Winery Details

Strolling around the Trattore, three things dot the landscape: acres of vineyards, hillsides of olive trees, and tractors amid them all. Their label, Trattore, translates to “tractor” in Italian, and is a tribute to their appreciation for the enduring craftsmanship and technology symbolized by an iconic old red tractor brought over from Europe that is still seen running on their ranch today. 
 
The Estate vineyards are picturesquely located on a hilltop on the eastern side of Dry Creek Valley in northern Sonoma County. With commanding views of Geyser Peak and Mount St. Helena to the east and the entire Dry Creek Valley to the west, the combination of steep rolling terrain, cool ocean influence and warm summer days provides perfect growing conditions for our vines, which are rooted in rich, stone strewn soils. Much like the Cotes Du Rhône region of France, the diverse soils of Trattore Estate Vineyards produce luscious fruit from grape varieties including Petite Sirah, Grenache, Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne, Mourvedre, Roussanne, and, Dry Creek Valley’s most famous grape variety, Zinfandel. The glorious 40 acre Estate is sustainably farmed and tended to by hand in 10 distinct blocks based on the specific soil, exposure, slope, vine age and type.  
 
Each block is individually managed throughout the growing season to ensure the health of each vine. At harvest, they believe in what we call micro picks: Tasting and then hand picking vine by vine, skipping rows if we have to, in search of the ripest fruit. Ultimately they want to preserve the essence of the fruit that goes into the Trattore Estate wines so the purest flavors come through. 

• Icon: Visitors to Trattore may glimpse the bright red, vintage Bucher tractor which graces their label and epitomizes the farming tradition of its owner, Tim Bucher.

• Winemaker: Critically-acclaimed and award-winning winemaker Kerry Damskey is considered one of the foremost in Sonoma County.

• Ventures: Tim Bucher also owns Dry Creek Olive Company, a producer of award-winning olive oils (37 awards in 2011); he is also CEO of TastingRoom.com.

• House Concert: Trattore’s new estate wines debuted July 10, 2010 during a benefit concert to support music programs in public schools for the GRAMMY Foundation featuring Leann Rimes. This year, Darius Rucker performed at Trattore Ranch on October 9.