Balletto Vineyards SANTA ROSA

The origins of Balletto Vineyards are rooted in Genoa, Italy, where John

Balletto’s grandfather grew wine grapes. Even at the young age of nine,

John began developing his taste for wine—mixed with water in true

European style—at the dinner table. A farmer from the time he was 17,

John, along with his wife Terri, went on to become the largest vegetable

growers north of the Golden Gate Bridge, ultimately planting 70 different

vegetables on over 700 acres of countryside. The El Niño storms of 1998

had different plans for the Ballettos, though. After storms wiped out three

successive plantings, John and Terri decided their business needed a

different focus: wine grapes.

ABOVE: The Balletto daughters have been actively involved since the vegetable years.Photograph by Harvey Henningsen

FACING PAGE: From the Sexton Hill Pinot Noir Vineyard, the westward view is breathtaking. Photograph by MJ Wickham

BURNSIDE ROAD VINEYARD PINOT NOIR

Pair with rack of lamb or

spiced, braised meats to take

advantage of the pinot noir’s

high natural acidity and

earthy qualities.

The aromas alone are intoxicating. They start with earthy white

pepper, with a touch of toasty nutmeg, dark cherry, and cranberry

in the background. During bottle aging, the dominate aromas

evolve from dark fruit to savory spices. A restrained mouth feel is

accompanied by ample cool-climate tartness and enough tannin

to hold the various elements together to create an elegant wine.

Our estate vineyard on Burnside Road sits high in the hills

southwest of Sebastopol, about 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean.

The climate is dominated by coastal fog influences that keep the

site cooler. Its steep, rolling hills and Goldridge sandy soils drain

excess water away from the vines. The location is one of those

rare places where pinot noir can ripen slowly and produce wines

of great depth and distinction.

APPELLATION: Russian River Valley

COMPOSITION: 100% pinot noir

MATURATION: Ten months in 100% French oak with 32% new

CELLARING: Delicious now but possesses dramatic aging potential

WEBSITE: www.ballettovineyards.com

TECHNICAL DATA

Discover intricacies of the distinctive Burnside Pinot Noir, a vibrant and energetic wine, from winemaker Anthony Beckman.

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ABOVE TOP: Balletto Vineyards’ tasting room is open daily from 10 to 5.

ABOVE BOTTOM: Caterina, Terri, Jacqueline, and John Balletto.

LEFT: Valley Oak tree at BCD Vineyard.Photographs by MJ Wickham

Thirty-five acres of chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot

gris vineyards that had been planted in 1996 weathered

the El Niño storms, and it was to these grapevines that

John and Terri looked for the future of their business.

The farm’s produce packaging and shipping building

was converted to a state-of-the-art winery, its 12-inch-

thick walls providing cool insulation from the warm

California sun. The first vintage crafted by Balletto

Vineyards was released in 2001, with a production of

around 1,000 cases that first year. Today those numbers

are closer to 20,000 cases of pinot noir, pinot gris,

chardonnay, rosé, gewürztraminer, zinfandel, and syrah.

Our StoryBalletto Vineyards is known for producing distinct, cool-

climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris from its more

than a dozen estate vineyards scattered throughout the cool

southern tip of the famed Russian River Valley.

It all began with the unexpected death of his father in

1977, when John Balletto – then 17 – turned down college

scholarships and began farming produce to support his

family. He started with only $200 and four acres of land

surrounding the family home. During the next decade he

increased his farming operations to several hundred acres of

planted land and was shipping produce throughout northern

California. John and Terri Balletto planted their first vineyards

in 1995 in ground that lacked the nutrients and water to

support produce. The land lent itself perfectly for producing

high-quality wine, and vines replaced produce within six

years. Now, Balletto Vineyards farms about 600 acres of wine

grapes in the cold southern third of the Russian River Valley

and selects only the top ten percent of these grapes to make

wine under the Balletto label. (The remaining grapes are sold

to neighboring wineries.)

These estate vineyards range from steep hillside locations

that lie 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean, to the lightly

rolling vineyards in the Santa Rosa plains. Each site yields

dramatically different styles of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay,

and to showcase these differences, the winery produces eight

different bottlings of Pinot Noir and four distinct Chardonnay

selections. One taste is all you need to become a fan.

Our PhilosophyBalance and elegance are the two main features we aim to create in our wines. This usually translates into wines

that are lower in alcohol, higher in natural acidity and have varied and subtle flavors. Wines where new oak barrels

are used sparingly to enhance the wine, not dominate it. We make it this way because the wines we most love

are ones that compliment a meal, as well as change and evolve in the glass throughout dinner. John Balletto

and winemaker Anthony Beckman strive to grow and create wines in this style so that they can be shared among

family, friends, conversation and laughter. The goal is for you to enjoy drinking them as much as we enjoyed

making them. Cheers!

TOP LEFT: Corks.Photograph by Ashlei Kilkenny

BOTTOM LEFT: Pinot Noir on the bottling line.Photograph by Ashlei Kilkenny

ABOVE RIGHT: Winemaker Anthony Beckman and Balletto family dog Addie.Photographs by MJ Wickham

Estate Grown. Estate Bottled.One hundred percent of the wine Balletto Vineyards

produces is from vineyard lands that they own and farm

every day. From winter pruning, through spring bloom

and final September pick decisions, Balletto Vineyards

controls every decision, from big to tiny, that influences

the final bottled wine. This control allows the farming

and winemaking teams to work side by side and row by

row to produce the distinct and elegant wines they are

known for. The intimate knowledge of each vineyard

site, accumulated year after year, shines in each bottle.

