Gregory Rodeno, Winemaker/Owner, Villa Ragazzi Winery

After I graduated from Stanford University and U C. Davis Law School, my wife, Michaela Rodeno, and I moved to Napa where I commenced the private practice of law specializing in vineyard and winery law, land use planning and real estate development. I have been here ever since.

During the last thirty-fiver years, I have had the good fortune to serve in a variety of public positions, both elective and appointive, including the Napa County Economic Development Commission, Napa County Airport Advisory Commission, Napa Valley Community Coalition for Napa River Flood Management, Napa Valley Conference and Visitor Bureau Board of Directors and the Napa Valley College Board of Trustees to name a few. I currently serve on the Board of Directors of the 25th District Agricultural Association (Napa Valley Exposition) as its President, alternate public member on Napa County LAFCO, and on the Proposition “N” Bond Oversight Committee as its Chairman and the Napa Local Agency Formation Commission.

I have also served in a variety of private positions including the Napa County Bar Association, and Napa Alternatives for Children, Inc as both a director and Board president. I have served on the Board of Directors of Napa’s first charter school, The River School, on the Board of Trustees of the Napa Valley Unified Education Foundation and on the Justin Siena High School Capital Campaign.

In 1977, I established our family vineyard company, Rodeno Vineyards, and we now farm two vineyards totaling 65 acres. In this capacity, I have served on the Napa Valley Grape Growers Ass’n Board of Directors as a director and as president and on the Oakville Winegrowers Founding Board of Directors. In 1988, I established our family winery, Villa Ragazzi, to make a small amount of exquisite Sangiovese using a proprietary clone of Sangiovese known as the Rodeno clone. The wine has received worldwide acclaim.

Michaela and I have two children, Katharine, 23, and John, 21