Frank Emmolo

Rue Ziegler, cultural anthropologist and RDS board member, conducted this interview with Frank Emmolo on July 18th, 2002. The excerpts below cover the period from 1935 to the present day.

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.

In addition to the cannery and the winery the Emmolo brothers also had a booming rootstock business. Frank took over the rootstock business from his father and still owns it today.

Father Salvatore starts a winery

Salvatore Emmolo's rootstock business

Foreign Workers for Salvatore Emmolo

History of grafting

Grape prices

Irrigation in the valley

Thoughts on the Agriculture Preserve

Selling grapes: Past and present