Caraccioli Cellars was founded in 2006 to make sparkling wine exclusively from Santa Lucia Highlands grapes. The estate is owned and operated by several generations of the Caraccioli family, which has deep roots in Salinas Valley agriculture. Gary Caraccioli’s Swiss-Italian grandfather made wine on the family farm, which inspired Gary, many years later, to start Caraccioli Cellars with his uncle and brother. The estate vineyard is the 124-acre Escolle Vineyard in the northern Santa Lucia Highlands. It is planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and besides sparkling wine, Caraccioli also makes Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.