Viansa is a Sebastiani story even when it isn't a Sebastiani winery. Samuele Sebastiani arrived in Sonoma from Tuscany in 1896 and bought vineyard land in 1904 with money earned making cobblestones for San Francisco's streets. Nearly a century later, his grandson Sam Sebastiani was running the family winery until 1986, when he went his own way. In 1990 he and his wife Vicki founded Viansa, a portmanteau of their names, at the southern entrance to Sonoma Valley, on a Carneros hilltop with sweeping views of vineyards, wetlands, and the Mayacamas. The mission was specific: Italian heritage varieties, in honor of the family's Tuscan origin.
Ossidiana: the flagship, named for the obsidian found in the estate’s soils and a tribute to the obsidian arrowheads left by the Miwok, the first people of this land.
Quattro Super-Tuscan-Style Red: a bold Sangiovese-and-Cabernet blend in the Tuscan tradition.
Primitivo: a rich, spicy red from the Italian cousin of Zinfandel.
Arneis: a crisp, aromatic white from the lesser-known Piedmontese grape.
Altura Estate Chardonnay, Carneros: a balanced, estate-grown white from the home vineyard.
Grab & Go Picnics: marketplace wines by the bottle and grab-and-go snacks on the Alta Terrazza upper lawn, first come, first served, all ages welcome, picnic blankets in the marketplace; Main Lawn and West Patio tables for up to 6 guests by reservation, $60 per table.
The 130-acre estate includes 33 acres of vineyards and a 97-acre wetland preserve adjacent to Sonoma Creek, designed to provide migratory bird habitat. The Tuscan-inspired villa, modeled on Italian countryside architecture with hand-painted murals, massive beams, marble, and over 1,000 olive trees on the property, has become one of the most-visited winery destinations in Sonoma. Adair Family Wines bought Viansa in late 2024, with Chris Sebastiani still involved, and the wines are crafted by winemaker Meredith Leahy. The portfolio is unusually broad: Italian heritage varieties (Sangiovese, Arneis, Aleatico, Primitivo, Barbera, Muscat Canelli, Bianchetta Trevigiana) alongside California classics (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon). Tasting experiences range from a casual indoor bar flight to private Outlook experiences with valley views, anchored by an Italian marketplace, wood-fired pizza, weekend music, and Wine Club events.
