Topographic map with black background and beige contour lines, highlighting a small landmass in yellow.

STA. RITA HILLS

MT. CARMEL VINEYARD

In the early 1980s, long before the Sta. Rita Hills was recognized as one of California’s great winegrowing regions, Ron and Nancy Piazza set their sights on a remote ridgeline of clay and sandy loam. Encouraged by a friend’s advice and guided by intuition, they hand-planted what would become the second-oldest vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills—row by row, vine by vine, post by post.

Rolling hills and vineyards in a rural landscape with a dirt road leading through the vineyard and a distant lake and mountains.

Getting to Mt. Carmel was nothing short of extraordinary. Introduced to the land through a group of Carmelite nuns seeking an agricultural partner, Ron worked tirelessly—and creatively—to make the dream a reality.

From conversations in a confessional booth came a thirty-year lease and, ultimately, the planting of a site that would help define an appellation.

By 1990, Mt. Carmel Vineyard was fully established, producing fruit that quickly drew attention for its character and depth. Perched high above the valley, the vineyard’s rugged slopes and coastal winds create Pinot Noir and Chardonnay of perfume, texture, and age-worthy structure. Over the decades, its wines have been recognized as world-class, setting benchmarks for the Sta. Rita Hills and elevating the region onto the global stage.

A happy couple standing outdoors next to a sign that says "Welcome to Mount Carmel Vineyard"; they are holding glasses of red wine and smiling, with vineyards in the background.

For Ron, a second-generation Italian from Queens, Mt. Carmel was more than just farming. It was a return to heritage—echoing Sunday family meals with his grandfather Dominic, where food, wine, and storytelling flowed together. Today, the vineyard remains a living expression of that legacy, rooted in family, faith, and a passion for the land.