Sam Sebastiani, 77, eldest of the third generation siblings from Sonoma’s iconic winemaking family, has a new vineyard project. Named after his twin granddaughters, Le Gemelle (“the twins” in Italian) Vineyard will occupy about 60 acres on the western edge of the town of Sonoma.
In keeping with his long history of work as a conservationist, Sam has set aside five acres in the middle of the vineyard for a wild bird habitat. The Bird Nest will have bird boxes, perches and a water source to encourage bird habitation.
Owned by the Sebastiani family since the 1970s, and farmed for hay production, it is now being converted to Pinot Noir grapes. When asked why he was undertaking a large vineyard planting at this point in his life, Sam said, “Our farsighted pioneer winemakers recognized Sonoma Valley as a premier wine appellation. Le Gemelle, sited in the valley’s Carneros Region, rests on land already lauded for excellent Pinot Noir. I am proud to add enrichment to this fine region with a legacy of superior vines.”