DE ROSE WINERY

255 Fitzgerald Avenue / San Martin, CA

OPEN
Fridays 2 PM – 7 PM
Saturdays & Sundays 12 PM – 5 PM

669-294-4146

About

DeRose Vineyards was founded on land rich in winemaking
history in the Cienega Valley. In 2022, they
opened a second tasting room in San Martin.

Since 1854, when French immigrant Theophile Vaché
began hauling his wine to market in San Juan Bautista,
the property has survived several changes in
ownership, a few major earthquakes and the age
of prohibition. Prized by generations of vintners for
its temperate climate and great soil, it is an
ideal location for growing wine grapes.

William Palmtag, a German immigrant, acquired the
property from Vaché in 1880 and produced wine
of such quality as to win silver medals at the
1900 World Exposition in Paris.

Run by only a handful of people over the next 50 years,
it was purchased by Almaden Vineyards in 1953
for its red wine production. The wine industry giant
changed its focus in the early 1980s and sold the
property to Heublein in 1987. It lay dormant in
Heublein’s hands and was soon put on the market.

The DeRose and Cedolini families, whose ancestors
have been making wine for over 10 generations, purchased
the vineyards and cellars in 1988 along with partner
Ernie Miller. Later, Winemaker Pat DeRose rescued
100 acres of abandoned vines from the clenches
of tall weeds and thistles, including about 40 acres
planted before 1900. Most of these vines are dry-farmed
in deep sandy-loam soils on terraced hillsides. Besides
revitalizing the vineyards, the DeRose and Cedolini
families downsized the large operation
into an ultra-premium artisan winery.

In their first year of production, the family made
just 600 gallons of Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc and
Pinot St. George (now called Negrette)
under the Cienega Valley Winery label. Production
increased to 9,700 gallons in 1990 and is now at 5,000 cases.
The ultra-premium DeRose Vineyards label was
introduced with the release of the 1993 wines.

The property’s largest cellar, four acres in area with a
capacity of 37,000 fifty-nine-gallon barrels, was at
one time “the world’s largest covered wine cellar”
according to the Guinness Book of World Records. The winery is
also the “oldest existing winery” in the State of California
according to well-known wine historian Charles Sullivan.

Every bottle shows depth, intensity and true varietal
character. Drinkable upon release or with proper cellaring,
they possess the necessary fruit and structure for
enjoyment at any level of interest.

This winery truly has it all—history, climate, soil and
most importantly, a family dedicated to producing wines
their ancestors would be proud of.