WINEMAKING

Alessio Carli has directed the viticulture and winemaking for Pietra Santa since 1991. Alessio was born in Siena, Italy where he became interested in wine as a boy watching his father make Chianti at home. He later earned a degree in agronomy and a graduate degree in enology. He began his career as the winemaker for Fattoria Il Castagno where he also oversaw their olive oil program. He went on to become Assistant Winemaker at Badia a Coltibuono before heading to California and working for Viansa Winery in Sonoma.

Since joining Pietra Santa, Alessio has overseen all aspects of production from tending the vines to harvesting and fermentation to aging and final bottling. The winery's limited production allows him to become intimately involved with each lot of wine and ensure the highest level of quality possible.

Our winemaking philosophy reflects our desire for the wines to express their origins and the unique climate and soils of our Cienega Valley estate. As Alessio says, "My goal for Pietra Santa is simple; bring out the best in the grapes. To achieve that goal, I keep each vineyard lot separate, age the young wines in seasoned barrels to limit oak characters and create the final blends just prior to bottling. I respect the complexity of the fruit and avoid burying it under too much technique, so the wines showcase the unique character of the Pietra Santa vineyard."