Saracina Vineyards

A 600-acre property encompassing three ranches located in Hopland, California. 300 acres are planted to vineyards. The main ranch is home to Saracina Vineyards, a California Certified Organic winery and home to the first wine caves in Mendocino County.

Saracina is named after a centuries-old farmhouse and vineyards in Tuscany where owners John Fetzer and Patty Rock spent their honeymoon in the late 1990s. John Fetzer's career in the wine industry spans nearly a half century from his early childhood spent in the vineyards of the 1000-acre Fetzer home ranch in Redwood Valley, California, to his rise to position of CEO of Fetzer Vineyards in 1981. Under his leadership, Fetzer Vineyards grew to a production level of 2.5 million cases by 1992. He was an early industry promoter of organic farming and the healthy pairing of food and wine. Fetzer Vineyards was sold to Brown-Forman in 1992. In 2001, he and his wife, Patty Rock, launched Saracina, a much smaller winery.

The winemaker is Alex MacGregor, a Canadian who emigrated to the US to enroll in the enology program at Fresno State University. Stints at Everett Ridge Vineyards and Collier Falls led to his position as winemaker at Saracina in 2002, where he initially worked with consultant David Ramey.

Saracina produces several varietals including Pinot Noir as well as quirky blends under the Atrea brand. The wines are largely sold through a mailing list.