John Tyler Wines by Bacigalupi Vineyard

FUN FACT ~ Another John Tyler Jr. was the 10th President of the United States and the first president to be born after the adoption of the U.S. Constitution. 

Pinot Noir, Zinfandel and Petite Sirah

Just over the border of the Dry Creek Appellation into the heartlands of the Russian River Valley a gem of a brand-new, custom built, family-run tasting room has been over 50 years in the making.

Take an excursion along the spectacular twists and turns of Westside Road and you will be amongst the first wine aficionados to set foot through the wide, double doors of a celebration in the making.

For the Bacigalupi family, farming these rolling, cool climate estate vineyards for the past five decades has been second nature. Alongside a wealth of shared history with the closely related Heck Family, a new and distinctive premium, small-lot wine label has been created as a realization of a long held dream.

John Tyler Wines is a three-generational collaboration of two world-class winemaking families that is named after John Bacigalupi, who was raised on the same ranch that he farms today and fourth-generation winemaker, nephew Tyler Heck. A charming wine country farm cottage-style tasting room now welcomes visitors to the ranch to experience a sampling of the two family’s outstanding estate and vineyard designate Pinot Noir, Zinfandel and Petite Sirah wines.

“The Bacigalupi family first gained major recognition during the famous 1976 Paris tasting when the 1973 Napa Valley Chardonnay from Chateau Montelena with premium Bacigalupi fruit triumphed over many renowned French wines as undisputed winner,” said Katey Bacigalupi. Katey  and her twin sister Nicole were raised within the wine industry and together with their mother, Pam Bacigalupi, have been the gentle, guiding force behind the creation of a cozy tasting room, complete with custom, handcrafted wooden bar, fireplace and patio seating.

After graduating studies in enology, viticulture and ag business at both Fresno State University and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, winemaker, Tyler Heck traveled the globe to acquire an extensive knowledge of diverse wine industry practices and techniques.

Moderate temperatures through harvest in the Russian River appellation, bordering Dry Creek allow for the development of deep, rich flavors and color in a typically lush, likeable Zin, brimming with wild berry, leather, tobacco and pepper spice flavors and firm, dry tannins. Soils with a rocky, volcanic, sandy loam produce bright fruit for Pinot Noir balanced by minerality and intriguing earth tones.

“We plan to offer vineyard tours and wine club special events,” explained Bacigalupi, but the highlight of a visit to this new kid on the block will undoubtedly be the unlocking of the family secrets in tasting the meeting of minds of deep-rooted tradition and the winemaker’s boutique mastery.