Everything Noceto, from the grapes to Our nutty crew
The StorY
Vino Noceto has been making “California’s Best Sangiovese” for over three decades. Located in beautiful Amador County, we now make eight different Sangioveses as well as an Old Vine Zinfandel, a slightly sparkling Moscato called Frivolo, Barbera, a Tuscan Red Blend, and more!
Why Noceto? Noceto means walnut grove in Italian, and walnuts were a staple crop for the farm where the Noceto estate now stands. Noceto, Italy, near Parma, is the sister city of Suzy’s native town of Walnut Creek. Plus the name is short, simple, and easily said if not necessarily properly pronounced!
History
People
Winemaking
A Note from Suzy & Jim Gullett
Hello from Sunny (but Cold!) Amador County!
It’s hard to believe we’ve been selling Sangiovese for over thirty years. That’s right. Three decades of Sangiovese!
Back in 1984, we had no intention of starting a winery. We had our hands full. Jim was working full-time as a Banking Software Consultant, traveling all over the world, and our sons were one and three years old. All we were looking for was a simple country property where we could plant a small vineyard.
We visited properties in Napa. We visited Sonoma. We visited Mendocino’s nearby Anderson Valley. And we visited Amador County. We fell in love with Amador’s golden rolling hills and its small-town charm, and Jim knew of its long history as one of the great grape-growing regions in California.
At first, we were set on a piece of land at the very end of Dickson Road – down a mile of curves and hills, perched high above the Shenandoah Valley. To the East, you could see the tips of the snow capped Sierras, and to the West, the peak of the San Francisco Bay Area’s Mount Diablo.
The view was stunning.
We brought Suzy’s father, David, a businessman and contractor, to see the property. He shook his head and said, “No.” He pointed at the property where our Tasting Room now sits, and said, “If you have any commercial aspirations, that’s the one you want – the one on the main road.”
Commitment to Community
Vino Noceto regularly donates wine and time to the local community, ensuring that we contribute to the people, businesses, and organizations around us that make our livelihood possible.
Jim is currently president of the Amador County Business Council, Treasurer of the Amador County Wine Grape Grower’s Association, and serves on the Board of the Amador Council of Tourism. He is past president of the Plymouth-Foothills Rotary Club and the Family Winemakers of California. Suzy served for many years as Treasurer of Amador Vintners Association, is a past president of Diablo Valley Hadassah, and spent many years donating her time to numerous charitable organizations.
Adopting responsible employment practices is also a priority for us; all regular employees are provided a living wage and real benefits.
