Acorn Winery · Alegría Vineyards

After 18 years as a lawyer, Bill Nachbaur pursued a childhood dream of farming, and in 1990 he and his wife Betsy bought a century-old vineyard along Old Redwood Highway near Healdsburg whose field-blend plantings of Zinfandel, Alicante Bouschet, and Petite Sirah trace to 1890. They named it Alegría, the Spanish and Portuguese word for joy, and grew it into one of California's most remarkable viticultural sites: 32 acres holding over 100 grape varieties, a greater diversity than most entire counties, all co-fermented in traditional field-blend style.

For three decades the Nachbaurs made under 3,000 cases a year of ACORN wines exclusively from Alegría fruit, earning repeated recognition among America's best small wineries. Reaching retirement, they chose an unusual path: rather than selling to a corporate group, they sold the ACORN brand to their friend Melissa Moholt-Siebert of Ancient Oak Cellars, who has made the wines since 2023 from Alegría grapes, while Bill and Betsy still live on and farm the historic vineyard. The estate tasting room has closed, so check current tasting options through Ancient Oak.