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OUR STORY Working Heroes Hit the Wine World Big-Time! The Old World is artfully conjoined with the New here at Ramazzotti Wines in Geyserville, California. After years of building a personal fan club serving their legendary homemade wines to family and friends, Joe and Norma Ramazzotti catapulted a 50-year saga into high gear, opening their own winery in 2002. A Pomologist by education—having studied the practice of cultivating fruit at Chico State University—Joe is the consummate second-generation Italian-American. Born Giuseppe Ramazzotti near the small Adriatic village of Ancona, Italy in 1950, he emigrated to Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley with his papá and mamma, Germano and Yolanda, at the tender age of 8 years when they came to help Germano’s aunt with the farm after her husband had passed away. Germano, previously a railroad welder, became skilled at his new trade as a farmer, while Yolanda learned to raise chickens, rabbits and tend a garden. Meanwhile, Joe went off to school, where he didn’t know a soul and no one spoke his language! All of his free time was spent helping out on the ranch, and it is here where Joe developed his talent and passion for cultivating grapes. After graduation from Geyserville High School, and some time at Santa Rosa Junior College (where he met his soul mate Norma), Joe mastered the modern art of farming in Chico. For almost 30 years, these two have managed and farmed vineyards in the Dry Creek and Alexander Valley areas. It is a true life and wine partnership. Joe manages the big picture; the vineyards, when to pick, coordinates the crew and crush. Norma is the glue behind the scenes. She keeps the books and handles the orders, and at harvest you would find her in charge of quality control of the fruit; she carefully examines the MOG (Material Other than Grapes), picking leaves and bugs out, and leaving only perfect clusters and berries to be crushed to make their extraordinary wines. Their own vineyards, and other fabulous fruit garnered from their wide personal and professional vineyard network, fill Ramazzotti wines with the essence of the local terroirs while reflecting an endearing, spirited character. These farmers and wine artisans, while humble and grounded, offer a state-of-the art liquid elixir of happiness and spirit, appropriate for consumption at any occasion. You will want to taste the Ramazzotti family tradition—like a good marinara—again and again and again! |
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ASSOCIATIONS
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Joe and Norma Ramazzotti are proud to announce the
release of their most recent endevor! After all these
years of making (and drinking) our homemade wines,
we have started a small commercial wine operation.
Joe received his his wine grape education both the
old-fashioned way and the modern way. Joe was born
Giuseppe Ramazzotti near the small Adriatic sea
village of Ancona, Italy in 1950. He and his family
immigrated to the Dry Creek Valley in 1958 when Joe
was 8 years old. His father and mother, Germano and
Yolanda Ramazzotti, moved their family here to help
his aging aunt run her vineyards after her husband
passed away. Without any knowledge of the vineyard
business, the english language or life here in the
United States at all, the entire family was placed into
the heart of the farming life, which was no easy task
back in those days. Everyone in the family had to do
their share just to survive. Germano had to learn a
new occupation he had never known. Yolanda had to
raise chickens, vegetables, rabbits, etc. just to be able
to put food on the table, and the children had to go to
school were they didn't know a soul and couldn't even
speak the same language! All of their free time was
spent helping out on the ranch! However this hands-on
experience with the ranch has proven to be the best
teacher of all, since most of the family is still involved
in the winery business in one way or another.
When Joe graduated from Geyserville High School, he
attended Santa Rosa Junior College, where he met
Norma, and then went on to finish his schooling at
Chico State University. At Chico, he learned more
about some of the modern farming techniques. Joe and
Norma have been farming and operating their own
vineyard management business for 20 years. Joe has
see his share of ups and downs in business, but has
always wanted to make his own wines for sale to the
public. With the help of his good friend and colleague
Bob Keeble, who is in charge of producing the wines, we
think the quality and flavor of the wines will speak for
themselves.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to bring our
wines into your lives, and for the continued support
througout the years. We hope you enjoy these products
as much as we have!
Joe and Norma Ramazzotti