Michael Muscardini founded Muscardini Cellars in Sonoma, CA, in 2005 to celebrate family, fellowship, and the storied Italian culture. Inspired by his grandfather and extended holidays to Tuscany, Michael Muscardini remains committed to blazing his own trail, crafting highly regarded single-vineyard varietals and robust Italian blends.
Michael has cultivated relationships with the growers from whom he receives phenomenal fruit every year. His passion for Old World varietals extends beyond crafting exceptional Sangiovese, Barbera, Brunello-style vintages, and Super Tuscan-style wines. Muscardini Cellars wine conjures up a la dolce vita celebration, which reflects Michael’s indefatigable tasting and lifestyle research on his sojourns to Italy.
Muscardini Cellars’ wine portfolio consists mostly of single-vineyard, limited-production wines. The mission of Muscardini Cellars is to culminate the knowledge, tradition, and respect of more than a century of family experience in the industry with wines that artfully capture flavor and spirit. Today, Michael Muscardini is not just a winemaker. He is an alchemist of memory and meaning. He’s a man who pours his heritage, his artistry, and his heart into every vintage. Muscardini Cellars is more than a label—it is a love letter to family, to friendship, and to the magic that happens when you dare to follow your passion.
Media Inquiries: Marie Muscardini mariemuscardini@gmail.com | https://www.muscardinicellars.com/
What’s the ONE THING most unique, authentic, & memorable about your brand?
When I started to make wine and created Muscardini Cellars, I asked myself – Does the world need more wine? Truthfully, the answer was no, but the world needed to taste my wine. I make wine my way – full-bodied and share it my way – together around a table with laughter and love. At Muscardini Cellars, we want to share our wine with everyone while making them feel like family, so they continue to share with their family and community.
Describe how and what you’d do with your winemaking career or winery business if you were not constrained.
Make wine in Italy – a dream that recently came true!
Italian wines were my first love; they bring back memories of dinners with my Nonni and all of the family around the table. For 20 years, I’ve been fortunate to make wines in Sonoma County using Italian varietals, and have dreamed of making my own Italian Super Tuscan IGT one day. In 2022, I made my dream a reality.
As luck would have it, a few years back, I was having another amazing lunch at one of my favorite restaurants La Tana di Ugo in Pontassieve, just outside of Florence in the heart of Tuscany. The restaurant owners, Sonia and Mattia, introduced me to a local grower, Tommaso Venturi, and we became fast friends. Tommaso shared his family’s deep roots in Tuscany, his passion for organic farming for both grapes and olives, and, as a good Italian, his love of good food and good wine.
Tommaso’s family has lived on the estate, Fattoria San Leolino, in Londa since 1645, 381 years! They own around 340 acres and farm organically 7 1/2 acres of grapes and 35 acres of olive trees. Their olives are turned into prized Tuscan extra-virgin olive oil made in a 301-year-old building still owned by the family. After visiting Tommaso’s estate, I knew meeting him was the incentive to fulfill my dream!
In 2022, it all came together. I purchased some organically grown Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon from Tommaso’s estate, traveled back to Tuscany several times to check on the wines and then for the final blend. I named it Contessa (Countess in Italian) for the regal vineyards from which the grapes come.
I could not be prouder to introduce the 2022 CONTESSA A IGT Super Tuscan, grown and made in Italy, and exported to the US to share with all of you. This is very exciting to me, and I wanted to share this project that has reignited my passion for Life, Love, and Winemaking.
What is the One Wine most emblematic of your brand and/or winemaking style? Tell us its story.
The Tesoro Red Blend continues an important legacy for Michael Muscardini, whose grandfather, Emilo Alchera made wine in Italy before emigrating to America in 1909. Twenty years ago, Michael Muscardini first blended Sangiovese, Syrah, and Cabernet grapes to create his signature Tesoro, an homage to his grandfather and his Italian heritage. Muscardini’s Tesoro swiftly became the winery’s flagship label, with numerous vintages receiving 90+ point ratings and “Best of Class” awards at various competitions.
First released in 2005, our TESORO was name “a treasure” by Michael Muscardini’s mother, Theresa Alchera and is reminiscent of a traditional Super Tuscan. This 2021 vintage commemorates 20 years of exploring Sangiovese and the journey of what a Super Tuscan can be. It expresses opulence with fruit predominantly from Napa Valley, expanding our list of vineyards to build this blend in the style that befits Italian winemaking.
This proprietary blend consists of 43% Sangiovese for brilliant acidity, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon for sweet tannins, and 28% Syrah for a richly dense fruit core. The wine features aromas of dried cherries and dark berry compote with notes of cedar and savory herbs. Pair this magnificent vintage with pappardelle pasta in a wild boar ragout or eggplant Parmigiana.