It all began with a retirement
After thirty-two years with Hewlett Packard, Mike Naggiar was looking for a second challenge. He and his wife Diane took their passion for the family’s one-acre hobby vineyard in Saratoga, California to embark upon an extensive search throughout Northern California for a suitable location to start a commercial vineyard.
A Three-Year Search
After a three-year search, Mike and Diane “retired” with a vision to develop a sixty-acre Sierra Foothills vineyard outside the small town of Grass Valley. With the help of a vineyards expert, they planted vines and began to learn about the grape growing business. They were soon selling premium quality wine grapes and gaining a superior reputation among winemakers in Napa, Sonoma, and in their own Sierra Foothills.
The rural lifestyle and farming business grabbed the attention of family and friends who were soon visiting to bask in the serenity of the beautiful vineyard. During the holidays, every room was full of family members from Northern California, Canada, Europe, and Australia. During a holiday dinner the idea of making their own wines was born. And why not?
With more than eighteen varietals to choose from and over six years of experience growing premium grapes, it was inevitable that a Naggiar label would emerge. So began a family influx to the Naggiar estate.
Mike’s nephew Tony Tibshirani, his wife Linda, and their family relocated from Montreal, Canada, to settle on adjacent acreage in 2001. Mike and Diane’s only son Shawn Naggiar, his wife Mary, and their young family soon followed, expanding the family holdings – and increasing the available workforce. They built their own home in the vineyards in 2008 and both Shawn, on the business front, and Mary, as Tasting Room Manager, worked as valued members of the Naggiar team.
Naggiar wines speak of family members far and wide; from our robust red blend, “Don Giovanni” named after our adventurous Milanese cousin. To the elegant white blend dubbed “La Contessa Sylvana” for the radiance shared with its namesake. The story of the Naggiar family – immediate and extended – is the story that each bottle of wine tells.
Mike’s nephew Tony Tibshirani, his wife Linda, and their family relocated from Montreal, Canada, to settle on adjacent acreage in 2001. Mike and Diane’s only son Shawn Naggiar, his wife Mary, and their young family soon followed, expanding the family holdings – and increasing the available workforce. They built their own home in the vineyards in 2008 and both Shawn, on the business front, and Mary, as Tasting Room Manager, worked as valued members of the Naggiar team.
Naggiar wines speak of family members far and wide; from our robust red blend, “Don Giovanni” named after our adventurous Milanese cousin, to the elegant white blend dubbed “La Contessa Sylvana” for the radiance shared with its namesake. The story of the Naggiar family – immediate and extended – is the story that each bottle of wine tells.
Naggiar wines are a culmination of family discussion, debate, and deliberation. We deliberate over a Sangiovese that is too traditional in style (or possibly not traditional enough?), or a Viognier that needs a touch more of “je ne sais quoi” to appeal to its French Canadian enthusiast. These long discussions are what created our famous wines, that bring out the flavors of the Sierra Foothills, but show the diversity of our family.
As the Naggiar wines grew in personality and popularity, so did their journey into the Tasting Room experience. What began with “by appointment only” tastings in their living room in 2006 soon became the idea for a bigger and better venue. In 2009, the Naggiar family broke ground for a Tasting Room that has become a well-known destination for both locals and out-of-town visitors.
The Naggiars hope to leave a piece of themselves with each visitor. They now leave the legacy of a world class winery to the next generation of the family. Not only as an award-winning winery – voted by the KCRA3 A-List voters for an unprecedented 9 consecutive years – but a family passion as well.
SHAWN & MARY naggiar
Meet Shawn & Mary Naggiar, our second-generation family members who have recently taken over all management at Naggiar Vineyards.
Their passion and dedication for quality wines that stand above the rest is what makes them visionaries.
