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. TECHNICAL DATA 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 WATCH A VIDEO Discover intricacies of the distinctive Burnside Pinot Noir, a vibrant and energetic wine, from winemaker Anthony Beckman.
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-inchthick 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. 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
Our Story Balletto Vineyards is known for producing distinct, coolclimate 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 Philosophy Balance 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 fennelcrusted 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. TECHNICAL DATA 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 WATCH A VIDEO Winemaker Anthony Beckman talks about the origins of the Russian River Estate Pinot Noir, its history and how it reflects Sonoma County.
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. TECHNICAL DATA APPELLATION: Russian River Valley COMPOSITION: 100% pinot noir MATURATION: Aged four months CELLARING: Delicious now WEBSITE: www.ballettovineyards.com WATCH A VIDEO Learn about the Rosé of Pinot Noir, a distinctive wine made exclusively from estate pinot noir grapes, from winemaker Anthony Beckman.
Extended Balletto Family More 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 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 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 & 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. TECHNICAL DATA 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 WATCH A VIDEO Co-proprietor Teresa Balletto discusses the crisp, floral qualities that make the unoaked Teresa Chardonnay unique.
5700 Occidental Road Santa Rosa, CA 95401 707.568.2455 www.ballettovineyards.com