Nichelini Family Winery

Anton Nichelini (1862-1937) was born in Verscio, Canton Ticino, Switzerland. He came to California in 1882 at the age of 19, where he first settled in Glen Ellen (Sonoma Cty.) and became a winemaker and grape grower for pioneer winemaker Joshua Chauvet.Sosnowski, Vivienne.[https://books.google.com/books?id=vqFxq6nv4rEC&q=nichelini%27%27When&pg=PA225 the Rivers Ran Red].Palgrave Macmillan, 2009, pp. 17-18.Monahan, Sherry A.[https://books.google.com/books?id=kpQ-zEJqv6oC&q=nichelini%27%27California&pg=PA48 Vines, Wines and Pioneers].The History Press, 2013, pp.47-48. Two years later Anton homesteaded a 160-acre tract of rugged wilderness in Chiles Valley, converting about 30 acres to vineyards, and becoming the first Swiss settler in the area.Kushman, Rick and Beal, Hank.[https://books.google.com/books?id=9tT9ufpJfsMC&q=nichelini%27%27A&pg=PA76 Moveable Thirst]. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2007, pp.76-77.Monahan, Sherry A. 2013, p.48

In 1890 Anton married Caterina Corda (1869–1952), another Swiss immigrant from Ticino, and shortly thereafter they moved out of their tiny homestead cabin and into the Greek Revival style house that Anton constructed on top of his stone winery.Kushman, Rick, and Beal, Hank. 2007, p.77.Kilgallin, Anthony Raymond.[https://books.google.com/books?id=Yscnvu3-VswC&q=nichelini%27%27Napa%3A&pg=PT107 An Architectural Walking Tour]. Arcadia Publishing, 2001. Mr. Nichelini was also a skilled miner, and patented new smelting techniques. His property in Chiles Valley was unusually rich in chromium and magnesite deposits, and he mined these for several years in addition to his ranching and wine production business.Dow, D.H. and Thayer, T.P. Geological Investigations of Chromite in California, U.S. Dept. of the Interior Geological Survey. 1946.Sosnowski, Vivienne. 2009, p. 17.

Anton and Caterina eventually had twelve children between the years of 1891 and 1916, all of whom attended school at the Chiles Valley one-room schoolhouse.St. Helena Star. "Nichelini Celebration." 1895. Their children were: William, Joseph, Josephine, Ida ("Edith"), Rose, Catherine, Mary, Frederic, Allen, Emma ("Virginia"), Antoinette, and Inez.St. Helena Star. "Prominent Rancher Passes Away." 12 Nov 1937. The winery today is collectively owned and operated by the descendants of these twelve children.Napa Valley Register.[http://napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/wine/swiss-visitors-find-roots-at-nichelini-family-winery/article_3d9a1556-0e84-11e2-b928-0019bb2963f4.html "Swiss Visitors Find Roots at Nichelini Family Winery."] 4 Oct 2012.

The Nichelini Winery "officially" closed during the years of Prohibition. However, the winery was well known in the area as a source of bootleg wine, even supplying the governor's household.Webber, Lin.[https://books.google.com/books?id=8gbFXs1uKSMC&q=nichelini%27%27Prohibition&pg=PA140 in the Napa Valley.] The History Press, 2013, p.99.Monahan, Sherry A. 2013, p.48. In 1920, a man named Clifford Clark wrote a letter to the sheriff complaining about rowdy drunken behavior in the nearby town of Monticello, citing locals having "good times, drinking wine", and that there was "no question, but what the wine comes from Nichelini's".Webber, Lin. 2013, p. 88. After a warning fine was issued in 1923, Anton was finally arrested on January 8, 1924, and taken to the St. Helena jail.St. Helena Star. 17 Aug 1923.Webber, Lin. 2013, pp. 99, 104. Despite the arrest, the Nichelini family continued to surreptitiously supply wine to local miners and Bay Area residents, sometimes through the cover of a sacramental wine delivery service.Webber, Lin. 2013, p. 113.

Nichelini Winery was officially reopened by Anton's son William Nichelini after the repeal of the Volstead Act. Nichelini family winemakers in succession, following Anton and William Nichelini, have been: James Nichelini, Jo-Ann Nichelini (Meyer), Gregory Boeger, Justin Boeger, and Aimée Sunseri. Aimée Sunseri was named the Woman Winemaker of the Year at the 2017 International Women's Wine Competition.{{cite web|url=https://wineindustryadvisor.com/2017/06/28/winners-international-womens-wine-competition|title=Winners Announced for the 10th Annual International Women's Wine Competition|publisher=Wine Industry Advisor|date=28 June 2017|access-date=4 November 2021}}

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• [http://www.napavintners.com/winery/nichelini-family-winery/ Napa Valley Vintners Assoc.]

Category:1890 establishments in California

Category:Wineries in Napa Valley

Category:National Register of Historic Places in Napa County, California