Samuel “Sam” Sebastiani, a leading figure in one of California’s most storied – and sometimes feuding – wine families, died Thursday at his home in Sonoma following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 84.
The grandson of Samuele Sebastiani, an Italian immigrant who founded Sonoma’s Sebastiani Vineyards in 1904, Sebastiani worked for the family business for nearly two decades before establishing Viansa Winery in 1990. He also was an avid conservationist, restoring close to 100 acres of wetlands at Viansa and receiving awards for his efforts.
“People often saw my dad as this larger-than-life character who was very passionate about the wine industry and his community,” said Christopher Sebastiani, Sam’s son. “But lesser known was his tender care for animals and enthusiasm for the natural world and conservation. That’s something that resonated with me personally, and I try to carry it forward.”
Sebastiani Vineyards was among the few Sonoma County wineries to survive Prohibition, sustaining operations by producing wine for sacramental and medicinal purposes…