The Pagani Family

Felice Pagani emigrated from the small town of Fenegro in northern Italy, near Lake Como, at the age of 20. After a brief period working in the Vermont lumber industry, he made his way to Sonoma County in 1885. Initially employed in vineyards throughout Sonoma Valley, Felice quickly established himself as the foreman at Goldstein Ranch, now known as the renowned Monte Rosso Vineyards. In 1903, Felice purchased property in the heart of the Valley of the Moon from San Francisco Magistrate Judge Cook. The land, which contained vines dating back to the 1880s, became the foundation of his family’s legacy. Alongside his wife, Angela, Felice expanded the operation to include dairy, beef cattle, prunes, and pears. A true pioneer in the industry, he went on to establish the Glen Ellen Winery, located in what is now Jack London Square in Glen Ellen. Their children, Charlie and Louie, played pivotal roles in developing the family ranch, which has been passed down through generations. Today, the Pagani family’s legacy continues with Felice and Angela’s granddaughter, Norma Amantite, and her son, Dino Pagani Amantite, who farms and manages the ranch. Additional fourth-generation family members, cousins of Dino, Mary Seidler, Sam and Mike Savinovich, and Dino’s brothers, Mario and Silvio Amantite, are all part of this historic family, which now spans six generations. Today, Pagani Ranch encompasses 181 acres, with 50 acres dedicated to head-trained old-vine Zinfandel field blends and 30 acres of newly planted head-trained Zinfandel field blends.