Their award-winning wines are only part of the appeal. Five acres of lush gardens, inspired and designed by Rhonda Carano, surround the palatial Villa Fiore.
The Tour
Depending on the time of year, the tour includes wine-making in progress. At the time of crush the tour heads to the vineyard where grapes are eaten off the vines. Visitors use a cat-walk to watch grapes dumping from trucks into huge vats for crushing and de-stemming. The sweet aroma of the wine country during crush inspires a mouth-watering craving for a picnic with fresh bread, soft cheese, and fine wine.
Part of the fun of the tour is learning the history of the winery. In 1979, the Caranos purchased 60 acres in Alexander Valley with an old farmhouse, a barn, and 30 acres of grapes. Today they own 19 estate vineyards totaling 1,400 acres in Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Valley, and Napa/Carneros. The stories told about Don and Rhonda give the tour a personal feel.
The Gardens
The knowledgeable tour-guide explains design and types of plants while taking visitors through the gardens with bronze sculptures, bridges, fountains and waterfalls. A team of nine gardeners keeps a continual display of seasonal flowers amid evergreens, hedges, ornamental trees. The cork tree offers an opportunity to learn the difference between the use of natural cork, a sustainable product, or man-made products. Soft, green manicured lawns surround the villa and gardens.
In a place of honor on the walkway leading to the villa sits a thirteen-hundred pound bronze sculpture of a wild boar. The boar was consigned by Mrs. Carano as a gift to her husband, who shot a boar that was ravaging her garden.
The Enoteca
In addition to the beautiful gardens, Rhonda designed and decorated the new Enoteca Reserve Tasting Bar. Black granite sits upon a 37-foot barrel-shaped tasting bar with custom chandeliers made of iron and crystal hanging from the ceiling. This is the tasting room for the Limited Release and Reserve Wines. The Carano’s private wine cellar is visible from the Enoteca through a wrought iron gate that protects the collection.
Shopping and Tasting
At the end of the tour visitors are offered a chance to taste the wines in the Villa Fiore Tasting Room where, for $5 they can taste Ferrari-Carano’s Classic Wines, and the Villa Fiore Wines that are sold only at the winery. Or, for $15, they can go downstairs to the Enoteca Lounge where fine wines can be sniffed and swirled while relaxing at a table surrounded by the exquisite décor. Tasting fees are refunded when wine is purchased. The wine shop has a collection of gift-worthy items, with large windows looking out over the vineyards. It’s a nice place to peruse while searching for that special something.
Reservations
Winery tours are by appointment only, Monday through Saturday, 10 am, based on availability. Arrangements can be made at: tourinformation@ferrari-carano.com, or by calling the Hospitality Department at (707) 433-6700 or (800) 831-0381.
The tasting room and wine shop are open daily from 10 am to 5 pm.
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