Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country

The History of How Balletto Started (Veggies to Wine) Founder and owner John Balletto started the business after the untimely death of his father in 1977. At the age of 17, when the family needed him the most, he put their needs before his own and relinquished several college athletic scholarship offers so he could stay home and help his mother, Hazel, run the small five-acre farm. The Balletto family was determined to make the business a success, and throughout the 1980s and 1990s they purchased parcels of land to gradually increase vegetable production. One of those properties is where the Balletto Vineyards winery stands today. By 1994, the Balletto family had grown the business into the largest vegetable farm in Northern California, growing more than 70 different vegetables on 700-plus acres. More than two million cases of mixed vegetables moved through the premises per year during its peak. Despite the success, John and Terri, could foresee challenges presented by California's growing water shortage and the vegetable business in general. While the two contemplated how to address the impending issues, good friend and neighboring farmer Warren Dutton of Dutton Ranch suggested the Balletto's start growing wine grapes, which are less water dependent compared to other crops they were farming at the time. Seeing a bright future for wine grape growing in Russian River Valley, John and Terri transitioned a small portion of their land to vineyards - now known as Burnside Road Vineyards. A few years later, the Balletto family weathered several storms-literally and figuratively. In spring of 1998, three El Niño storms wiped out many of their vegetable plantings, causing nearly $2 million in damage. Additionally, economic hardships caused by a new NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) made the vegetable business increasingly difficult to navigate. Determined to overcome the adversity John and Terri set their sights on the wine grape growing business. The family already owned 35 acres of vineyards on their home ranch in the western hills of Sebastopol. Subsequently, they converted all of their vegetable farming land to estate vineyards over a three-year period-planting primarily Pinot Noir and Chardonnay-and started selling fruit to well-known wine producers in Sonoma County. After seeing the high-quality Russian River Valley wines crafted from their fruit by other wine producers, John and Terri decided to pursue winemaking under the "Balletto Vineyards" name. They saved one-tenth of the fruit for themselves-selecting the top 10 percent of quality-and in 2001 created the first vintage of Balletto Vineyards estate wines from Russian River Valley. The Ballettos crushed enough Russian River Valley fruit for 391 cases of Chardonnay and 689 cases of Pinot Noir that first year. Today, we are still using 10% of the grapes grown for our own label. We are currently in the 20-25,000 case range.

Experience the ultimate wine, food and farm-to-table destination in Sonoma County.

In 1960, when Walter Byck proposed to Marijke Hoenselaars in an art garden in the Netherlands, little did they know their love affair would lead them to build one of the renowned Russian River Valley wineries of Sonoma County. In 1978, after a more than a year of searching, Walter came home one afternoon and announced to his family, “Marijke, children, I have found paradise!” Walter and Marijke — wine lovers, art appreciators, and philanthropists — saw their future in 155 acres overlooking the Russian River Valley. Walter and Marijke named their new estate Paradise Ranch and began to plant the property with a selection of varietals best suited for the land and climate. By 1994, their vision manifested into a beautiful estate winery, an elegant family of wines, a curated sculpture grove, and a gathering space for their community — Paradise Ridge Winery was officially opened. By 1997, Walter had retired from a successful career in medicine, and he and Marijke focused solely on their passion: stewarding a successful winery and supporting philanthropic efforts relating to the arts within the community. Community has always been a core pillar of Paradise Ridge, and our matriarch, Marijke, spent her life working in a leadership capacity at UNICEF, Task Force on the Homeless and Catholic Charities, among many other causes local to Sonoma County. She was compassionate and committed to global peace and justice and brought courage and hope to those in need at home and abroad. Marijke’s lifelong commitment to making a difference to create a better world is still felt today through friends, family, and all those she touched. Walter funneled his energies into art and developed an expansive sculpture garden on a perfect four-acre grove of wooded glens with ancient gnarled oaks and open meadows. “Galleries” were connected by simple footpaths, and sculptures were placed among mossy rocks and grassy clearings. Instead of exclusively permanent pieces, the grove supports the arts with ever-changing exhibits. An example of their philanthropic efforts came in 2004 when Walter spearheaded a community-wide art project known as Sculpture Sonoma, which created a space for local artists to display their work. Tragedy struck the family in 2006 with Marijke’s passing. Walter dedicated the grove in her honor, and today it is known as Marijke’s Grove. In 2012, the Byck family began working with the Voigt Family Sculpture Foundation. Their combined efforts bring cutting-edge free public art to the foothills of Sonoma County. In 2017, tragedy struck again as a firestorm enveloped the iconic estate property, but it did not diminish the family’s vision of sustainability or their commitment to community. After a multimillion-dollar remodel, Paradise Ridge Winery reopened in December 2018 and, once again, offers a gathering place where guests enjoy gracious hospitality and the beauty of Sonoma County. But through tragedy, the family and community stayed strong. Today, the winery is managed by the children of Walter and Marijke and their dedicated team, who are all equally committed to making Paradise Ridge Winery one of the best wineries in Sonoma. We host guests from near and far to our multifaceted estate offering the best Sonoma winery experience for guests to savor vineyard-designated wines from the Russian River Valley and Rockpile American Viticulture Areas (AVA) paired with seasonal delicacies. With award-winning vineyard-designated wines, sweeping sunset views of Russian River Valley vineyards, and Marijke’s Grove to explore, you’ll see why, after 40 years of conscientious stewardship, Paradise Ridge is found on numerous “best winery tours in Napa and Sonoma” lists. Whether you begin or end your Russian River Valley wine tasting tour with a visit to one of the best wineries in Sonoma, the Byck family and our hospitality team are ready welcome you to our community and create with you the best Sonoma wine tasting experience — one that you will be sure to remember and return to again and again!