Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery

Don and Rhonda Carano, natives of Reno, Nevada, and second-generation Italian-Americans, founded Ferrari-Carano in 1981. They were introduced to Northern Sonoma County in 1979 while searching for wines to enhance the wine lists at the Eldorado, their hotel casino in Reno, and eventually purchased a 60-acre parcel in Alexander Valley before acquiring additional vineyard land. Ground was broken for the Ferrari-Carano winery in Dry Creek Valley in 1985, and the first wines under the Ferrari-Carano label, a 1986 Fume Blanc and a 1985 Alexander Valley Chardonnay, were released in 1987. Wine Spectator reports the winery was opened in 1981 by Donald Louis Carano and his wife Rhonda, and that Don Carano, who also founded the Reno-based El Dorado resort and casino chain before venturing into wine, died in 2017. Ferrari-Carano later purchased Vintners Inn and its adjoining restaurant, John Ash & Co., in the Russian River Valley in 2000.

• Founded 1981 by Don and Rhonda Carano; introduced to Northern Sonoma County in 1979 while sourcing wines for their Eldorado hotel casino in Reno
• 60-acre parcel purchased in Alexander Valley; ground broken for the Dry Creek Valley winery in 1985
• First releases in 1987: a 1986 Fume Blanc and a 1985 Alexander Valley Chardonnay
• Don Carano, founder of the Reno-based El Dorado resort and casino chain, died in 2017
• Vintners Inn and John Ash & Co. restaurant in the Russian River Valley purchased in 2000

Ferrari-Carano's own site states that the winery has been owned by Bill and Carol Foley since 2019. Foley Family Wines agreed to purchase Ferrari-Carano from the Carano family in a deal the Press Democrat reported one industry source estimated at between $250 million and $300 million. The acquisition included the Estate Winery, the Villa Fiore Tasting Room, the PreVail Mountain Winery, and 3,183 acres of land, 1,223 planted across 21 vineyard sites, spanning Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Carneros Napa Valley, Mendocino Ridge and Anderson Valley; the deal did not include the Vintners Inn in Santa Rosa, which the Carano family retained. Rhonda Carano, Ferrari-Carano's CEO, said in a prepared statement that she was happy to see the winery become part of a family-owned and operated company that shares its vision and core values. Bill Foley built his wine portfolio starting with Lincourt in Santa Barbara County in 1996, expanding to more than two dozen wineries across California, Oregon, Washington and New Zealand; at the time of the Ferrari-Carano deal, the Foley Family Wines portfolio also included Chalk Hill, Sebastiani and Banshee.

• Ferrari-Carano's own site: owned by Bill and Carol Foley since 2019
• Press Democrat: deal estimated by one industry source at $250 million to $300 million
• Deal included Estate Winery, Villa Fiore Tasting Room, PreVail Mountain Winery, and 3,183 acres (1,223 planted at 21 vineyard sites); excluded the Vintners Inn, retained by the Carano family
• Rhonda Carano, CEO: the winery joins a family-owned company sharing its vision and core values
• Foley Family Wines portfolio at the time of the deal also included Chalk Hill, Sebastiani and Banshee

Ferrari-Carano's own site states that its 21 vineyards have earned California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) certification, making the estate a Certified California Sustainable Vineyard. Ferrari-Carano's sustainability page states that in 2015, 24 of its vineyards earned CSWA certification, and describes today's certified sustainable estate vineyards as spanning six appellations totaling approximately 1,200 acres. The estate's vineyards lie across Alexander Valley, home to many of Ferrari-Carano's mountain, benchland and valley-floor vineyards; Russian River Valley, cooled by marine fog with gravelly soils and used for Pinot Noir and Vineyard Select Chardonnays; Dry Creek Valley, home to the Italianate winery and hospitality center Villa Fiore; Napa Carneros, whose cool, foggy climate suits Chardonnay; and Mendocino Ridge and Anderson Valley. The PreVail Back Forty vineyard is a 40-acre, 1,100-foot-elevation site on the back side of RockRise Mountain in Alexander Valley.

• 21 estate vineyards hold CSWA certification as a Certified California Sustainable Vineyard (per producer's site)
• In 2015, 24 vineyards earned CSWA certification; today's vineyards span six appellations totaling approximately 1,200 acres
• Alexander Valley: mountain, benchland and valley-floor vineyards, including the 40-acre PreVail Back Forty at 1,100 feet elevation on RockRise Mountain
• Russian River Valley: marine fog, gravelly soils; source for Pinot Noir and Vineyard Select Chardonnays
• Dry Creek Valley: home to the Villa Fiore hospitality center; Napa Carneros: cool, foggy climate for Chardonnay; also Mendocino Ridge and Anderson Valley

Ferrari-Carano's winemaking team is led by Natalie West, Winemaker for white wines, and Rebecka Deike, Senior Winemaker for red wines, per the producer's team page.

