Red Stich Wine

Drawn together through a blind tasting group, our families (the Aurilias, Miceks and Roberts) have become close friends and devoted wine enthusiasts. Beginning in 2007, we have enjoyed incredible tastings in our homes and at our favorite restaurants across California and around the world. As our love for wine brought us closer together, our relationships across Napa and Sonoma grew deeper as well. After the 2008 baseball season ended for Rich and Dave, we started to lay the groundwork for our venture into the wine business. Enjoying one incredible tasting after another across the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, visits with Rolando Herrera of Mi Sueño Winery, and the story of his passion for the art of fine wine, led us to friendship and an ultimate partnership. Rolando's knowledge, relationships and enthusiasm for Red Stitch have given us the opportunity to source incredible grapes from some of the finest vineyards in the Napa Valley.

Since the formation of Red Stitch, Rich, Amy, Dave, Tricia, John and Noelle have been intimately involved in the winemaking process, and have worked closely with Rolando and the entire Mi Sueño family to craft a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec that would stand the test of time. This hands-on approach defines our group's desire to be involved in all aspects of the winemaking process. The inclusion of the Malbec varietal in our flagship Cabernet Sauvignon is both due to the varietal's outstanding characteristics and the layers that it brings to the wine, as well as the fact that a fantastic Malbec tasting first brought our families together in San Francisco!

Since our inaugural 2007 vintage, we are proud to have deepened our relationships with the wine community. In 2011, we were fortunate to partner with the renowned vineyards Soberanes and Sierra Mar in the Santa Lucia Highlands, to craft two outstanding vineyard designate Pinot Noirs and a Chardonnay. These wines have become an integral part of the Red Stitch portfolio, and we could not be more thrilled!

The Winemaker – Ronaldo Herrera

Born in and raised in the Mexican state of Michoacan, Winemaker Rolando Herrera arrived in California at the age of 15 and took a job in Napa, CA as a dishwasher at Auberge Du Soleil. Soon thereafter he began his first winery job building a stone wall at the home of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellar Founder, Warren Winiarski. Inspired by Rolando’s work ethic, Mr. Winiarski offered him a job working harvest that year. Rolando spent 10 years working at Stag’s Leap including 7 years as the Cellar Master. His time at Stag’s Leap lead to a position as the assistant winemaker at Chateau Potelle and ultimately, his first winemaker position at Vine Cliff. Much of what Rolando learned about the “art” of winemaking and indigenous yeasts came from his time at Chateau Potelle and today Mi Sueño’s portfolio is crafted using predominately native yeasts Paul Hobbs had become a friend and admirer of Rolando’s work and in 2001, hired Rolando as the Director of Winemaking at Paul Hobbs Consulting. In 2004, Rolando left Paul Hobbs Consulting to spend 100% of his time on the Mi Sueño portfolio (Mi Sueño began in 1997 as a side project while at Chateau Potelle). Rolando was first introduced to Rich Aurilia and Dave Roberts in 2007 and is excited to bring his winemaking expertise to the Red Stitch Team.

In 2001, the Mi Sueño, Los Carneros Chardonnay, was poured at a White House dinner honoring President Vicente Fox of Mexico and on May 5, 2008, the 2006 Russian River Pinot Noir was poured during a White House dinner celebrating Cinco de Mayo.