Picchetti Brothers Winery

Picchetti Brothers Winery, also known as Picchetti Winery or Picchetti Ranch, is a historic California winery located at 13100 Montebello Road in Cupertino, in what is now the Picchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve. Its history is closely connected with the early development of viticulture in the Santa Clara County foothills and with the Picchetti family, whose members were among the first settlers to plant commercial grapevines on Montebello Ridge. The brothers Secondo and Vincenzo Picchetti settled on the ridge in 1877 and named the area Monte Bello, an Italian expression meaning “beautiful mountain.” The Picchettis initially acquired 160 acres for $1,500 and gradually expanded the ranch to approximately 500 acres by 1904. The property developed into a family agricultural estate containing homes, vineyards, a winery, and other structures. The first residence was built around 1882, followed by a larger house in 1886. The surviving historic complex includes seven buildings constructed between approximately 1880 and 1920, many of which retain their original architectural details. A stone winery building is among the principal surviving features. The first grape varieties planted at the ranch included Zinfandel, Carignane, and Petite Sirah. In its early years the family sold grapes to other local wineries rather than producing wine under its own name. In 1896, however, Secondo and Vincenzo began making wine themselves. The operation received California bonded winery number 148, placing it among the early licensed wineries in the state. Its development reflected the importance of vineyards to the early economy of Cupertino and the surrounding Santa Clara County region. The area faced serious agricultural challenges in the 1890s, when grape parasites destroyed many vines across the region. The Picchetti family also participated in the civic life of the growing community. Vincenzo helped establish the Montebello School in 1892, served on its first school board, and made a room at the ranch available for a teacher. After Vincenzo died in 1904, his sons Antone and John assumed responsibility for the winery and ranch. John was known for maintaining aviaries on the property; one surviving aviary remains near the homestead house. Commercial wine production at the historic property ended in 1963 because the business was no longer profitable. In 1976, much of the land was acquired by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, which established the 308-acre Picchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve. The winery and related historic buildings were leased to private operators, while public ownership protected the surrounding landscape. Restoration of the winery building received support from the Santa Clara County Historical Heritage Commission. Wine production later returned to the site under Sunrise Winery, which operated there from 1982 through 1998. In 1998, Leslie Pantling took over the winery, and production resumed under the “Leslie’s Estate” label at a reported volume of approximately 9,000 cases per year. The property also gained a connection with popular culture when the winery was used as a filming location for the 1989 film Blood Red, which starred Dennis Hopper and Julia Roberts early in her career. Today, Picchetti Ranch remains both a historic viticultural site and a public open-space destination. The preserve includes pedestrian- and horse-accessible trails and is partly surrounded by Stevens Creek County Park. The winery’s significance rests on the combination of its surviving nineteenth- and early twentieth-century buildings, its role in the origins of Cupertino-area grape growing, and the continuing association of the Montebello Ridge landscape with California wine production.

Picchetti Brothers Winery developed from a nineteenth-century family ranch on Montebello Ridge above Cupertino, California. Secondo and Vincenzo Picchetti settled in the area in 1877 and began acquiring land for an agricultural estate. Their initial purchase covered 160 acres, obtained for $1,500, and the ranch expanded to about 500 acres by 1904. The brothers called the ridge Monte Bello, meaning “beautiful mountain,” a name that later became strongly associated with the local vineyard district. The family planted several grape varieties, including Zinfandel, Carignane, and Petite Sirah. At first, the Picchettis sold their grapes to local wineries. In 1896 they began producing wine themselves, making the property one of California’s early wineries and assigning it bonded winery number 148. The enterprise formed part of the early viticultural economy of Santa Clara County, although grape parasites caused extensive damage to vineyards in the region during the 1890s. The ranch was also a center of local community life. Vincenzo helped establish the Montebello School in 1892, served on its first school board, and provided space for a teacher. The property’s built environment expanded during this period. A first house was constructed around 1882, a larger residence followed in 1886, and additional agricultural and winery structures were added over subsequent decades. Seven buildings dating from approximately 1880 to 1920 remain associated with the historic complex. The stone winery and the surviving homestead buildings preserve original design details that document the character of early Cupertino ranches. After Vincenzo’s death in 1904, his sons Antone and John operated the winery and ranch. John maintained a number of aviaries, and one of the structures survives in front of the homestead house. The family retained the houses and stone winery until 1976, although commercial wine production eventually became unsustainable. Production ceased in 1963 because of a lack of profitability. A major change came in 1976, when the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District acquired 308 acres of the ranch and established the Picchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve. The district’s acquisition protected the landscape from ordinary development while allowing the historic winery to be leased to private operators. The Santa Clara County Historical Heritage Commission supported restoration work on the winery building. The preserve is partly surrounded by Stevens Creek County Park and includes trails restricted to pedestrians and horses. The site returned to winemaking in the modern period. From 1982 to 1998, wine was produced there under the Sunrise Winery name. In 1998 Leslie Pantling took over the operation, and production resumed under the Leslie’s Estate label. The winery was reported to be producing approximately 9,000 cases annually at that stage, although no current production figure is established by the supplied sources. Picchetti Brothers Winery also became a film location. The property appeared in Blood Red, released in 1989 and associated with Dennis Hopper and a young Julia Roberts. In the present context, Picchetti Ranch represents both a preserved public landscape and a continuing historical reminder of Santa Clara County’s early wine industry. Its importance derives from the surviving buildings, the Picchetti family’s role in establishing vineyards on Montebello Ridge, and the later effort to maintain winemaking at a site protected within the regional open-space system.

