Caraccioli Cellars
About
A family-run winery, Caraccioli Cellars takes pride in developing wines that deliver an expression true to vintage and site. Founded in 2006, Caraccioli Cellars’ commitment starts in the vineyard through our utilizing solely Santa Lucia Highlands’ grapes. They aim to highlight the quality of their local Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes by producing fruit centric still wines, and Brut and Brut Rosé in the sparkling wine program.
Michel Salgues, previously head winemaker at Roderer Estate, is their head winemaker and through his techniques and expertise the family vision is precisely executed.Through light handed winemaking Caraccioli aims to achieve elegance through rigorous control. Looking to showcase vintage variation their wines receive minimal manipulation, and in 2015 all wines produced will be 100% estate coming from Escolle vineyard.
About Our Winemaker
The Caraccioli family has been farming agriculture in Monterey County for 4 generations. Taking their expertise to the viticulture they planted 124 acres of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay at their estate, Escolle Vineyard, in the Santa Lucia Highlands. When the family met Michel Salgues their passion of growing grapes expanded into developing a serious and distinctive sparkling wine program.
Michel Salgues was the founding winemaker of Roderer Estate in Anderson Valley and operated the facility through his retirement in 2004. He joined the Caraccioli Family as their founding winemaker in 2006. His adaptation of principles were founded on his decades at Roderer and laid the foundation for Caraccioli winemaking practices. After over a decade at the helm of Caraccioli Cellars, Salgues passed away in 2017. Under the guidance of Scott Caraccioli and Greg Vita, Salgues’ legacy lives on.
Caraccioli Estate, Escolle Vineyard is 124 acres planted true north/south to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and Syrah. Located in northern Santa Lucia Highlands it receives some of the cooler weather in the valley. Over 35 small blocks comprise the vineyard. The core of Caraccioli production lays in the patient development of the vintage Brut Cuvée and Brut Rosé sparkling wines.
