Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery

Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery is a California producer with facilities located in Dry Creek Valley and vineyards across five other appellations. It produces wine from a range of popular California varieties, with Cabernet Sauvignon being the most prevalent.

Ferrari-Carano began its history in 1979, when Don and Rhonda Carano bought a small 12-hectare (30-acre) plot in the Alexander Valley. In the early '80s they established a winery and released their first commercial bottles in 1987 under the name Ferrari-Carano, Ferrari being Don's grandmother's surname. Ferrari-Carano now has 19 estate vineyards in five California AVAs: Carneros, Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Mendocino Ridge. Sustainable farming practices are used in the vineyards, including the recycling of organic matter to be reused as mulch, interplanting other crops to inhibit soil erosion, and promoting biodiversity in insect and animal life to facilitate natural nutrient recycling. (© Copyright material, Wine-Searcher.com)

The flagship collection of Ferrari-Carano is the Classics selection, made up of single varieties including Sauvignon Blanc (used to make the Fumé Blanc), Viognier, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. The other collections in its portfolio are Vineyard Selects, Spirit of Italy, the premium Prevail, and dessert wines. Among the more familiar grapes found in California, Ferrari-Carano uses Sangiovese in its Siena red blend under its Spirit of Italy range. It also releases a premium Bordeaux-style red blend titled Trésor.