An wine evening with Steve Tonella (Invite Only)

​Join us for an intimate tasting with Friend of the Fridge Steve Tonella, owner of Napa Winery, SR Tonella Cellars. We'll do a full tasting of Steve's wines with some light snacks.

​The S.R. Tonella Story

​It all started with an earthquake. In 1906 after the great San Francisco earthquake, a huge demand for workers to rebuild the city brought Joseph Ponti, Steve’s great uncle, from Italy to San Francisco. Shortly thereafter, Ponti became the superintendent and initial winemaker at the iconic Beaulieu Vineyards in Rutherford, where he stayed for 43 years. He made the first internationally recognized Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. In 1939 it won a gold medal at the Golden Gate International Exposition for his 1936 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. Since that time, Cabernet Sauvignon has become synonymous with Rutherford and Napa Valley. Ponti’s nephew, Steve’s grandfather, Louis Tonella, joined his uncle at Beaulieu when he was just 17 and worked there for several years. Eventually, Louis inherited the Ponti vineyard located in the Rutherford viticulture region. 

​Grape growing and wine production have always been a part of our family history, a heritage and spirit we proudly carry forward through S. R. Tonella Cellars. Our purpose is simply to make history by crafting the best premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux varietals that represent the best of Rutherford and Napa Valley. S. R. Tonella Cellars aspiration is that our wine is shared to create some small but memorable piece of history with everyone who crosses paths with us.