The Mazzoni Family

In 1897, Giuseppe Mazzoni and his brother-in-law, Abramo Trusendi, arrived from Carrara, Italy, and began working at the Italian Swiss Colony in Asti, California. By 1899, they had purchased 100 acres in Alexander Valley and planted their first Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Carignan vines. In 1910, the Mazzoni family built a small winery and began making their own wine. During Prohibition, they continued producing jug wine in the now-iconic Asti barn along Highway 101, known locally for its “Dr. Pierce’s Medical Discovery” mural. After repeal, Giuseppe and his son, Fred, carried on the craft through the 1970s, selling jugs of wine for $2.50. Meanwhile, in 1931, Giuseppe’s younger son, Jim, acquired land in Geyserville, farming grapes and raising his three sons. His youngest, Mike Mazzoni, later took over vineyard operations, passing his expertise to his children, Mark and Lisa, the current vineyard stewards behind Mazzoni Vinyards and Zialena Winery. Founded in honor of their great-aunt Lena, Zialena Winery celebrates four generations of Mazzoni family tradition. Today, Mark and Lisa continue their family’s legacy by cultivating premium grapes and crafting estate wines that reflect their deep roots in Geyserville, their Italian heritage, and a century-long devotion to the land and the craft of winemaking.