History

Our story begins in the early 1960s when Howie Allen, a real estate businessman from Marin, set out to build a homestead farm in Sonoma County. This journey led him to a 50-acre parcel on the then-unknown “Westside Road” just outside of Healdsburg.

The land, boasting an existing prune orchard near the river, a neglected vineyard, and a sheep pasture, captured Howie’s interest.

As fate would have it, Howie crossed paths with grape-growing visionary Joe Rochioli, his new neighbor. The two quickly became inseparable friends. With Joe’s extensive knowledge of the land and farming and Howie’s vision, they transformed the old prune orchard and sheep farm into a celebrated producer of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In the early 1970s, the first 10 acres of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay were planted.

The first crops of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay were sold to prominent local wineries like Korbel and Gallo, but it wasn’t until the late 1970s and early 1980s that the Allen Vineyard fruit found its way into the hands of winemaking pioneers such as Burt Williams and Ed Selyem, Gary Farrell and Davis Bynum. These masters of their craft created exceptional wines from the Allen fruit, laying the foundation for the vineyard’s esteemed legacy.

In the mid 1980s, Howie and Burt and Ed’s paths crossed more frequently. Impressed by the wines they crafted out of an old two car garage, Howie built a low-tech winery out of an existing barn on the Allen Ranch, allowing Burt and Ed to make their wines there rent free.

As the years passed, more vines were planted, and today, the Allen Vineyard boasts 28 planted acres of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Joe Rochioli’s son, Tom, continues to meticulously farm the vineyard with the same care and dedication as the generations before him. The Rochioli family’s influence is embedded in the very soil of Allen Vineyard. Their contributions, in both farming and friendship, have elevated our vines to new heights.

The story of the Allen Vineyard extends into the hands of the third generation, where Camille Allen and her husband, Matthew Casalenuovo embark on crafting wines of their own to share with the world. The Allen Vineyard Pinot Noir they create is a harmonious blend of tradition, innovation and shared love for the craft.