Vineyards In 1956, Helen and Charles Bacigalupi purchased 121 acres of prime vineyard land along Westside Road in the heart of Russian River Valley. And, in 1964, they were among the first in the area to plant Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Bacigalupi family grapes garnered fame in 1976 when they were used to make Chateau Montelena’s winning entry in that year’s Paris Tasting. Our Pinot Noir grapes for the 2017 release came from one of the newer vineyards called Frost Ranch, located just across the road from the original plantings. The ranch was purchased by the Bacigalupi family in 1993 and Block 9 is planted entirely to Wente selection Pinot Noir, which produces a classically elegant Russian River Pinot Noir.