Not many wineries have stories that go back to the Prohibition era, but ancestors of founder Giovanni Foppiano tell the story of when they were raided during Prohibition and had to dump 100,000 gallons of wine.

This friendly little winery sits in an unpretentious location on the Old Redwood Highway near the town of Healdsburg. The tasting room is a small cozy space, with a seasoned staff pouring their value-oriented, consumer-friendly wine. There are gift items, winery-made vinegars and olive oils for sale. Adjacent to the tasting room is a 1914-era railroad caboose. In prior times, the winery used to ship tank cars full of wine to the East Coast, where it was bottled and distributed to the immigrant communities.

With one of the longest histories in the region, Foppiano has been making wine for over 100 years in the same location from the same vineyard. The Foppiano Vineyards label is reserved for red wines such as Zinfandel, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot and their flagship wine, Petite Sirah. The family also produces affordable white wines under its Riverside by Foppiano label.

The sixth generation is busy plying the trade that was brought to the area by founder Giovanni Foppiano. The immigrant from Genoa, Italy, came for gold but ended up instead with his famed Petite Sirah.