Nichelini Family Winery

Nichelini Family Winery is a small, historic winery in the Chiles Valley District of Napa Valley, California. Founded in 1890 by Swiss immigrant Anton Nichelini, it is recognized as the oldest Napa Valley winery to have remained continuously in the hands of the same family since its establishment. The business is still collectively owned and operated by descendants of Anton and his wife, Caterina Nichelini, giving it an unusual multigenerational ownership structure within the Napa wine industry. Anton Nichelini was born in Verscio in Switzerland's Canton Ticino and arrived in California in 1882. After working as a winemaker and grape grower in Sonoma County, he homesteaded approximately 160 acres of rugged land in Chiles Valley. He developed vineyards on part of the property and established a winery there. In 1890, after marrying fellow Swiss immigrant Caterina Corda, he and Caterina moved from the original homestead cabin into a Greek Revival-style residence constructed above the stone winery. The property also reflects the family's wider agricultural and industrial activities: Anton mined chromium and magnesite deposits found on the land and developed patented smelting techniques. The winery's history includes a difficult period during Prohibition. It officially closed under the Volstead Act, but local accounts describe the family as continuing to provide wine clandestinely to miners, residents of the San Francisco Bay Area, and other customers. Wine was at times moved under the guise of sacramental-wine deliveries. Anton was arrested in January 1924 after authorities had already issued a warning fine, illustrating the tension between federal alcohol restrictions and the winery's continuing local role. Following repeal of Prohibition, Anton's son William Nichelini formally reopened the winery. The property is listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. Its 1886 Homestead Cabin, which has been restored, is regarded as a particularly rare surviving example of its type in Napa County and has been recognized by the Napa Valley Historical Society as one of the valley's notable historic treasures. Together, the winery, stone cellar, residence, vineyards, and cabin preserve an early Chiles Valley settlement and winemaking complex. Nichelini operates at boutique scale, producing approximately 2,500 cases annually. Its range has included Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Primitivo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Muscadelle, the latter historically labeled Sauvignon Vert. The winery's current head winemaker is Aimée Sunseri, identified as the seventh successive family winemaker. Sunseri was named Woman Winemaker of the Year at the 2017 International Women's Wine Competition. The brand's identity rests on family continuity, historic Napa Valley location, estate heritage, and limited-production wines rather than mass distribution or rapid expansion.

Anton Nichelini, a Swiss immigrant from Canton Ticino, came to California in 1882. He initially settled in Glen Ellen, Sonoma County, where he worked in grape growing and winemaking for pioneer vintner Joshua Chauvet. Two years later, he homesteaded a 160-acre tract in Chiles Valley, then a remote and rugged part of Napa County. He planted roughly 30 acres of vineyards and became the first Swiss settler in the valley. In 1890, Anton married Caterina Corda, another immigrant from Ticino. Around this period, the couple moved from their small homestead cabin into a Greek Revival-style house that Anton built above a stone winery. The property supported more than wine production. Anton was also a miner and developed patented smelting methods; chromium and magnesite deposits on the land contributed to the family's economic activities. Anton and Caterina raised twelve children between 1891 and 1916, and the family's descendants continue to hold the property collectively. The winery's formal history was interrupted by national Prohibition. Although its commercial operation officially closed, local reports described Nichelini as a source of illicit wine. The family allegedly supplied miners and Bay Area customers and sometimes used sacramental-wine deliveries as a cover. In 1923, authorities issued a warning fine after complaints about drinking in nearby Monticello. Anton was arrested on January 8, 1924, and taken to the St. Helena jail. These events form an important part of the property's history, showing how rural wineries could remain embedded in local distribution networks even while federal law prohibited most alcohol sales. After the Volstead Act was repealed, Anton's son William Nichelini formally reopened the winery. Winemaking leadership subsequently passed through several family-linked generations: Anton Nichelini, William Nichelini, James Nichelini, Jo-Ann Nichelini Meyer, Gregory Boeger, Justin Boeger, and Aimée Sunseri. Sunseri became the seventh successive family winemaker and later received the 2017 Woman Winemaker of the Year award at the International Women's Wine Competition. Nichelini Family Winery is also a historic property. The winery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, while the 1886 Homestead Cabin on the grounds has been restored and is considered a rare surviving Napa County example. The Napa Valley Historical Society included the cabin among its list of ten notable historic treasures. The preserved buildings and surrounding vineyard landscape connect the modern wine business with the settlement, agricultural, and immigrant history of Chiles Valley. Today, the winery remains a small family operation producing approximately 2,500 cases per year. Its wines have included both classic Napa Valley varieties and less common offerings, including Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Primitivo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Muscadelle, formerly marketed as Sauvignon Vert. The brand's continuity, intimate production scale, and historic setting distinguish it from larger Napa Valley producers.

