Kristodd Vineyards

A California native and fourth generation winemaker, Massimo Monticelli’s passion for winemaking and viticulture began in early childhood while pruning, picking and making wine at his Grandfather’s ranch in Central California. Alongside his Grandfather and father, Marcello – a winemaker himself with over 50 years’ experience, he learned to appreciate the nuances of wine and how it changes from vineyard to cellar to bottle, as well as the art of pairing a great wine with a great meal shared with family and friends. This ingrained devotion stayed with him throughout his life. After receiving degrees at UC Irvine in Chemistry and Biology with the intent to pursue medicine, he shifted gears, giving in to his passion, and entered the Masters Program for Enology and Viticulture at UC Davis. He began his career in wine as an Enologist for Silver Oak, producing some of the most in-demand Cabernets from California and solidifying a reverence for the iconic grape.