An Italian American Story of Wine, Family, and Innovation: The Gemello Winery and its Italian immigrant founders

When we think about California wine, names like Napa Valley, Mondavi, and the famous 1976 Judgment of Paris often come to mind. Yet behind the success of California's wine industry are countless immigrant families whose stories are every bit as remarkable, even if they've been largely forgotten. One such story is that of Gemello Winery, an Italian American winery founded by immigrants from Piedmont who arrived in California with little more than determination, a knowledge of viticulture, and a willingness to work incredibly hard.  In my recent conversation with author Kevin Ferguson, I discovered that his forthcoming book, Rain on the Monte Bello Ridge, is about much more than a family business. It's a fascinating story of immigration, innovation, perseverance, and five generations of one Italian American family whose legacy continues to inspire today.