1. 1998Leslie Pantling assumes operation

   Leslie Pantling took over the winery and restarted production under the Leslie’s Estate label.

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2. 1989Property used for Blood Red filming

   The winery served as a location for the film Blood Red.

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3. 1982Production resumes as Sunrise Winery

   Wine production returned to the property under the Sunrise Winery name.

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4. 1976Ranch becomes part of a public open-space preserve

   The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District acquired 308 acres, protecting the ranch landscape and historic structures.

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5. 1963Commercial production stops

   Wine production ceased because the operation was no longer profitable.

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6. 1904Ranch reaches approximately 500 acres

   The ranch had expanded to about 500 acres; following Vincenzo’s death, his sons Antone and John took over its operation.

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7. 1896Family begins making its own wine

   After initially selling grapes to other wineries, the Picchetti brothers began producing wine and operated as California bonded winery number 148.

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8. 1892Picchetti supports Montebello School

   Vincenzo Picchetti helped establish the local school, served on its first board, and provided a room for a teacher.

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9. 1886Larger residence added

   A larger residence was constructed as the family ranch expanded.

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10. 1882First ranch house constructed

    The first house associated with the Picchetti property was built around this time.

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11. 1877Picchetti brothers settle on Montebello Ridge

    Secondo and Vincenzo Picchetti settled on the ridge that they called Monte Bello and began developing an agricultural ranch.

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A heritage California winery associated with historic Montebello Ridge viticulture, preserved ranch architecture, and small-scale estate wine production.

• Estate wineWine1896

  The winery’s core offering is wine made from grapes associated with the historic Montebello Ridge property and its surrounding viticultural tradition. The early ranch plantings included Zinfandel, Carignane, and Petite Sirah. In the modern revival period, production was associated with the Leslie’s Estate label. The supplied reference does not provide a current varietal list, tasting profile, or complete portfolio.

• Leslie's Estate winesEstate-labeled wine1998

  Leslie’s Estate was the label used after Leslie Pantling took over the winery in 1998 and production resumed. The label represents the modern continuation of winemaking at the historic Picchetti property. Available reference material identifies the label and an approximate production volume of 9,000 cases per year, but does not specify the individual wines, current availability, or present production scale.

• 1998Change of operator and revival under Leslie’s EstateOther

  Sunrise Winery’s period of operation at the property ended after 1998.

  What changed. Leslie Pantling took over the winery and resumed production under the Leslie’s Estate label.

  Aftermath. The property continued its association with commercial winemaking, with reference material reporting production of approximately 9,000 cases per year during the revival period.

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• 1982Restart production under Sunrise WineryProduct launch

  Wine production had been absent from the property since its commercial closure in 1963.

  What changed. The site resumed producing wine under the Sunrise Winery name.

  Aftermath. Sunrise Winery operated at the property until 1998, when Leslie Pantling assumed control.

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• 1963End commercial wine productionStrategy

  The winery’s commercial operation was no longer considered profitable.

  What changed. Commercial wine production at the property was discontinued.

  Aftermath. The site later changed hands and was incorporated into a protected open-space landscape before wine production eventually returned.

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• 1896Move from grape sales to in-house winemakingStrategy

  The Picchetti brothers initially sold grapes to local wineries rather than producing wine themselves.

  What changed. They began making and selling their own wine and operated under California bonded winery number 148.

  Aftermath. The decision established the property as one of California’s early wineries and tied the Picchetti name directly to finished wine rather than only vineyard production.

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• 1998Leslie Pantling takes over the winery

  Leslie Pantling assumed operation of the winery and restarted production under the Leslie's Estate label.

  Leadership changeProduct generation
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• 1989Picchetti winery appears in Blood Red

  The winery property was used as a filming location for Blood Red, a film starring Dennis Hopper and Julia Roberts.

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• 1982Wine production returns under Sunrise Winery

  The property again produced wine under the Sunrise Winery name, continuing through 1998.

  Product generation
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• 1976Picchetti Ranch acquired for public open-space preservation

  The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District acquired the 308-acre ranch, while the winery was leased to a private operator.

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• 1963Commercial wine production ends at Picchetti Ranch

  Commercial wine production at the historic property ceased after the operation became unprofitable.

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1. Picchetti Brothers Winery