In 1910, Italian grape grower and home winemaker John Salvestrin emigrated to the U.S., settling in 1927 in California's Napa Valley. In 1932, John and his wife Emma purchased the historic Crane ranch in St. Helena, beginning a lineage of three generations of Salvestrins who have farmed this heralded property's vines, some of which date back to the 1890s.

Following in his father's footsteps, John's son Ed farmed the family vineyard while working in the St. Helena Post Office, and Ed's son Richard, graduating in 1987 with a degree in viticulture from Fresno State University, joined his father in nurturing the cabernet sauvignon, merlot, sangiovese, petite syrah, and zinfandel vines that now comprise it. Rich, is the Vineyard Manager and Co-winemaker along with Kent Barthman, who has been consulting for the Salvestrin family since the winery completion in 2001.

Ed's wife Susanne, a longtime pastry chef at nearby Sutter Home Winery, along with their daughter Lynn, run the family's Sunny Acres Bed & Breakfast (originally the Victorian-era home of Dr. George Crane), making guests feel right at home with her warmth and delicious country-style breakfasts.

For Susanne, Ed, Shannon and Rich, Salvestrin Estate Vineyard and Winery is a special place, embodying the passionate commitment of three generations of Salvestrins to produce exceptional grapes and wines.