Sam Sebastiani, a winemaker who helped build a California winemaking dynasty until a falling-out with his family led him to strike out on his own, died Oct. 9 at his home in Sonoma. He was 84. He had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease eight years ago.
Born Nov. 19, 1940, Sebastiani was the grandson of Samuele Sebastiani, an Italian immigrant who in 1904 founded Sonoma’s Sebastiani Vineyards, which at one time was among the largest wineries in the United States.
Sam started working at the winery in 1967 and succeeded his late father, August Sebastiani, as president in 1980. In a 2014 interview with Wine Spectator, Sebastiani recalled growing up 100 yards from the family winery. “I could smell the fermentations while playing in the yard. It gets into your blood.” But in 1986, he was forced out by the family over disagreements concerning the winery’s direction. Sales had been slipping since Sebastiani shifted focus to producing quality bottlings instead of churning out the affordable jug wines the winery was known for.
A Second Chapter
The winemaker didn’t waste time finding a new challenge. In 1989, Sebastiani and his then-wife Vickie founded Viansa Winery & Italian Marketplace in Sonoma’s Carneros District. As a tribute to Sebastiani’s heritage, the winery focused on Italian varieties like Sangiovese and Pinot Grigio. The winery, which looks like a Tuscan hillside estate, became a popular destination. A passionate conservationist, Sebastiani restored nearly 100 acres of wetlands near Viansa.
“He was a very passionate person about the natural environment around him, from the vineyards to conservation lands and protecting habitat,” said son Chris Sebastiani. “And elevating Sonoma Valley as a wine growing region. The wine industry was near and dear to his heart.”
The Sebastiani family sold its namesake winery in 2008 to the Foley Wine Group, which still owns the brand today, and in 2006, Sam and Vickie Sebastiani transferred ownership of Viansa to their children, who sold the winery the following year. It changed hands several times after that and has been owned by Adair Family Wines since 2024. For a time, Sebastiani made wines under the La Chertosa label, which was named for the Tuscan monastery where Samuele Sebastiani learned how to make wine.
Despite his father’s Parkinson’s diagnosis, Chris said the last few years were a gift. “There was a lot of time to kind of unpack what was going on and spend meaningful time with him,” he said. “And it was a slow progression. So, he got to spend time with his family, and that mattered most in the end.”
Sebastiani is survived by his wife of 22 years, Robin Sebastiani, seven children, step-children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, as well as his sister, Mary Ann Sebastiani Cuneo, and brother, Don Sebastiani.
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