• 2017

  Head winemaker receives industry award

  [1]Nichelini Family Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Aimée Sunseri was named Woman Winemaker of the Year at the International Women's Wine Competition.

• 1933

  Formal operations resume after Prohibition

  [1]Nichelini Family Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Following repeal of the Volstead Act, William Nichelini officially reopened the family winery.

• 1924

  Anton Nichelini arrested during Prohibition

  [1]Nichelini Family Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Anton Nichelini was arrested after local authorities linked the property to the supply of prohibited wine.

• 1890

  Winery founded

  [1]Nichelini Family Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Anton Nichelini founded the winery, which has remained in the same family since that date.

• 1886

  Homestead cabin constructed

  [1]Nichelini Family Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  The property's historic homestead cabin dates to 1886 and has since been restored.

• 1884

  Chiles Valley homestead established

  [1]Nichelini Family Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Nichelini homesteaded approximately 160 acres in Chiles Valley and developed vineyards on part of the property.

• 1882

  Anton Nichelini arrives in California

  [1]Nichelini Family Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Anton Nichelini emigrated from Verscio in Switzerland's Canton Ticino and began his California career in grape growing and winemaking.

A heritage Napa Valley winery positioned around uninterrupted family ownership, historic preservation, small production, and traditional estate winemaking.

• Red wine

  Zinfandel

  A core red-wine variety in the winery's portfolio, reflecting the broader tradition of historic Napa Valley family vineyards. It is produced at the property's boutique scale.

• Red wine

  Petite Sirah

  A full-bodied red variety included among Nichelini Family Winery's established wine offerings.

• Red wine

  Primitivo

  A red-wine offering in the winery's range, produced alongside traditional Napa varieties.

• Red wine

  Cabernet Sauvignon

  A classic Napa Valley red included in the winery's portfolio and associated with its small-production estate identity.

• Red wine

  Merlot

  A traditional red variety produced within Nichelini's boutique family-winery portfolio.

• White wine

  Sauvignon Blanc

  A white-wine variety included among the winery's offerings from its Chiles Valley operation.

• White wine

  Sémillon

  A white-wine variety in the historic winery's broader range.

• White wine

  Muscadelle

  A less common white-wine variety offered by the winery and formerly labeled Sauvignon Vert.

• 1933

  Formal reopening after ProhibitionStrategy

  Background

  The repeal of the Volstead Act removed the legal barrier that had forced the winery to close officially.

  Action taken

  William Nichelini reopened the family winery as a formal operating business.

  Aftermath

  The winery continued through successive generations of family winemakers.

  Source

• 1920

  Informal continuation of wine supply during ProhibitionOther

  Background

  Federal Prohibition prevented ordinary commercial wine sales, while local accounts continued to associate the winery with wine supplied to nearby communities.

  Action taken

  The family reportedly supplied wine discreetly, including through arrangements presented as sacramental-wine deliveries.

  Aftermath

  Authorities issued a warning fine in 1923 and arrested Anton Nichelini in January 1924. Formal winery operations resumed after Prohibition ended.

  Source

• 2017

  Aimée Sunseri named Woman Winemaker of the Year[1]Nichelini Family Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Nichelini's head winemaker Aimée Sunseri received the Woman Winemaker of the Year honor at the International Women's Wine Competition.

• 1924

  Anton Nichelini arrested during Prohibition[1]Nichelini Family Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation · Other

  Anton Nichelini was arrested in January 1924 after authorities associated the winery with the local supply of prohibited wine. The winery later resumed formal operations after repeal.

1. 1Nichelini Family Wineryen.wikipedia.org