ABOVE: Pulling leaves in the vineyards fosters better air flow in this foggy region.Photograph by Ashlei Kilkenny

TOP RIGHT: Russian River Valley Pinot Noir grapes in August. Photograph by Ashlei Kilkenny

BOTTOM RIGHT: French Oak barrels full of Pinot Noir.Photograph by Ashlei Kilkenny

RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY ESTATE PINOT NOIR

The wine’s floral fruitiness

makes it an elegant

accompaniment to fennel-

crusted roast pork loin and

pan-roasted vegetables.

The ruby red pinot noir has an intense aromatic profile that

begins with equal parts bright fruit—dark cherry, tart rhubarb,

floral violets—and savory elements of cola, cardamom, and

coffee. A touch of dark toast and forest floor earthiness round

out the aromas and give the wine extra depth. The smells are

complex and ever-changing in the glass.

We ferment each lot of grapes separately in three to six-ton

batches. The grapes are treated as lightly as possible to help

minimize the extraction of unwanted compounds. The same

gentle care is used during barrel aging to preserve as many fresh

aromas as possible.

APPELLATION: Russian River Valley

COMPOSITION: 100% pinot noir

MATURATION: Nine months in 100% French oak

CELLARING: Delicious now; will improve over five to seven years’ time

WEBSITE: www.ballettovineyards.com

TECHNICAL DATA

Winemaker Anthony Beckman talks about the origins of the Russian River Estate Pinot Noir, its history and how it reflects Sonoma County.

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RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY ESTATE ROSÉ OF PINOT NOIR

The rosé’s dry and balanced

texture makes it perfect for

everything from sushi to

salmon to barbecued

pork tenderloin.

The bright yet tender coral color of the rosé sets a delicate

stage for everything that follows. Vibrant roses, citrusy tangerine,

lemon, and fresh cherries dominate the aromas and create a

lovely, intoxicating perfume. The wine is pretty, elegant, and

glides across the palate in perfect form. The wine is extremely

dry and balanced with a subtle texture and crisp acidity that

makes it a perfect summertime wine.

The wine is a 50/50 blend of whole cluster pinot noir and free

run juice, or saignée, taken from our fermentation tanks after six

to 24 hours of skin contact. The whole cluster portion is lightly

pressed and the resulting juice frames the wine with crisp acidity

and beautiful floral aromas. The saignée half-fills the middle

with texture and cherry fruit. When combined, the wine is

aromatically lifted.

APPELLATION: Russian River Valley

COMPOSITION: 100% pinot noir

MATURATION: Aged four months

CELLARING: Delicious now

WEBSITE: www.ballettovineyards.com

TECHNICAL DATA

Learn about the Rosé of Pinot Noir, a distinctive wine made exclusively from estate pinot noir grapes, from winemaker Anthony Beckman.

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Extended Balletto FamilyMore than a dozen employees have worked with

John and Terri Balletto for 20 or more years. This is a

true testament to their commitment to the vineyard

and winery staff, and it expands the definition of a

family business. One of the many examples includes

the winery’s “Field of Dreams,” a regulation-sized

baseball field, the result of a request from Balletto’s

vineyard workers to have a place where they could

play and practice. It’s surrounded by vineyards and a

home run will land in rows of pinot gris and a foul ball

in Chardonnay.

ABOVE: Harvest time at our Burnside Vineyard.Photograph by Ashlei Kilkenny

TOP LEFT: Chardonnay in August.Photograph by MJ Wickham

BOTTOM LEFT: The pinot noir is harvested with care in small bins.Photograph by Ashlei Kilkenny

ABOVE & RIGHT: Balletto Vineyards has its very own “Field of Dreams” where the crew can play while enjoying one another’s company and taking in the views of the RRV. Photographs by Ashlei Kilkenny

RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY ESTATE TERESA’S UNOAKED CHARDONNAY

Extremely versatile with food,

the chardonnay complements

rich seafood such as lobster,

crab, and scallops. Pair with

grilled pork tenderloin with

fresh apple reduction.

The wine’s complex tropical aromas of guava, mango, and

pineapple, combined with a thickly textured yet balanced

mouth feel give this chardonnay an intense “wow” factor. With a

lingering honeyed fig finish that adds a distinct savory element

to the overall experience, the wine is serious, complex, and

quite delicious.

The goal of Teresa’s Unoaked Chardonnay is to capture the

essence of the varietal. We create a wine that showcases the

grape and its fresh, crisp floral aspects that are often hidden with

extended oak aging and malolactic influence. At the same time,

the wine is rich and offers a depth of texture and flavors to keep

it exciting, warranting its own bottling. The Teresa’s Chardonnay

meets those requirements.

APPELLATION: Russian River Valley

COMPOSITION: 100% chardonnay

MATURATION: Six months in stainless steel tanks

CELLARING: Delicious now and for years to come

WEBSITE: www.ballettovineyards.com

TECHNICAL DATA

Co-proprietor Teresa Balletto discusses the crisp, floral qualities that make the unoaked Teresa Chardonnay unique.

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5700 Occidental RoadSanta Rosa, CA 95401

707.568.2455www.ballettovineyards.com