• Natalie West: Winemaker, White Wines
• Rebecka Deike: Senior Winemaker, Red Wines

Ferrari-Carano's current lineup is organized into Classic Sonoma, PreVail, and Vineyard Select categories. The Fume Blanc, one of the first two wines Ferrari-Carano ever made over 40 years ago, is Sauvignon Blanc sourced primarily from Sonoma County; the 2024 vintage is crisp with aromas of guava, apricot and lychee leading to pineapple, mango, peach and lemon cream on the palate. The Chardonnay is 100% Chardonnay blended from 60 different vineyard lots across Sonoma County; the 2024 vintage opens with graham cracker, butterscotch, pear, baked apple and toffee aromas, with pear, buttercream, nutmeg, lemon chiffon, caramel and lemon honey on the palate. The Cabernet Sauvignon's fruit comes primarily from Alexander Valley vineyards; the 2022 vintage is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Syrah and 2% mixed reds, opening with dried cherry, blackberry, violet, pancetta, maple and sage, with round tannins and flavors of plum jam, cola, coffee nip and a hint of leather, and pairs well with roasted, broiled or barbecued game and red meats such as lamb and beef, as well as pork and veal. Tresor blends the five classic Bordeaux varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, from vineyard blocks in Knights, Alexander, Napa and Dry Creek Valleys; the 2023 vintage is 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 8% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, with a bouquet of cola, cedar, cassis and peony and a full palate of smooth tannins, plum jam, toasty oak and an English toffee finish. Siena reflects Ferrari-Carano's Italian heritage as an easy-sipping, Sangiovese-based red blend; the 2023 vintage opens with dried cranberry, figs, allspice, cream soda and a hint of bacon, with a medium-bodied palate of plum, strawberry and toasted hazelnut. The broader current lineup also includes Zinfandel, Viognier, Sky High Ranch Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Sangiovese, Reserve Pinot Grigio, Reserve Chardonnay, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, PreVail West Face, PreVail Lookout Tree, PreVail Back Forty, Pinot Grigio, Friuli Grave Pinot Grigio, Middleridge Ranch Pinot Noir, Merlot, Fiorella Chardonnay, Emelia's Cuvee Chardonnay, Eldorado Noir, Dry Sangiovese Rose and Dominique Chardonnay.

• Fume Blanc: one of the first two wines made over 40 years ago; Sauvignon Blanc primarily from Sonoma County
• Chardonnay: 100% Chardonnay from 60 vineyard lots across Sonoma County
• Cabernet Sauvignon: fruit primarily from Alexander Valley; 2022 vintage 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Syrah, 2% mixed reds
• Tresor: five Bordeaux varieties from Knights, Alexander, Napa and Dry Creek Valleys; 2023 vintage 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 8% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot
• Siena: Sangiovese-based Italian-heritage red blend
• Broader lineup spans Classic Sonoma, PreVail, and Vineyard Select categories with more than 20 additional bottlings

Ferrari-Carano's gardens began in 1987 as a project led by Rhonda Carano and took 16 months to plan and complete the initial planting. The gardens surrounding Villa Fiore include five acres of flowers and plants, with more than 2,000 species of trees and shrubs marked for a self-guided tour, including some of the few Portuguese cork trees successfully growing in the area.

• Gardens begun 1987 by Rhonda Carano; took 16 months to plan and complete the initial planting
• Five acres of flowers and plants surrounding Villa Fiore
• Over 2,000 species of trees and shrubs, tagged for a self-guided tour
• Some of the few successfully growing Portuguese cork trees in the area

Ferrari-Carano's own site states it was named Sustainable Producer/Maker of the Year at the 2019 Sonoma County Harvest Fair, a distinction independently confirmed by the Press Democrat. Water conservation measures include a lagoon system at the Alexander Valley facility that eliminates 1.5 million gallons of water waste, 19 million gallons of recycled water used annually to irrigate vineyards and control road dust, and wind machines equipped on 30 percent of vineyards, saving approximately 23.5 million gallons of water. The 77,000-square-foot cave uses only 20 horsepower to provide HVAC for 2 hours per day. Cattle, including cows, steer and buffalo, are integrated into the vineyards to enhance biodiversity and nutrient recycling, and the winery provides rent-free housing for more than 100 vineyard employees.

• Named Sustainable Producer of 2019 at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair; confirmed independently by the Press Democrat
• Alexander Valley lagoon system eliminates 1.5 million gallons of water waste; 19 million gallons of recycled water used annually
• 30 percent of vineyards equipped with wind machines, saving approximately 23.5 million gallons of water
• 77,000-square-foot cave uses 20 hp for HVAC, 2 hours per day
• Cattle integrated into vineyards for biodiversity; rent-free housing provided for 100+ vineyard employees

Primary sources (producer's own site): https://www.ferrari-carano.com/, https://www.ferrari-carano.com/our-story/, https://www.ferrari-carano.com/our-story/team/, https://www.ferrari-carano.com/our-story/vineyards/, https://www.ferrari-carano.com/our-story/sustainable-wine/, https://www.ferrari-carano.com/the-gardens/, https://www.ferrari-carano.com/visit/, https://www.ferrari-carano.com/wine/cabernet-sauvignon/, https://www.ferrari-carano.com/wine/chardonnay/, https://www.ferrari-carano.com/wine/fume-blanc/, https://www.ferrari-carano.com/wine/prevail-back-forty/, https://www.ferrari-carano.com/shop/, https://www.ferrari-carano.com/wine/tresor/, https://www.ferrari-carano.com/wine/siena/. Secondary sources: The Press Democrat (June 9, 2020 and 2019 Harvest Fair coverage), Wine Spectator (June 9, 2020). Last verified 2026-09-14. Where the producer's site and a secondary source disagree, the producer's site governs; the ownership date conflict is logged in conflicts.json.