History, grit, determination ... and a lot of Rutherford Dust

They don’t come much cooler than Chris Morisoli. He flies UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, he’s completed deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan as a MEDEVAC polite rescuing wounded soldiers out of firefights and flying them to safety, he has served more or less his entire life as a volunteer fire fighter and – oh yes – he is the latest generation of the Morisoli family who are custodians of some of the most magical vineyards in the Rutherford Bench, and the entire Napa Valley for that matter. One might say the Morisoli story is the story of Rutherford. It spans the Italian migration to the United States, prohibition and the rise of the Napa Valley. Chris was born in 1984 and has Rutherford Dust in his veins. He grew up running in and out of the vines and you might be forgiven for seeing his return to the vines post deployment as inevitable. 

Chris’s story and the Morisoli story is one of the most genuine and remarkable stories one will find. And yes – like most special things – you have to find it – tucked away in the shadows of the Mayacamas Mountain range, just off Highway 29, down Niebaum Lane, here lies a historic charming little house surrounded by historic vineyards that whisper memories and stories. This is Chris’s home and the home of the Morisoli legacy. Like most who are part of small family businesses, Chris spends most of his time on the tools, in the vineyard, in the winery or in the car, so cornering him for a chat is no small thing. Hence my elation when we finally settled on a time. This was a truly special conversation to have. My sincerest thanks to Chris for joining me.