WINERY + VINEYARDS | AMADOR
WINERY + VINEYARDS | AMADOR
In a basement in New York, Dominick (Domenico in Italian) discovered his passion for winemaking alongside his beloved Nonno (grandfather), Domenico Giovinazzo using a traditional press. Domenico was a first-generation Italian-American who learned winemaking from his grandfather and passed his knowledge and skills onto his son. In a family centered around food, wine, and hospitality, it was only natural that Dominick’s path would lead him to own two wineries.
Dominick, a licensed real estate broker, starts Aqua View Realty in Seaside Heights, NJ focusing on sales, rentals and real estate development.
Dominick’s brother introduces him to Gloria. They went out to dinner and dancing…and fell in love on the dance floor. Dominick hired Gloria as the company’s bookkeeper, and the rest is history.
Dominick and Gloria are married with their reception held at the Shadowbrook Restaurant in Shrewsbury, NJ
Dominick and Gloria welcome their first son, Nicholas.
Gloria opens Design-Array, a kitchen and bath design showroom, utilizing her background in architecture and interior design.
Dominick makes his first two barrels of wine using his Nonno’s wine press and racket screw press. He has been handcrafting award-winning wines that would make his namesake proud ever since.
Dominick and Gloria welcome their second son, Matthew.
Dominick opens the Bacchus School of Wine, the first commercial winemaking school in New Jersey, where anyone who wanted to learn the art of winemaking could make a barrel. Dominick later franchises this concept and launches five Bacchus locations throughout New Jersey.
The Chirichillo family moves to Northern California where Dominick’s passion for winemaking takes him from amateur competitions on the East Coast to commercial status. The move enabled Dominick to choose his grapes personally from select vineyards in Napa Valley, Sonoma’s Central Coast, Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley, Amador County and the Lodi District.
Dominick plants his own 8-acre Amador County Sierra Foothills Vineyard taking a hands-on active role in grape growing and management. He begins applying his sustainable farming practices, growing Estate Syrah and Primitivo. Dominick’s passion shines and is truly expressed through his love for making limited –production Cal-Italia varietals such as Aglianico, Barbera, Montepulciano, Nero d’ Avola, Fiano di Avellino, Primitivo and Sangiovese.
Dominick and Gloria purchase a commercial building in San Carlos, CA and start renovations. Domenico Winery and Bacchus Winemaking Club is born in California out of sharing their passion for wine. The first crush for Domenico wines and Bacchus occurs in fall 2004. This membership club enables many more people to create their own wines with custom labels. More than 300,000 cases of wine have been created by amateur winemakers on both the East and West Coasts throughout the years.
Mother’s Day weekend welcomes Domenico’s first commercial wine release. The wines of Domenico have since won 400+ medals. Now classified as an urban winery, Domenico’s first tasting room opens in San Carlos, CA where guests can step inside the inviting venue with its “speakeasy” atmosphere. The winery offers a unique setting for up to 450 guests in the beautiful tasting room amid the wonderful aromas of wine aging in hundreds of French oak barrels. Domenico begins offering their quarterly wine club, interactive wine experiences; Meritage blending sessions, food and wine cooking classes, cheese and wine pairings, Riedel wine glass workshops, winemaker dinners, and the opportunity to bottle your own wine with personalized labels, through their Bacchus Winemaking Club.
A new Domenico is born. 2017 - 2019 a major renovation takes place inside and out, creating separate spaces for events, dining and tasting. The Osteria at Domenico opens as a beautiful, playful eatery and wine bar, designed by Gloria. Inspired by the tradition of Italian Osterie, the restaurant offers timeless fare such as cicchetti (small plates), pizza from the Osteria’s stone hearth pizza oven, casual bites, salads, pastas, entrées, wine, and espresso – along with a to-go menu.
The stage is set! Construction officially begins on the new 6,500 sq. ft. tasting room and event venue in Amador. The tasting room and event venue will occupy the first floor – featuring a comfortable, relaxed farmhouse vibe with modern industrial elements, blending dark tones and textured stone with whitewashed wood finishes, burnished brass, 9 ft. high stone fireplace, and Brazilian Quartzite for a sophisticated yet inviting atmosphere. The second floor will offer two bridal suites/meeting rooms with private restrooms, plus two mezzanine balconies overlooking the event space. We can’t wait to share this beautiful venue with you!
The spring marks the opening of their second tasting room – Domenico Winery – Amador County, a vineyard, tasting room and event space. With its beautiful setting nestled into the hills of Amador County, Domenico Winery becomes a destination winery for parties, family gatherings and weddings of all sizes.
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