1906 – Steve’s great uncle Joseph Ponti, journeyed from Italy to San Francisco following the great earthquake to help rebuild the city. Soon after,  Ponti became the superintendent and initial winemaker at the iconic Beaulieu Vineyards in Rutherford, where he stayed for 43 years.

1939 – Ponti was honored for making the first internationally recognized Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. He won a Gold Medal at the Golden Gate International Exposition for his “1936 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon”. Since then, Cabernet Sauvignon has become synonymous with Rutherford and Napa Valley.

1940 – Ponti’s nephew, Louis Tonella (Steve’s grandfather) joined his uncle at Beaulieu when he was 17 and worked there for several years. Eventually, Louis inherited the Ponti vineyard located in the Rutherford AVA. He managed the vineyard until he was 80. 

1950 to today – The J.J. Ponti-Tonella Vineyard is overseen by Steve Tonella. Located in the heart of Rutherford in the Napa Valley, the estate vineyard is the backbone of S. R. Tonella Cellars Rutherford Bench Cabernet Sauvignon. To our knowledge, it is one of only a handful of commercial vineyards farmed entirely by hand  within the prestigious Rutherford Benchland.

Early 2000’s– Steve Tonella began making  small batches of Cabernet Sauvignon while finishing college at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He then worked/lived across the globe and found himself longing to return home after living in Italy and Spain where he enjoyed wines crafted in the old world approach of winemaking. 

2010 – Steve Tonella released his first S.R. Tonella Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, he crafts impeccable wines from the family vineyard and enjoys hosting invited guests for private winemaker tastings. “Grape growing and winemaking has always been a family focus – a heritage and spirit we proudly carry forward”.