Four generations as growers and producers of fine wine, our family is proud to continue in the same winemaking and farming traditions as the founding generation. We continue to work passionately as stewards of the land with sustainable farming practices and preserving the traditional style of handcrafted wines, with the best intent to preserve the heritage for the future generations.
Alberto & Letizia Rafanelli, Italian immigrants, first founded A. Rafanelli Winery in the early 1900’s. They settled in the Healdsburg area with their family and started growing grapes and making wine.
After prohibition, Alberto and Letizia’s son Americo showed interest in the family business and was soon carrying on the tradition. He moved the winery to its current location in the Dry Creek Valley in the early 1950’s. It was here that he began to focus on the cultivation of premium Zinfandel grapes. Then, in the early 1970’s, Americo offered his first commercial release with the iconic A. Rafanelli Winery label.
Following in Americo’s footsteps, his son David had the passion for growing grapes and making wine. He earned his degree in Viticulture from UC Davis and began to seek out the best land to plant more varietals for the winery portfolio. David and his wife Patty continued with the family business and propelled it to a new level of excellence.
After graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, David and Patty’s eldest daughter worked side-by-side with her father until becoming the head winemaker in 2000. With the help of her husband Craig Fehlman, who manages all of their vineyards, they hope to carry on the family tradition and continue improving the wines. Shelly’s sister, Stacy, is in charge of daily operations at the winery.
