Sonoma’s Field of Dreams

Sonoma’s Field of Dreams originally published in Touring & Tasting spring/summer 2020.

Come by Balletto Vineyards winery on any given Sunday in the spring and summer, and you’ll hear the happy sounds of bats cracking, children laughing and the occasional cheers. Nestled among the winery’s 700 acres of Russian River Valley AVA estate vineyards is a four-acre regulation-sized baseball field.

How did this real life field of dreams come to be? “John Balletto’s hardworking vineyard staff approached him and asked if he would sponsor their league baseball team,” says brand ambassador Nick Frey. “In true John Balletto fashion, he went above and beyond. The Balletto family set four acres of land aside and donated the materials while the vineyard crew donated the labor, so everyone feels a sense of ownership and pride.”

Employees now use the regulation-size field to play in a league with teams from the Bay Area, says Frey. The Balletto team includes vineyard operations manager Manuel Vallejo, a 32-year employee who first approached the boss about building the field in 2002 and still plays with Los Uveros (The Grapers).

Surrounded by vineyards and nestled below a winemaking production area, the field is not directly viewable from the tasting room, but offers a great view for the Balletto staff. The winery does offer a walking tour that takes you around the vineyard and stops right at the field. ballettovineyards.com

Originally published in the spring/summer 2020 issue of Touring & Tasting. Click here to read this story and more! TT-SP20.digital