Rutherford Dust Society, Napa Valley

Both originally from the East Coast, the Rhodes' first discovered the Napa Valley in the late 1940's when Barney was still in the Navy and working as a physician in Oakland. Pursuing an interest in wine, they got to know Joe Heitz and invested with other physicians in his winery venture. They also tried their own hand at grapegrowing, eventually purchasing then selling what would become Martha's Vineyard, and later buying the property where they now live and grow grapes: Bella Oaks, in Rutherford.

Ed Chaix has lived in Napa Valley since 1936, at age 11. Ed is a second generation Rutherford, Napa Valley grape grower and has been very involved in the Rutherford community, most notably as chief of the Rutherford Fire Department (43 years).

Joseph Ponti, Louis' uncle and a notable Napa Valley figure in his own right, welcomed young Louis and his mother into his home following the death of his father in the 1918 flu epidemic, when he was just six years old. Louis grew up in the Napa Valley and came by his extensive wine industry knowledge and experience honestly, first by following in his uncle's footsteps and working for Beaulieu Vineyard, and later by making a name for himself as a hardworking and enterprising grapegrower. In between these two vocations, he owned and ran a General Goods store in Rutherford for many years and served as Rutherford's volunteer fire chief for a decade.

Rafael Rodriguez came to California from Mexico as a young man, part of the government sponsored Braceros Program to provide farm labor for California's burgeoning agriculture industry. Rafael worked as a plum-picker, then a nurseryman, until he was hired in 1952 by Joe Souza, Inglenook's property manager. Mr. Souza recognized Rafael's passion for the vines and spent a considerable amount of time grooming him to take on more and more responsibility. When the Braceros program ended in 1954, it was only at the plea of John Daniel Jr., Inglenook's owner, that Rafael was allowed to remain in the United States to work and raise his family.

Frank's father, Salvatore, came to America from Italy after the first world war. Salvatore and his four brothers ran a cannery in Cloverdale. When that cannery burned they came to Rutherford and started a winery on Galleron road.

Keith's parents, already married, moved to Oakland in 1922 where he and his brother where born in 1924 and 1923 respectively. Keith lived in the Oakland/Berkeley area until he graduated high school and joined the Navy in 1941. When the wars ended Keith, taking advantage of the GI bill, went to UC Davis to study.

Jim was a successful graphic designer in Los Angeles before getting into winemaking. The first wine the Sullivans made was from the overbearing peach trees in their backyard. After reading everything he could find on the subject Jim started searching for the perfect place to grow Cabernet Sauvignon, a serious grape, and he eventually landed in Rutherford circa 1978.

What started as a hobby has turned into a commercial success for Ernie. The wines have consistently won praise and accolades from wine critics alike, including being named, the 2nd Fastest Growing California Winery in 1993. Ernie and his wife Virginia decided to retire in 2000 and sold Round Hill to Marko and Theo Zaninovich, who had been stockholders in the winery. Today Ernie enjoys the life of retirement while spending most of his time traveling the world with his wife Virginia.

Mabel was born in 1924 to Sattimo and Madeline Dal Porto in St. Helena. Mabel’s father, Sattimo Dal Porto, came to the Napa Valley in the early 1900’s as a child with his family. Mabel’s grandfather, having owned a vineyard in Italy, settled his family in St. Helena to continue growing grapes. Mabel’s mother Madeline, then Madeline Ferrari, moved to Santa Rosa from Switzerland with her family when she was a child. After Sattimo’s father passed away when he was 16 he began working with his brothers to help support his mother, Amabile Dal Porto, and siblings. Madeline met Sattimo when her family worked picking grapes during the summers in St. Helena in 1918. In 1929 Sattimo bought a 52-acre ranch on Mee Lane from Roy Mercier with the help of his brother in law, Joseph Baldocchi.