About Us
Our Story
The History of our founders and by extension our winery starts in Italy. Both of our founders, Ernest (Ernie) and Marie Fortino goes back to Italy where they were born. Marie emigrated from Sicily to the United States with her family at the age of eleven, while Ernie came to the United States at the age of 23 from Cosenza, in the region of Calabria.
Ernie met Marie in Santa Cruz, where their respective families were living. Ernie was immediately taken by Marie, and gave her a promise ring while she was still in school, thus ensuring that she would not date anyone other than him. They married in Santa Cruz in 1964 and started their lives together. Ernie and Marie had two children (Gino and Teri) when they found and purchased a very run down winery in Gilroy in 1970. As young newlyweds and immigrants, they had very modest means, however they were able to purchase the building and the land surrounding it, thus beginning their legacy in the Santa Clara Valley.
In the early years, everything that they earned went back into the vineyards, or the buildings. They lived in the front house for the first few years, doing repairs as they could to make it comfortable and family safe. Gino and Teri grew up in and around the vineyards, sometimes napping alongside their parents as they worked planting, maintaining and picking the fruit during the harvest.
Ernie and Marie tended the winery, selling bottles day and night as people stopped to purchase. Marie tells stories today of hearing a car coming into the winery and running out to take care of a customer looking to purchase a bottle or two.
They gradually built onto the original structure, and managed to grow, crush, ferment, age, bottle and label their wines right here at the winery. They welcomed all as family, and treated every customer as an extension of their own. It is this warmth and friendliness that our winery is still known for today. In 1995, Gino and Teri took over from their parents. Gino runs the winery day to day, while Teri maintains and interest and ownership. Gino’s and Teri’s children are now working towards taking over the winery from their parents, thus continuing the family story for a new generation.
Today, we still grow, crush, ferment, age, bottle and label our own wines just as Ernie and Marie did 50+ years ago.
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The original vineyards were all dry-farmed and comprised of Ruby Cabernet, Zinfandel, Carignan, and Grenache grapes.
In 1995 Ernest passed on the responsibilities of running the winery to his son, Gino, and daughter, Teri. Over the years the vineyards have expanded to about 50 acres—some of which are still dry-farmed to produce flavor-intense grapes. Visitors to the winery these days might be greeted by Gino, or his two sons, Nick and Kevin while on their breaks or weekends away from college. In the Tasting Room, you are likely to see Teri’s son, Austin – our Tasting Room Manager. Nick, Kevin and Austin represent the 3rd generation of Fortino’s to contribute to the family business and the 5th generation of wine making in the Fortino family.
