Let Me Tell You About Our Friends Jim & Suzy Gullett

Let me tell you about my friends, Jim and Suzy Gullett, the owners of Vino Noceto. Like more and more residents of Amador County, Jim and Suzy aren’t natives of the area, but have become fixtures of the Shenandoah Valley and pillars in the community. Leaving family and successful careers in the East Bay, Jim and Suzy purchased a plot of land in Amador in 1987 that kept them feeling like they weren’t too far away. On a clear day you can see Mt. Diablo from their sprawling property that houses their vineyards, winery and their home.

When you think Italian varietals in Amador, think Vino Noceto. Before the Gulletts planted their first Sangiovese vineyard they went back to the source to learn how to do it right. They visited Tuscany and talked with winemakers across the region to learn not only how to grow Italy’s most popular grape, but also how to produce wine that truly reflects its nuances and complexities. All of their hard work paid off. Now, 30 years later, they are known across California as a premier producer of Sangiovese along with a portfolio of other Italian varietals including Pinot Grigio, Moscato and Amador’s sweetheart, Barbera.

You can meet the Gulletts as part of Come OUT to Amador when they host “Italian Turf Wars” where you will experience a head-to-head New World versus Old World battle -- Italian varietals produced by Vino Noceto and their imported counterparts produced in Italy. You’ll then finish out the experience with a delicious lunch inspired by Italian favorites and a tour of the Noceto vineyards.

For more information about Vino Noceto, visit www.noceto.com To purchase tickets to Come OUT to Amador (or to get more information) visit www.comeOUTtoamador.com