Sam & Robin Sebastiani

Sam Sebastiani has been recognized for many decades as a leader in premium California wine production.  He joined Sebastiani Vineyards in 1967, after completing an undergraduate degree and an MBA from Santa Clara University and a two-year stint in the Army. After his father, August, died in 1980, Sam assumed the reins at the winery. 

In 1985, Sam took the knowledge he’d gained and founded Viansa Winery & Italian Marketplace as a tribute to his family’s Italian heritage. Tapping into his heritage, Sebastiani focused on Italian grape varieties and introduced direct-to-consumer sales and a wine club, rare at the time. 

In collaboration with his former Viansa Enologist, Derek Irwin, Sam continues his legacy with La Chertosa wines, currently limited to less than 1,200 cases a year. The wines are named for the monastery in Farneta, Italy, where his grandfather, Samuele learned the art of winemaking. 

With over 40 years in the Hospitality and Wine industries, Robin Sebastiani is the perfect complement to her husband’s wine and food enterprises. She and Sam enjoy the creativity of label design, marketing, wine blending and hospitality, spending much of her time developing the perfect food pairings for Sam’s excellent wines.  Robin treasures most the rich experiences of the melded family lives she shares with Sam.

Jane Schneider

Jane is a Northern California girl and has spent her entire life in Sonoma County. Jane began her career in accounting and administration as Controller of Dowling Magnet Company.  Jane added hospitality and Human Resources to her resume when she was hired in 2001 as Director of Human Resources for Viansa Winery & Italian Marketplace.

Next she joined the team of Hutchinson Consulting working as a hospitality recruiter while also managing the company’s database and websites.  Jane joined La Chertosa Wines several years ago and enjoys being a “Jane-of-all-trades” in her role as Business Manager.  Jane currently manages accounting, administration, inventory, compliance, production, and purchasing.

Derek Irwin

Derek is a graduate of the University of California at Davis.  Since graduation, Derek has been part of teams of Cosentino Winery and Bouchaine Vineyards.  In 1998, Derek became Chief Winemaker and Vineyards Manager at Viansa Winery & Italian Marketplace.

Currently, Derek is the principle and managing partner of Madura Consulting, a vinicultural and enology consulting for his clients in Sonoma, Amador County and the Sierra Foothills.  Derek brings a vast amount of expertise to all aspects of La Chertosa’s winemaking process.