Frasinetti's Winery and Historical Marker

The oldest family-owned and operated winery in the Sacramento Valley, Frasinetti's Winery was established in 1897 by Italian immigrant James Frasinetti. Combining Old World traditions with modern methods of grape cultivation and wine production, the winery had 400 acres of grapes in cultivation at its peak. Today, Frasinetti's Winery operates on six of its original acres, with a restaurant, tasting room, and gift shop on site. It is now owned by the family's third generation, Howard and Gary Fransinetti. In 2007, a historical marker was added by the fraternal organization, E. Clampus Vitus, New Helvetia Chapter No. 5.

In the late 19th century, James and Rose Frasinetti settled in Sacramento and started raising a large family. Upon arriving in the U.S., the Frasinettis brought with them the 'Old World' European traditions of winemaking from their native country of Italy. In 1897, James Frasinetti founded his California winery and began building a reputation for producing quality wines. During the early years of the business, Frasinetti delivered his wines throughout the region via horse-drawn wagons. As the business grew over the next two decades, the Frasinetti Winery started distributing its products across the country via the transcontinental railroad, shipping its wines as far as the east coast.

In the 1920s, however, Prohibition heavily impacted wineries throughout the U.S., leading many to shut down. The Frasinettis were able to stay afloat by selling grapes for table use, and by making Church wines, while also focusing on other types of agriculture. Once Prohibition ended, they were able to ramp up their operations and resume their production of wine. The 1940s saw a period of expansion for the family-owned business, but by the 1950s, the region's agricultural industry began declining, with rural families moving further away to the suburbs of Sacramento. Despite this cultural shift, California experienced a "wine boom" in the 1960s. During this time, James and Rose Frasinetti's sons, Amelio, Constadino, and Joseph, continued the family business with few changes.

By the 1970s, new technologies were introduced into grape growing and wine production. This was also the decade in which the family's third generation, Howard and Gary Frasinetti, took over the business. According to the Elk Grove Historical Society, the third generation of Frasinettis resolved to stop producing "generic wines in large Redwood vats," and they instead transitioned into a specialty production facility for small-batch, progressive varietals. This approach involved the blending of traditional methods with new techniques. In 1985, the Frasinettis also opened a restaurant on site, converting an old wine cellar into a wood-paneled dining room, with rustic ambiance provided by the winery's historic Redwood wine vats and fermenting tanks. Today, the Frasinetti Winery is a popular site for weddings, reunions, and other events.

"Frasinetti's Winery", Elk Grove Historical Society. Accessed July 31st, 2023. https://elkgrovehistoricalsociety.com/frasinettis-winery/.

Goldman, Ed. "The Back Story: The Long Pour", Comstock Magazine. June 29th, 2021. Accessed July 31st, 2023. https://www.comstocksmag.com/article/back-story-long-pour

Whittle, Syd. "Frasinetti's Winery", Historical Marker Database. May 27th, 2009. Accessed July 31st, 2023. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=19410.