"Samuel Sam Sebastiani, a leading figure in one of California's most storied and sometimes feuding wine families, died Thursday at his home in Sonoma following a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He was 84. The grandson of Samuele Sebastiani, an Italian immigrant who founded Sonoma's Sebastiani Vineyards in 1904, Sebastiani worked for the family business for nearly two decades before establishing Viansa Winery in 1990. He also was an avid conservationist, restoring close to 100 acres of wetlands at Viansa and receiving awards for his efforts."
"People often saw my dad as this larger-than-life character who was very passionate about the wine industry and his community, said Christopher Sebastiani, Sam's son. But lesser known was his tender care for animals and enthusiasm for the natural world and conservation. That's something that resonated with me personally, and I try to carry it forward. Sam Sebastiani and his wife, Robin, photographed at their Sonoma home in 2014. Sam Sebastiani died Oct. 9, 2025. He was 84. (Chris Hardy / For Sonoma Magazine)"
"Sebastiani Vineyards was among the few Sonoma County wineries to survive Prohibition, sustaining operations by producing wine for sacramental and medicinal purposes. After Samuele's death in 1944, his son, August, and August's wife, Sylvia, significantly expanded the company, transforming it from a bulk wine operation into one of the country's leading producers of moderately priced, varietal wines. Sam joined the family business in 1967 and, following August's death in 1980, succeeded his father as president of the company."
Samuel "Sam" Sebastiani, 84, died at his Sonoma home after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He was the grandson of Samuele Sebastiani, who founded Sebastiani Vineyards in 1904. Sam joined the family business in 1967, became president after August's death in 1980, and shifted the company toward premium varietals. In 1986 family ownership disputes led to his ouster. Sam founded Viansa Winery in 1990 and pursued conservation work, restoring nearly 100 acres of wetlands at Viansa and earning awards. He was known for passion for the wine industry, community, animals, and the natural world.
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