Deep Roots. Bold Future.
Our family has been farming continuously in Napa Valley since the late 1800s. That history has shaped everything about how we work today — with patience, humility, and a belief that the best results come from understanding the land, not forcing it. With the fifth generation leading Bettinelli Vineyards and a sixth generation growing up in these vineyards, our family continues to expand its role as one of Napa Valley's most trusted vineyard stewards across every acre we farm.
Five Generations in Napa Valley
Late 1800s
The Pioneers
In the late 19th century, several families journeyed across the oceans to settle in the same valley. Heinrich Tiedemann and Rosa Sutor, from Landstadt, Germany, and Zurich, Switzerland, respectively, settled in Yountville, where they raised their five children: Charles, Henry, Lulu, Holly, and Adeline. They built a heritage farm designed to endure for generations. At the same time, the Bettinelli family arrived from northern Italy and Switzerland and started dairy operations in Sonoma, while the Swiss-Italian Ghirardi family also settled in Yountville. These immigrant pioneers began with neither wealth nor property; instead, they relied on their tireless work ethic and resilience to forge their legacy.
First Generation
Early 1900s
The Survivors
This generation endured significant challenges, including Prohibition, the Great Depression, and World War II, doing whatever it took to maintain their land. On the Tiedemann side, Henry Tiedemann raised turkeys, hogs, fruit, and grain, primarily relying on family labor. He shipped grapes to the East and continued making wine during Prohibition with help from relatives in the Bay Area. His wife, Claire, is remembered for quickly emptying the wine barrels in the cellar just before revenue officers arrived, leaving them with nothing to seize.
On the Ghirardi side, a great-grandmother operated a saloon in Yountville and was arrested for supplying unauthorized alcohol. She petitioned the governor for clemency and refused to pay the fine. Marsha's grandfather, James (Giacomo) Ghirardi, worked in the Inglenook vineyards for John Daniels, one of the last farmers in the valley to plow with horses. This generation was defined by resilience and the ability to adapt under pressure.
Second Generation
Mid-Century
Henry Irvine Tiedemann spent his entire life on State Lane. In 1951, he reacquired 8 acres of the family property that had been sold off during the war years and built the house where Marsha grew up. He and his wife, Mabel Dorothy Ghirardi Tiedemann, represent a quieter, steadier generation in the family's history. Rather than seeking expansion, they focused on tending to and preserving what had already been established, passing it forward intact.
On the Bettinelli side, this same period brought significant change. In 1959, Larry's family moved from Sonoma to Oakville, where they initially ran a dairy operation at what is known today as Cardinale Winery. However, a shift in the family's fortunes led his father to plant approximately 12 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon in 1964. This marked the beginning of the family's transition from raising animals to cultivating grapes.
Third Generation
The Stewards
Late 1900s
Larry and Marsha Bettinelli married in 1977 with very little to their names, building their foundation from a $28,000 loan and a borrowed farm. Larry was one of the few farmers who returned to Napa Valley after serving in the Vietnam War to take up the family trade, and he brought home a restless, inventive streak—always testing, adjusting, and asking what could be done differently to do it better. He was also a fierce ambassador for Napa Valley, working tirelessly behind the scenes to protect and preserve the integrity of the Napa Valley name for the generations who would farm it after him. In 2016, Larry was named Napa Valley Grapegrower of the Year. Their generation is defined by a vision and the discipline required to build something from the ground up.
Fourth Generation
The Builders
Present
Giancarlo Bettinelli, a Cal Poly alumnus, returned to the valley after a successful career in real estate development. In 2010, he and his brother-in-law, Paul Goldberg, also a Cal Poly graduate, took over leadership of Bettinelli Vineyards. Together with their team, they have expanded their dedicated workforce by more than thirtyfold, built lasting relationships with numerous premier winery partners throughout Napa Valley, and curated a portfolio of five exceptional estate vineyard sites, including the Vineyards of Upper Range, Sleeping Lady, Ecotone, Mitchell and Mast.
They are both deeply invested in the business and committed to improving the greater Napa Valley community. Giancarlo serves on various boards, while Paul, who returned to the valley after studying and working abroad, has served on the Napa Valley Grapegrowers Board and was honored as Grapegrower of the Year in 2024. Together, this generation has advanced the business beyond what their ancestors could have imagined, turning decades of hands-on farming into a leading viticulture brand that emphasizes both scale and sophistication while staying connected to its roots.
Fifth Generation
The Visionaries
Investing in Community
Beyond our own vineyards, our family is active in organizations shaping Napa Valley's future, including the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation, Napa Valley Grapegrowers, the Napa Valley Vintners, the Land Trust of Napa County, and the Nature Conservancy.