Brochure - Bronco Wine Company

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
ABOVE: Harvest time at our Burnside Vineyard.
John and Terri Balletto for 20 or more years. This is a
TOP LEFT: Chardonnay in August.
true testament to their commitment to the vineyard
BOTTOM LEFT: The pinot noir is harvested with care in small bins.
and winery staff, and it expands the definition of a
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.
Photograph by Ashlei Kilkenny
Photograph by MJ Wickham
Photograph by Ashlei Kilkenny
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