangiovese Specialist” following a pathway considerably different than other Sangiovese producers, yet similar to many small, "boutique" operations. It began when Jim, still in his teens, caught the "bug" while visiting Napa wineries with family and friends.

The "bug" grew into a "passion" over the years as the couple took regular wine-county outings and several wine-related courses. While on a family vacation in California's Gold Country, they stumbled upon the Shenandoah Valley property where their winery and home currently reside. With the September 1984 purchase of this 21-acre property and the subsequent 1987 acquisition of the neighboring 18.5 acre original homestead, the "passion" became "reality."
Jim and Suzy had always wanted country property – a getaway where they could eventually retire and grow a few acres of grapes. Suddenly, they were blessed with twenty acres of prime grape-growing property in the middle of one of the oldest viticulture areas in the country. Their analytical minds went into first-gear as they shifted from their sleepy, retirement plans to commercial grape growing and winemaking.

They quickly understood that their property’s potential was greatest for warm weather, red wine grapes. So, for the next year they undertook the "difficult" task of sampling southern Rhone and northern Tuscan varietals every night with their meals. With a predisposition toward being different and an emerging consumer interest in everything Italian, the Gulletts decided to focus on Sangiovese, a relatively untried grape in the United States and a far-cry from the Zinfandel vineyards that surrounded them. Many of their neighbors thought they were "nuts." But, the Gulletts had fallen in love with the grape and were confident that their passion for Sangiovese combined with the right location would bring success.
With the advice of Sacramento grocer and wine expert, Darrell Corti, the family, including two and four year old boys, embarked in September 1985 to Radda in the center of Italy's Chianti Classico region. There they spent almost three weeks visiting the vineyards and cellars of respected Chianti and Brunello producers like Castello dei Rampolla, Argiano, Isole e Olena, and Badia a Passignano.

They learned how these Tuscan producers grew and made their wines. Their children learned how to nurse baby kittens, entertain their new Italian buddies with the latest in American toys (Transformers), and sleep on chairs in the wee hours of the night at Italian trattorias. The Gulletts returned convinced that high-quality, varietally accurate Sangiovese wine with a touch of California sun could be made from their Shenandoah Valley property.